Inclusive language


Inclusive language aims to avoid offense and fulfill the ideals of egalitarianism by avoiding expressions that express or imply ideas that are sexist, racist, or otherwise biased, prejudiced, or denigrating to any particular group of people. It is often advocated by proponents of liberalism. Use of inclusive language might be considered a form of political correctness; often the term "political correctness" is used to refer to this practice, either as a neutral description by supporters or commentators in general or with negative connotations among its opponents.

Criticism and limitations

Some people object to the idea of being pressured into speaking and writing in a way that does not come naturally, and criticize the proposed changes as a form of socially enforced censorship that unnecessarily constrains freedom of speech.
Many people do not enjoy being criticized for using "offensive" language, when no offense was meant and they do not advocate the ideas which inclusivists say are implicit in the language. Sometimes people use inclusive language because it is socially acceptable, despite actually holding discriminatory views, either openly or secretly. Advocates hope that asking people to use inclusive language, even if they don't explicitly discriminate, encourages people to consider the concerns of the group in question more seriously than they might otherwise, and may reduce unconscious biases such as those reported by implicit-association tests. Due to the effects of euphemism treadmills, even some organizations who advocate on behalf of certain groups of people have had to change their names to avoid a term which was preferred by the group at the time of founding.
The conservative worldview also emphasizes tradition, and the push for language inclusivity can be seen by conservatives as an artificial and unwelcome attempt at language change that undermines the clarity of a more familiar way of speaking. Many people opposed to illegal immigration or immigration in general prefer the term "illegal immigrants" over "undocumented immigrants" because it emphasizes the improperness of the method of entry.

Examples

Rationale for suggested language changeLanguage or expression to be avoided, according to proponentsReplacement language proposed by proponents
Gender-neutral language to avoid implied sexism or heteronormativity
  • Steward/stewardess
  • Board of aldermen
  • Use of to refer to a group that includes women
  • Manhole
  • Manpower
  • Manned
  • Assuming "he" or "she" based on occupation or spouse's gender
  • Flight attendant
  • City council
  • Gender-neutral marked plural, such as
  • Maintenance hole, utility hole, or access point
  • Staffing
  • Crewed
  • Singular "they", or "he or she"
    • Avoid sexism in any implication women should follow "traditional" gender roles, are in any way unequal to men, are valued primarily as wives or sex objects, or that the unpaid work of women is less important than paid work
  • Girl
  • Miss or Mrs.
  • Housewife
  • Young woman
  • Ms. or dropping honorifics entirely
  • homemaker
    • Older terminology is disempowering, has negative connotations, or is subject to a euphemism treadmill with regard to
  • Race
  • Caste
  • Disability
  • Immigration status
  • Housing status
  • Health status
  • Negro, Oriental
  • Untouchable
  • Crippled, imbecile or
  • Illegal immigrant, refugee, citizens
  • Vagrant
  • Patient
  • "Black" or "African-American", Asian or East Asian or more specifically e.g. Korean, in general "person of color"
  • Dalit
  • Disabled or differently abled, intellectual disability
  • Undocumented immigrant, migrant, residents
  • Homeless, unhoused
  • Health care consumer, client, resident
    • Avoid negative stereotypes
  • To jew
  • To
  • A paddy wagon
  • To bargain down
  • To cheat or rip off
  • A police van
    • Avoid racism, colonialism, and religious intolerance, whether overtly or by historical association
  • Any ethnic slur or religious slur
  • Anything that would be considered a microaggression
  • Use of the word "niggardly"
  • Use of the term "brown bag" instead of "sack lunch" due to association with the Brown Paper Bag Test
    • Avoid sizeism and body shaming"fat", "large", possibly "plus-sized model" or "plus-size clothing" in women's fashion"curvy" or simply talk about "women of all sizes"
    Avoid insulting human dignity by emphasizing the humanity of individuals rather than group label
  • "He is a gay"
  • "The demented"
  • "He is a gay person"
  • "People with dementia"
    • Avoiding implied racism or colonialism by using indigenous names instead of names used by colonizersIndian, Bombay, primitive culturesNative American, Mumbai, early cultures
    Avoid offending non-Christians and non-believers
  • Wishing strangers "Merry Christmas"
  • School break called "Christmas Vacation"
  • Numbering years with BC/AD meaning "before Christ" and "the year of the Lord"
  • "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings"
  • Schools scheduling "Winter Vacation"
  • Numbering years with BCE/CE meaning "before common era" and "common era"
    • Avoid implied transphobia and binary genderismUsing "he" or "she" based on appearance or nameAsk people what pronouns they prefer to be addressed by, or introduce yourself with your own gender pronouns
    Taking a sex-positive position and avoiding slut-shamingProstituteSex worker
    Avoid associations with slaveryMaster/slave Primary/secondary, leader/follower
    Avoid association between ownership of animals and ownership of people and in general anthropocentrismPet ownerPet guardian, pet parent
    Avoid stigma promoting discrimination against people with HIV/AIDSCleanHIV negative
    The neurodiversity movement including the autism rights movement sees various neurological conditions not as diseases to be cured, but differences to be embraced, like left-handedness or homosexuality. Proponents might object to calling autism a mental disability, and might prefer "neurotypical" to "healthy" or "normal".
    Comments about personal appearance might be interpreted as lookism or sexual harassment, depending on the context.