Every American probably knows what it means to be politically correct. After all, we hear about it on the news almost every night. We have to be constantly aware of whether or not something we say or do is going to offend someone. This mode of communication is present in every aspect of our lives, from the most formal to the most informal situations. This paper will answer questions on the origin of the term ‘politically correct' and the applications of the communication pattern it refers to: who started it, who is doing it, and why. I ....