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| Photo: Sunday Times |
I was once, rather ridiculously, told by M&S magazine (RIP) that I couldn't use the word 'older' in a feature I was writing about age. I know, it makes no sense. So, hooray then for Cambridge University classicist Mary Beard who told the Cheltenham Literary Festival this week:
'I’m really trying to reclaim the word old. I think about it in terms of other kinds of reclamations of vocabulary we've had over the years, such as ‘black’ or ‘queer'. I'm rather keen for a campaign to do that for old, instead of 'old' instantly connoting the hunched old lady and gentleman on the road sign, or the picture that you get on the adverts you get for senior railcards. I hope by the time I die, old will be something that makes people fill with pride.'
I'm joining the campaign - are you?
Quote via the Independent.
