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The North American Scrabble Players Association ruled Wednesday that derogatory language will be removed from the game’s official word list.

What’s going on:

  • The NASPA held an online poll that showed “impassioned responses” about how racial and ethnic slurs should not be used during games, NPR reports.
  • NASPA CEO John Chew said the organization had to change the game to accommodate the responses.
  • He said: “Some members threatened to leave the association if a single word were removed; others threatened to leave the association if any offensive words remained. There were a lot of good and bad arguments on both sides.”

What this means for you:

  • The official word list is used during competitive tournaments.
  • This is different than the Merriam-Webster Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, which is used more commonly. But Hasbro said it has worked with the the dictionary to remove any and all offensive language.
  • Hasbro said: “Hasbro Gaming is rooted in community and bringing people together, and we are committed to providing an experience that is inclusive and enjoyable for all.”
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