The term "demonym," rarely used outside of geography, is "the name used for the people who live in a particular country, state, or other locality." (Dictionary.com)In my drive to appear as politically correct as possible and offend the least number of people possible (get real) I appreciate the reminder that I may have stepped on the collective toes of some group or another at some undefined time in the past when I referred to them by reference to their national origin.
Notwithstanding all of my previous faux pas (now what is the plural form of faux pas?) I am now on notice of the need to tighten my standards yet another notch and try not to be so obdurate in the future. And now that I am an old time Mesan or Arizonian (Arizonan? Zonian? Zonan? Zoned? Arizonded?) I will try much harder in the future to avoid the subject altogether by referring to everyone as" those guys from..."
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