Reference Article: > But her friend and editor, Claire Banse, also 23, had told her the paper had already hit its quota on the word “retarded” and she’d object

Reference Article: > But her friend and editor, Claire Banse, also 23, had told her the paper had already hit its quota on the word “retarded” and she’d objected. (What else rhymes with “departed”?) Author of post: > Wait, what does it mean to have a quota on a word? Are they not using that word enough or are using it too much? Can someone explain how "already hit its quota on the word" could mean they are not using that word enough? And even past that, how could you think when taking into account the context of "retarded" make you think "hit its quota" means there was desire for more use of "retarded" in an article? I am confused on how this person is confused