Slur Scorer

Slur Scorer is a research tool in computational linguistics created by Adam M. Croom, Ph.D., and intended for educational purposes. Please cite this resource and share it with others!

Croom, A. M. (2026). Slur Scorer (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. https://slurscorer.com

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jEGe8qAAAAAJ

This original slur classifier and derogation scorer uses advanced AI to identify occurrences of slurs in text and evaluate them against 16 criteria proposed by Croom (2011-2020). The slur term itself is identified automatically from a given text, so just paste the text you're interested in analyzing into the excerpt box and click "Score This Slur". Notably, the AI-Assisted Contextual Scorer goes beyond simple keyword matching and employs advanced reasoning that evaluates relevant factors such as social identity, power symmetry, and target uptake to provide nuanced interpretations of slur-use in context along with reasons supporting each derogation score and moderation recommendation. The Automatic Transcript Scorer (beta) is also a useful resource that, although less powerful than the AI-Assisted Contextual Scorer, can be used without any AI requirements, associated costs, and use limits.

Free daily uses are limited to 3 per visitor per day. For a focused research burst, a 3-Day Research Pass ($10, up to 35 scores/day for 3 days from your first use) is available below. For customized research needs, contact croom@slurscorer.com.

By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.

This remains a research prototype, not a production moderation system. Every criterion and weight is inspectable and editable in classifier.py. It recommends a review band and does not auto-remove content.

Selected publications by Adam M. Croom on the semantics, pragmatics, and cognition of slurs

Relevant empirical research on slurs

  • Boeckmann, R. J., & Liew, J. (2002). Hate speech: Asian American students' justice judgments and psychological responses. Journal of Social Issues, 58(2), 363-381.
  • Cepollaro, B., Sulpizio, S., & Bianchi, C. (2019). How bad is it to report a slur? An empirical investigation. Journal of Pragmatics, 146, 32-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2019.03.012
  • Fasoli, F., Maass, A., & Carnaghi, A. (2015). Labelling and discrimination: Do homophobic epithets undermine fair distribution of resources? British Journal of Social Psychology, 54(2), 383-393. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12090
  • Galinsky, A. D., Wang, C. S., Whitson, J. A., Anicich, E. M., Hugenberg, K., & Bodenhausen, G. V. (2013). The reappropriation of stigmatizing labels: The reciprocal relationship between power and self-labeling. Psychological Science, 24(10), 2020-2029. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613482943
  • Gaucher, D., Hunt, B., & Sinclair, L. (2015). Can pejorative terms ever lead to positive social consequences? The case of SlutWalk. Language Sciences, 52, 121-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langsci.2015.03.005
  • Haugh, M., & Bousfield, D. (2012). Mock impoliteness, jocular mockery and jocular abuse in Australian and British English. Journal of Pragmatics, 44(9), 1099-1114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2012.02.003
  • Henry, P. J., Butler, S. E., & Brandt, M. J. (2014). The influence of target group status on the perception of the offensiveness of group-based slurs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 53, 185-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.03.012
  • Huang, V. (2021). Trademarks, race and slur-appropriation: An interdisciplinary and empirical study. University of Illinois Law Review, 2021(5), 1605-1648.
  • O'Dea, C. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2017). Negative emotions versus target descriptions: Examining perceptions of racial slurs as expressive and descriptive. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 20(6), 813-830. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430216634193
  • O'Dea, C. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2020). Perceptions of racial slurs used by Black individuals toward White individuals: Derogation or affiliation? Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 39(5-6), 678-700. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X20904983
  • Rahman, J. (2012). The N word: Its history and use in the African American community. Journal of English Linguistics, 40(2), 137-171. https://doi.org/10.1177/0075424211414807
  • Rios, K., Cheng, Z. H., Totton, R. R., & Shariff, A. F. (2015). Negative stereotypes cause Christians to underperform in and disidentify with science. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6(8), 959-967. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550615598378
  • Saucier, D. A., Hockett, J. M., & Wallenberg, A. S. (2008). The impact of racial slurs and racism on the perceptions and punishment of violent crime. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(5), 685-701. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260507313774
  • Schmader, T. (2002). Gender identification moderates stereotype threat effects on women's math performance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38(2), 194-201. https://doi.org/10.1006/jesp.2001.1500