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Gender-inclusive writing: Use the singular “they”
On this page Introduction Guidelines for using “they” as a singular pronoun Difference between generic “they” and specific “they” Historical context Note about “he or she” Additional information Introduction In traditional English grammar, there’s no third-person singular pronoun that is gender-neutral. This creates challenges for writing in a gender-inclusive way, particularly when you aren’t sure of the gender of the person being referred to. A long-established solution is the use of “they” and its forms (“them,” “their,” “theirs,” “themselves”) as singular pronouns. Although “they” is most often used as a plural pronoun, there is near-consensus among language authorities today that it can and should be used as a singular pronoun in formal writing. In many cases, substituting a singular “they” for the gendered pronouns “he,” “she” and “he or she” is the easiest and most effective technique for making a sentence gender-inclusive. Examples of gendered sentences and their inclusive solutions Gendered sentence Inclusive solution If any participant still has concerns, he or she should speak to the facilitator after the group meeting. If any participant still has concerns, they should speak to the facilitator after the group meeting. Every subscriber will have had the monthly newsletter delivered to her. Every subscriber will have had the monthly newsletter delivered to them. Everyone should bring his or her access card. Everyone should bring their access card. Each presenter should bring 30 copies of his paper to the conference. Each presenter should bring 30 copies of their paper to the conference. We are asking everyone to double-check that the certificate he or she has received is actually his or hers. We are asking everyone to double-check that the certificate they have received is actually theirs. An introvert usually needs a lot of time to himself or herself. An introvert usually needs a lot of time to themselves [or themself]. Guidelines for using “they” as a singular pronoun Even when “they” is used in the singular, verbs that follow it should always be plural (for example, “are” rather than “is”; “have” rather than “has”). Example of a gendered sentence and an inclusive solution Gendered sentence Inclusive solution Over the course of a work day, a manager will find that she has to deal with a lot of unexpected situations. Over the course of a work day, a manager will find that they have to deal with a lot of unexpected situations. There is no situation in English when it would be correct to write “they is” or “they has,” and that does not change as we expand our use of the singular “they” in formal writing. It should also be noted that the singular “they” has two possible reflexive forms: “themselves” (the standard form) and “themself”. Although “themself” is not yet in widespread use and is labelled non-standard in most dictionaries, it has been approved for use by some major style manuals. Sometimes, especially when you have more than one noun in a sentence, the singular “they” can make the sentence ambiguous. Consider this example: Example of a gendered sentence and an inclusive solution Gendered sentence Inclusive but unclear solution If a person cannot carry out essential duties, he must be reassigned. If a person cannot carry out essential duties, they must be reassigned. What must be reassigned? The duties or the person? And sometimes, the problem of ambiguity exists in the sentence from the beginning. While the singular “they” can make the unclear sentence inclusive, you still have to deal with the separate problem of ambiguity. Consider this example: Example of a gendered sentence and an inclusive solution Gendered and unclear sentence Inclusive and unclear solution If a dispute arises between the client and the service provider, he or she must notify the board in writing. If a dispute arises between the client and the service provider, they must notify the board in writing. The two sentences above with the singular “they” are gender-inclusive, but they still have problems with clarity. In such sentences, the meaning might be clear from the context, so “they” might still be a useable solution. But for any writing where greater accuracy is needed, a different gender-inclusive technique should be considered: Examples of gendered sentences and inclusive solutions Gendered sentence Inclusive but unclear solution Inclusive and clear solution If a person cannot carry out essential duties, he must be reassigned. If a person cannot carry out essential duties, they must be reassigned. A person who cannot carry out essential duties must be reassigned. When a dispute arises between the client and the service provider, he or she must notify the board in writing. When a dispute arises between the client and the service provider, they must notify the board in writing. When a dispute arises between the client and the service provider, the client must notify the board in writing. Difference between generic “they” and specific “they” In the examples in this article, we’ve been using the pronoun “they” to be inclusive in situations where gender is unclear or unknown. This is sometimes called the generic use of “they,” and it’s valuable for gender-inclusive and clear writing in general. But the singular “they” is also used as the chosen pronoun by many individuals who don’t identify with the pronouns “he” or “she,” especially by individuals who are non-binary. This is sometimes called the specific use of the singular “they.” Although the two usages follow the same grammatical rules, they’re distinct and employed for different reasons and in different contexts. For more discussion of the specific use of the singular “they,” please see the article Gender-inclusive writing: Guidelines for writing to or about non-binary individuals. Historical context The singular “they” has a long history in written English. It has been used by many of the most recognized writers in the English language: Chaucer, Shakespeare, Swift, Byron, Austen, Wilde, Auden. The use of the singular “they” began to be discouraged in the late 1700s by language authorities who favoured the use of “he” as the default pronoun of choice. In recent years, the singular “they” has regained almost all of its acceptability, although this process is still ongoing. Most English-language style guides today recommend the use of the singular “they” as the most straightforward technique for gender-inclusive writing. Note about “he or she” At one time, many writers fell back on the construction “he or she” as a more inclusive alternative to the default “he.” Today, however, almost all style guides recommend against the use of “he or she,” which is often awkward to integrate into more complex sentences and which is not inclusive of individuals who do not identify with either pronoun. Additional information Inclusive writing – Guidelines and resources Inclusive writing: Glossary Gender-inclusive writing: Guidelines for writing to or about non-binary individuals Personal pronouns The singular “they” is gaining acceptanceSource: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 6,107
Gender-inclusive writing: Gender-inclusive nouns
On this page Introduction: Gendered nouns and inclusive solutions Occupational titles Expressions containing “man” or “woman” Terms denoting relationships Use of the singular “they” with gender-inclusive nouns Additional information Introduction: Gendered nouns and inclusive solutions Many nouns in English are unnecessarily gendered. You might recognize some of these nouns as outdated today, but others may still find their way into your everyday writing. In general, these terms are best avoided because they often contain sexist assumptions and are not inclusive of other genders. Wherever possible, it’s best to replace them with gender-inclusive nouns. Examples of sentences with gendered nouns and their inclusive alternatives Sentence with gendered noun Sentence with inclusive alternative Being a stewardess is a demanding job. Being a flight attendant is a demanding job. Humour is mankind’s greatest blessing. Humour is humanity’s greatest blessing. Guys, we’re running out of time. Everyone, we’re running out of time. An unruly boy or girl should be removed from the activity. An unruly child should be removed from the activity. Occupational titles Over time, many occupational roles and titles have taken on or carried forward an unnecessary gendered component. In most cases, you can use alternative gender-inclusive titles to convey the same meaning. Examples of gendered occupational titles and their inclusive alternatives Gendered occupational title Inclusive alternative stewardstewardess flight attendant waiterwaitress server Many of these gendered occupational titles contain the word “man” or “woman.” Titles using these terms are not inclusive of diverse gender identities. Moreover, it’s rarely necessary to focus on an individual’s gender when describing their occupation; in general, a person’s gender is irrelevant to the job they do and the way they do it. Examples of gendered occupational titles and their inclusive alternatives Gendered occupational title Inclusive alternative chairmanchairwoman chair or chairperson policemanpolicewoman police officer For this reason, too, you should avoid compound expressions such as “male nurse” or “female lawyer” unless the gender distinction is relevant and essential to the context. For example, such a distinction would be relevant and acceptable in the description of an agenda item for a conference addressing the status of women in science and bringing together a panel of top “women scientists.” Finally, it’s good practice to thoroughly review all your documents before they’re published so you can identify and replace any gender-specific occupational titles that are still in common usage. You should almost always use a gender-inclusive title. For further examples, please refer to the Inclusionary. Expressions containing “man” or “woman” In addition to occupational titles, there are many other expressions that contain the word “man” or “woman.” These expressions should also be avoided whenever possible. They often reflect older sexist thinking that takes “man” as the neutral or default (as in “mankind”) or emphasizes an individual’s gender in a context where it’s not relevant (as in “career woman”). They are also not inclusive of non-binary genders. Examples of gendered expressions containing the word “man” or “woman,” and their inclusive alternatives Gendered expression Inclusive alternative the common man the average person mankind humankindhumanitycivilization career woman Use the person’s specific occupation: doctor, engineer, professor, etc. A more detailed list of gendered expressions containing the word “man” or “woman,” along with their gender-inclusive alternatives, is available in the Inclusionary. Terms denoting relationships There are many gendered terms in English to describe relationships between individuals. Unlike gendered occupational titles, these terms don’t have to be avoided at all times. However, it’s important to use gender-inclusive terms in cases where you don’t know an individual’s gender or where you’re writing to or about a group of people of mixed genders. Of course, gender-inclusive terms are also preferred by many individuals who don’t identify with binary genders. Examples of gendered terms describing relationships, and their inclusive alternatives Gendered term Inclusive alternative husbandwife partner or spouse brothersister sibling motherfather parent For a more detailed list of examples and practical alternatives, consult the list of gendered terms denoting relationships and their inclusive alternatives in the Inclusionary. Use of the singular “they” with gender-inclusive nouns When you use a gender-inclusive noun generically, always pair it with a gender-inclusive pronoun in order to preserve inclusiveness. A good practice is to use the singular “they” to refer to generic gender-inclusive nouns. (Of course, if you’re using the gender-inclusive noun in reference to a specific person, you should pair it with that person’s specified pronoun.) Example of a sentence that uses a generic gendered noun and pronoun, and its inclusive solution Gendered sentence Inclusive solution The Chairman is responsible for the administration of the board meeting. He brings the meeting to order, manages the proceedings and oversees the votes. The Chair is responsible for the administration of the board meeting. They bring the meeting to order, manage the proceedings and oversee the votes. For more information, read the full article on using the singular “they” in gender-inclusive writing. Additional information Inclusive writing – Guidelines and resources Gender-inclusive writing: Use the singular “they” Gender-inclusive writing: InclusionarySource: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 6,101
“Latinx”: What does it mean, and how is it pronounced?
An English blog post about the term “Latinx” and gender-inclusive writing in Spanish.You may have recently read this term, or heard people saying “Latin-ex” out loud and been confused. Spanish is my second language, and while I was familiar with the writing convention, I was confused when I started hearing Anglophones in social activism and in news media pronouncing the letter “x,” and using its name rather than its phonetic value. I’ve never heard any word written with an “x” pronounced this way in Spanish, so what’s going on here? “Latino” and “Latina” Latino is short for latinoamericano and refers to the culture and people of Latin America, which comprises the countries in the Americas where the official language is Spanish or Portuguese. As a borrowed word with grammatical gender, it’s unique in English because it isn’t anglicized and maintains its masculine and feminine forms, “Latino” and “Latina,” respectively. Binary grammatical gender Like French, Spanish has a grammatical gender system, which is binary. There are two categories—masculine and feminine—for all things, and these categories are most often represented by a final “o” or “a.” Words that modify or refer to one another must agree in gender. Grammatical gender also corresponds to human gender, and when it comes to talking about mixed-gender groups or a generic person, the masculine gender is the default. Therefore, los latinos or los latinoamericanos (masculine, plural) is the standard way to refer to Latin American people as a group. Gender neutrality Other posts on the Our Languages blog have been about gender-neutral writing in English and French: “Making letters and emails gender-inclusive (opens in new tab),” “Embracing the singular ‘they’ as a gender-neutral pronoun (opens in new tab)” and “Respecter la non-binarité de genre en français (opens in new tab)” (available in French only). As with French, some see the default use of the masculine gender in Spanish as inherently exclusionary when applied to people. Additionally, non-binary people are left without any options. Several solutions for more inclusive writing in Spanish have been used, such as “o/a” or the at symbol (@) because it looks like both an “a” and an “o.” Replacing the gender-marking vowel with an “x” has also become popular. “X” equals the unknown This comes from a feminist Spanish writing convention wherein all vowels that mark the gender of a generic person, or group of people, are replaced with the letter “x,” the symbol for the unknown in mathematics. Los latinos becomes lxs latinxsspell l-x-s l-a-t-i-n-x-s. However, even Spanish speakers who write this way don’t pronounce the “x,” because as a consonant replacing a vowel, it doesn’t follow the rules of Spanish pronunciation. The letter is being used for its symbolic value, rather than its phonetic value. Sometimes in a speech or announcement to a group of people, a speaker will say both standard gender variants of a noun, a phenomenon we’re familiar with in French in Canada. But in everyday speech, most people still follow standard grammar and pronounce the at symbols or x’s as o’s. In Spanish, los latinos and lxs latinxsspell l-x-s l-a-t-i-n-x-s are pronounced identically. There is a movement to create a neutral, pronounceable, grammatical gender marker, to be used for mixed gender groups and non-binary individuals. The most popular option is to replace gender-marking vowels with e’s, as in les latines. These new options are very controversial. They are debated heavily and are not accepted by the Real Academia Española. It’s interesting, then, that the term “Latinx” has caught on in English and is being pronounced “Latin-ex.” The pronunciation of the letter “x” as “ex” is strange to me, but I think I understand why it happens. “Latinx” as an English term From an Anglophone perspective, there’s an instinct to neutralize terms that vary based on gender, especially after decades of purging gender variance from English professional terms, promoting acceptance of non-binary people, and moving toward gender-neutral writingNote 1 overall. “Latin” is a gender-neutral word in English, but it has been replaced by “Latino” and “Latina” when they refer to people. Because these words describe an ethnic identity partly based on shared language, it’s meaningful that they be borrowed directly, rather than translated, from Spanish. And now the term “Latinx” is emerging as a non-binary replacement for “Latino” and “Latina.” “Latinx” was first used in English in social activism, so from the moment it entered English, the meaning of the “x” made the vocalization of this letter seem important and obvious to English speakers. They may have asked themselves, “Why change the spelling for a specific goal if it can’t be articulated in speech?” But looking at a single word obscures the rest of the Spanish grammatical gender system, and therefore the pronunciation problem—how would the “x” be pronounced between consonants in plural Spanish words such as lxs empleadxsspell l-x-s e-m-p-l-e-a-d-x-s or unxs amigxsspell u-n-x-s a-m-i-g-x-s? Perhaps the “e” in place of the “x” will catch on more in the Spanish-speaking world and will then make its way into borrowed words in English. No matter the direction, it will be interesting to see how things progress simultaneously in both linguistic spheres. Do similar pronunciation phenomena occur in borrowings between English and French in Canada? As a closely related language, French has a similar story to Spanish when it comes to gender-neutral writing,Note 2 but are there any differences? Does the Canadian linguistic or cultural context play a unique role in this movement in French in Canada? Notes Note 1 See the Guidelines for Inclusive Writing (opens in new tab), published on the Language Portal of Canada, Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada Return to note 1 referrer Note 2 For information on inclusive language in French, consult Michael David Miller’s Guide de recherche en écriture inclusive (in French only). Return to note 2 referrerSource: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
Number of views: 5,476
Gender-inclusive, non-binary, and gender-neutral language in English writing
An English blog post about the importance of and move toward gender-inclusive, non-binary and gender-neutral language in English writing and translation.Over the past decade, the importance of gender-inclusive English has become widely recognized, with the Merriam Webster Dictionary adding a non-binary, singular definition of “they” in 2019Note 1 and the Oxford English Dictionary tracing the singular “they” as far back as the 14th century.Note 2 Precisely because of how it denotes humanity without specifying gender, “they” has become a pronoun of choice for many English speakers across gender identities, mirroring similar adaptations by speakers of Arabic, French, Hebrew, Spanish, among other languages.Note 3 But the popularization of “they” and other non-binary third-person singular pronouns such as “ze,” “sie,” etc. represents only one facet of the movement towards gender inclusion in the English language. Other recent linguistic shifts include the widespread use of “cis-” and “trans-” as prefixes, and neologisms such as “polyamorous,” “pansexual,” and “asexual.” These words allow individuals to express and define their gender and sexuality in new ways. They also have valuable collective functions, serving as a shared shorthand for complex identities and relationships, as tools for reshaping social configurations, and touchstones for political movements. For instance, in 2021, when the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled to allow a third adult to be listed on a child’s birth certificate, legal recognition was extended to three-parent families. Inclusive language can also affirm roles that have generally been understood as peripheral to the nuclear family, such as referring to “caregivers” and “guardians,” rather than “parents” or “mothers and fathers,” in acknowledgment of the fact that many children are raised by grandparents, aunts and uncles, or grow up in foster care or in group homes. Ultimately, however, the practice of gender-inclusive translation is not simply a matter of using the latest English terminology in just the right way. Rather it requires reflection on the connotations of words. Consider how gender biases may be insidiously reinforced through apparently neutral adjectives like “caring,” “nurturing” and “bossy” to describe women and “confident,” “assertive” and “visionary” to describe men. Or how a hasty attempt to be inclusive, such as by saying “women and trans women,” can be harmful, even violently so, since it invalidates trans women as women and reifies biological essentialist views of cis-gender women. Conversely, note how the use of common binary gendered third-person singular pronouns (“she/he”) can shore up the social and legal recognition of trans people. Sensitivity to the role of gender and sexuality in a particular text also requires an understanding of both the original context of composition and the scope of the translation’s audience, including its potential or future audience. If you are expecting to address a diverse group of people from across the gender spectrum, practices of gender-inclusive translation can include: Recognizing all self-determined gendered language. When gender pronouns are given in the original text, preserving them in the translation is an act of respect that conveys crucial information to readers about that person’s gender identity. For example: Al shares their pronouns in their email signature; Anna uses both “she” and “they” pronouns. Favouring non-gendered descriptive terms. Instead of assuming the qualities or attributes of binary gender, refer to the specific features that give meaning to the category in question. For example: “people who are pregnant,” rather than “pregnant women”; “child-bearing parents,” rather than “mothers”; “people with prostates,” rather than “men”; “victims or survivors of domestic violence,” rather than “battered women.” Leaning on genderless English. Draw liberally on first-person and second-person plural pronouns (“we” and “you”), which are already gender neutral in English. Whenever the gender identity or the pronouns of a specific person are unknown, use the singular “they” or avoid third-person pronouns altogether to ensure that binary gender is not arbitrarily assigned onto the subject. For example: the student asked to speak with their teacher; the person looked up and smiled at someone in the distance. Above all, gender-inclusive translation involves a commitment to noticing and suspending the assumptions about bodies, gender, and sexuality, and the relationships between them, that are woven into all languages. Given the powerful impact that words can have on how we make sense of ourselves and our connections with others, translation brings a significant opportunity to redress restrictive and often harmful norms and to make space for all genders and sexualities. Respecting human dignity and self-determination, which are at the core of linguistic changes and indeed at the core of all communication, is what matters most. View references Airton, Lee. 2019. Gender: Your Guide. New York: Adams Media. Kapitan, Alex. The Radical Copyeditor Blog (opens in new tab). Kouri-Towe, Natalie and Myloe Martel-Perry. 2021. Better Practices in the Sexuality Classroom: Teaching Resources and Guides for Sustainable and Equitable Learning (opens in new tab). Notes Note 1 See the article “Merriam-Webster dictionary adds 'they' as nonbinary pronoun (opens in new tab)” in The Guardian. Return to note 1 referrer Note 2 See the article “A brief history of singular ‘they’ (opens in new tab)” on the Oxford English Dictionary blog. Return to note 2 referrer Note 3 See the Washington Post article “A guide to how gender-neutral language is developing around the world (opens in new tab).” Return to note 3 referrer Source Natalie Kouri-Towe and Danielle Bobker’s article “Gender Inclusive, Non-Binary, and Gender-Neutral Language in English Writing (opens in new tab)” was originally published in Issue 155 (Summer 2022) of Circuit magazine.Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
Number of views: 4,766
Gender-inclusive writing: Pluralize the noun
On this page Introduction Guidelines for pluralizing the noun Additional information Introduction You can often avoid using gendered pronouns by pluralizing the noun that the pronoun refers to. This is because the singular pronouns “he” and “she” are gendered in English, but the plural pronoun “they” is not. Pluralizing the noun can therefore be a quick and easy way to make your sentence inclusive without rewriting it. Examples of gendered sentences and inclusive solutions Gendered sentence Inclusive solution The supervisor must give feedback to her employees monthly. Supervisors must give feedback to their employees monthly. Every visitor must report to the reception desk to receive his temporary pass. All visitors must report to the reception desk to receive their temporary pass. A public official must conduct himself with integrity in the performance of his duties. Public officials must conduct themselves with integrity in the performance of their duties. The applicant must send her application by December 31. Applicants must send their application by December 31. The advisor must inform the graduate student of her responsibilities in regard to course work. The advisor must inform graduate students of their responsibilities in regard to course work. Guidelines for pluralizing the noun Making a noun plural can work well in a formal text that sets out instructions or guidelines. In this kind of writing, you’re usually speaking in a general and collective way, and the intended meaning doesn’t really change when the noun is made plural. But in some cases, pluralizing a noun can lead to a significant change in meaning by shifting emphasis away from the individual and toward the collective. This is especially true in cases such as contracts or legal writing, where the emphasis is on defining the roles and responsibilities that fall on each individual. Here you want to avoid all ambiguity, since subtle changes of meaning or connotation might have major consequences. In these cases, another technique is probably preferable. Example of a gendered sentence, inclusive but unclear solution, and inclusive and clear solution Gendered sentence Inclusive but unclear solution Inclusive and clear solution Each researcher is expected to organize his hours of work, workdays and days of rest in order to suit his specific research project(s), subject to the approval of the employer. Researchers are expected to organize their hours of work, workdays and days of rest in order to suit their specific research project(s), subject to the approval of the employer. Each researcher is expected to organize their hours of work, workdays and days of rest in order to suit their specific research project(s), subject to the approval of the employer. In the gendered sentence above, each researcher is acting on their own to organize their work schedule. That emphasis is lost in the inclusive but unclear solution when the noun is pluralized. However, in the inclusive and clear solution, the emphasis remains on the individual. Additional information Inclusive writing – Guidelines and resources Inclusive writing: Glossary Gender-inclusive writing: Use the singular “they”Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 4,747
A brief guide to inclusive writing resources
An English blog post about gender-neutral and inclusive writing resources, as well as emerging trends in the field.When the gender of someone you are writing about is unknown or outside the gender binary, it’s important to avoid references to gender and to write inclusively. In the area of gender-inclusive writing, terminology is constantly evolving. For example, a newer variation of “LGBTQ+,” intended to better represent diverse gender identities, is “2SLGBTQI+.” One of the major changes is that “2S” or “Two-Spirited” is placed in front of the more familiar abbreviation. On a similar note, “x” and “@” have been proposed as symbols for gender neutrality, for example, “Mx.” instead of “Mr.” or “Ms.,” and “Latinx” or “Latin@” instead of “Latino” and “Latina.”Note 1 Should you use “Mx.,” “Latinx” or “Latin@” in your writing? That depends. Such expressions have layers of meaning that are different for different people. A good solution would be to turn to reference materials that have the latest information. Here are some resources that may be helpful in navigating new directions in inclusive writing. Conscious Style Guide The Conscious Style Guide website is a compendium of developments in the field of inclusive language. It was founded by Karen Yin, who launched both the website and The Conscious Language Newsletter in 2015. Yin encourages us to think critically about using language in order to avoid unconscious bias. The site also includes the Gender, Sex + Sexuality guide, which focuses specifically on gender inclusivity and lists a wealth of resources. Justice Canada – Legistics The Legistics page on Justice Canada’s website includes sections on gender-neutral languageNote 2 and the singular “they.”Note 3 It’s noteworthy that, according to the section on the singular “they,” the Government of Ontario adopted an official policy of using gender-neutral language in all official publications, including bills and regulations, as early as 1985. A Progressive’s Style Guide A Progressive’s Style Guide (PDF) is a well-known guide started in 2015 by SumOfUs, a global non-profit advocacy organization. The Guide provides information on a range of issues related to inclusive writing and promotes thoughtfulness and openness about how language is used. SumOfUs consulted a large number of resources and provides terms used by activists and terms avoided or questioned by activists in issue areas including age, disability, health, gender and sex. The Language Portal of Canada The federal government’s Language Portal of Canada contains resources on many topics, including inclusive writing, in its Writing Tips Plus tool. Be sure to check out the Guidelines for Inclusive Writing, which provide practical techniques and solutions in this field. One of the resources included in the Guidelines is the Inclusionary, along with its French counterpart the Inclusionnaire. The Inclusionary contains a list of more than 100 gendered words with suggestions for more inclusive versions, such as “anchor” or “anchor person” instead of “anchorman” or “anchorwoman.” United Nations (UN) Guidelines for Gender-Inclusive Language (in six languages) The UN Guidelines for Gender-Inclusive Language provide best practices and strategies. The Guidelines were developed semi-independently in each of the UN’s six official languages and thus “reflect the specificities and unique features of each language.” UN Gender-Sensitive Lexicon The UN’s searchable Gender-Sensitive Lexicon contains 650 terms in English, French, Arabic, Russian and Spanish. The purpose is to fight gender bias and promote gender equality. There are also various associated references. UNTERM UNTERM, which is the United Nations Terminology Database, provides up-to-date terminology relevant to the work of the UN in the six UN official languages, plus German and Portuguese. For example, the research is very recent for the UNTERM entry “genderqueer person,” which is defined as “A person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both or a combination of male and female genders.” The source listed is “Oxford English Dictionary, online version (consulted on 15 June 2022).” The French equivalents provided are “personne de genre queer” and “intergenre,” from a source dated March 2019. Conclusion Since inclusive writing is a very current issue, terminology in this area is subject to change, and it’s vital to keep up with developments. Otherwise, even with the best of intentions, we may inadvertently use hurtful, insensitive or inaccurate language. This blog post provides a few resources to help us all write more inclusively. Notes Note 1 See the article “A guide to how gender-neutral language is developing around the world” in The Washington Post. Return to note 1 referrer Note 2 See the web page Legistics: Gender-neutral Language. Return to note 2 referrer Note 3 See the web page Legistics: Singular “They”. Return to note 3 referrerSource: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
Number of views: 4,011
Gender-neutral writing: The pronoun problem
For most of us reared in the 1970s and 1980s, with Ms. magazine, All in the Family reruns and the spread of political correctness, gender-neutral writing is a no-brainer. We don’t automatically refer to people as he and him, and we usually opt for gender-inclusive terms like police officer instead of policeman. Same goes for our younger colleagues. But those schooled in earlier decades learned different lessons. What’s more, all of us, regardless of age, are influenced by the traditional approaches to English grammar and vocabulary that we encounter in material written before sexist language was on the radar (or before there even was radar). No matter what your field, your workplace writing has to be free from gender bias and stereotyping to be viewed as credible and professional. This article, one of two on gender-neutral writing, focuses on the grammatical side of the issue. Working around the pronoun gap Loving English is like loving your family: you have to accept a lot of flaws and peculiarities. One of the most enduring is the lack of a gender-inclusive singular pronoun that can complete a sentence like this: Each writer should develop own techniques for avoiding bias in writing. We have he and she, which are singular but gender-specific; we have it, which is singular but not used for people (at least not in polite discourse); and we have they, which is gender-inclusive but plural. That leaves us with … nothing. There is no singular personal pronoun that encompasses both genders, and attempts to introduce one (among the hopefuls: thon, hes, zhe, hu) have fizzled as fast as the average infomercial diet. English writers, being nothing if not resourceful, have developed a number of workarounds for sentences like the one above. The norm until the final quarter of the twentieth century was to use his, but because of the sexism inherent in preferring the masculine, that approach is now shunned. Use a plural antecedent. Individual writers should develop their own techniques for avoiding bias in writing. Eliminate the pronoun. Each writer should develop techniques for avoiding bias in writing. Each writer should develop some favourite [personal, individual, preferred, etc.] techniques for avoiding bias in writing. Switch to first person, second person or imperative. We should develop our own techniques for avoiding bias in writing. You should develop your own techniques for avoiding bias in writing. Work to develop your own techniques for avoiding bias in writing. Use his or her (when nothing else works, and if the result isn’t too awkward). Each writer should develop his or her own techniques for avoiding bias in writing. The singular they Absent from the list above is the option exercised most frequently by English speakers, and increasingly by English writers, though some still fret over the matter: Each writer should develop their own tools for avoiding bias in writing. It would be easy to write articles (plural), if not treatises (plural), about the history and acceptability of using they (and related pronouns them, their, theirs, themselves) to refer to singular antecedents. Here’s the Twitter version: The singular they is fine in speech; It’s equally fine in general writing; BUT It’s still avoided by some, especially in formal writing. In the "singular they" war, the antagonists used to divide into the permissive linguists and usage gurus on one side, and the traditionalist grammarians and copy editors on the other. No more. Editorially conservative publications like the Washington Post have accepted the singular they, which was voted 2015 Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society. Nowadays, even persnickety editors and language professionals are fine with the construction if it sounds natural, if no other approaches work well and if it’s a way of avoiding the clunky he or she. Here’s a rundown of where some current sources stand on using the singular they (ST) in formal writing. In favour Copyediting newsletter (“Singular They, Them, Their, and …” and articles linked to therein, https://www.copyediting.com/singular-they-them-their-and/): This well-respected publication and website for U.S. copy editors notes that ST has reached a tipping point in its acceptability. Fowler’s Modern English Usage (4th ed., 2015): Approves ST with few apologies or caveats, citing Oxford English Dictionary, which tracks ST from sixteenth century on. Says of ST: “The process now seems irreversible.” Justice Canada ("Gender-neutral language," http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/legis-redact/legistics/p1p...): Presents ST as first option for dealing with troublesome agreement like that in the sentence above. Law Society of British Columbia ("Respectful Language Guideline," Appendix A, https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/page.cfm?cid=1005&t=Respectful-Language-Gui...): Finds ST most acceptable when used with "gender-indefinite antecedents" such as any, each, every, and with singular indefinite pronouns such as anyone, everybody, nobody, someone. Against Practical Grammar: A Canadian Writer’s Resource (3rd ed., 2014): Presents ST as an error in formal English. The Chicago Manual of Style: Recommended ST in 14th edition but recanted in 15th and now 16th editions, which both say ST is considered unacceptable in formal writing. (It can’t be coincidental that the relevant sections of both recent editions were written by Bryan Garner; see "Wishy-washy" below.) Yahoo! Style Guide ("Write gender-neutral copy," https://shopping.yahoo.com/9780312569846-yahoo-style-guide/): Calls ST "a grammatically controversial usage that could provoke criticism." Suggests avoiding it by using other tactics. Wishy-washy Canadian Press Stylebook (17th ed., 2013): Under "Sexism" advises rewording to avoid his or her and adds: "As a last resort, they (them, their) is an increasingly acceptable alternative to he (him, his)." For or against? It’s hard to tell. Editing Canadian English (3rd ed., 2015): Acknowledges that ST has always existed in informal speech and notes its use in informal writing “as a way to circumvent using he or she . . . ” The descriptor “informal” suggests unease about accepting the practice in formal writing. Garner’s Modern English Usage (4th ed., 2016): Says in "Sexism" that ST promises to become the ultimate solution to the agreement and gender problem. But then warns in "Concord" (B) that the lack of agreement is a "seeming sloppiness" that should be used "cautiously because some people may doubt your literacy." Throws up hands in "Pronouns" (D): "Disturbing though these developments [in using the ST] may be to purists, they’re irreversible. And nothing that a grammarian says will change them." Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage (2nd ed., 2007): In entry for everyone, everybody suggests, through overall tone and emphasis on ST’s history pre–eighteenth century, that the practice is okay. But says that most usage guides "evade the question of what to do in formal writing"—as does this guide itself. Some thoughts from your author I spent my first twenty years as a copy editor and grammar instructor avoiding the singular they and counselling against it in formal writing. Now I’m a convert. For one thing, many of my clients have shifted to more conversational writing, especially for their online material, and the singular they suits their tone. Further, I agree with Fowler’s and Garner’s that the trend toward the construction is irreversible, and I’m willing to change with the times. But I’m willing not because it’s easier to cave than to stand strong (I will never swallow the ungrammatical "feeling badly," for instance) but because there are sound arguments to consider. One involves the history of the usage. In a concise and readable account in the New York Times Magazine (July 26, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/magazine/26FOB-onlanguage-t.html), Patricia T. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman explain that for centuries the universal English pronoun for singular and plural, masculine and feminine, was they. Then along came Anne Fisher (yes, a woman), who in her 1745 grammar book prescribed he as the pronoun of choice to agree with singular indefinite pronouns. Suddenly a practice that had been natural and accepted, embraced by authors from Chaucer to Shakespeare (and later Austen), was smeared. Viewed this way, the singular they may be an "error" in the same way that the split infinitive or the sentence-ending preposition was, until half a century ago, an error: early grammarians labelled it as such with little heed for natural English. Another argument is that we, in western society at least, are questioning the notion of gender as binary. If individuals don’t identify with being a she or a he, what are we to do—deny those people a pronoun? Of course not. They is an elegant choice. A final argument, one I’ve not yet encountered outside my own mind, concerns the similarity between singular indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, somebody) and collective nouns (e.g., team, committee, department). It’s a contradictory yet undisputed point of grammar that collective nouns are treated as singular when their meaning is singular and plural when their meaning is plural: This class is designed for people at the beginner and intermediate levels. It is not suitable for experienced distance runners. (class is singular) The class have wasted two hours arguing over the characteristics of proper footwear. They simply cannot agree. (class is plural) I can’t help but wonder: if collective nouns can change their number according to their meaning, why can’t indefinite pronouns, such as everyone? Like collective nouns, these indefinites convey the sense of more than one, which is why treating them as singular seems unnatural if not illogical. English has other indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural according to meaning (e.g., all, any, some, more, most). In fact, in recent decades we’ve seen the once singular none slide into this "sometimes singular, sometimes plural" category. If it can change, why not the other indefinites? That’s my modest proposal for balancing the twin imperatives of grammatical integrity and gender neutrality. Related quiz Test yourself—Gender-neutral writing: The pronoun problemSource: Peck’s English Pointers (articles and exercises on the English language)
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Gender-neutral writing: Questions of usage
Read up on gender-neutral English and you’re bound to run into the history of the word man. Briefly, it goes like this. In Old English man meant a human being, male or female. The sex-differentiated terms were wer and wif, for males and females respectively. Around the late thirteenth century, wer fell out of use (though as horror fans know, we kept werewolf) and man took its place. Thus, for a time man carried two meanings: the newer one (male human beings) and the older one (all human beings). Now the newer meaning is the predominant one. Critics of gender-neutral usage—those for whom the prospect of changing workman to worker is a needless if not infuriating restriction of personal freedom, in a league with obeying "no smoking" signs or yielding to pedestrians—love this history. They will trot out the dual-sex meaning of man to defend all manner of gender-biased terms, including businessman, fireman, mailman, mankind. Such terms don’t refer exclusively to men, the critics say; they refer to both sexes, because that’s what man used to mean. Comforting as this argument may be to some, it skips over the fact that in our time the male meaning of man outweighs any other. As Editing Canadian English (2nd ed., 2000) notes: "Research has confirmed what was long suspected: when they hear or read the generic man, people form mental pictures of males." Anyone who doubts this should consider this oft-cited (though fictitious) title of a medical paper: "Development of the uterus in rats, guinea pigs, and men." To sidestep the perceived bias, not to mention lack of logic, that results from referring to people as men in modern English, government bodies, companies, publishers and academic institutions have made gender-neutral vocabulary a requirement. Putting that requirement into practice means knowing which words to replace and which to leave alone. Test yourself To measure your GQ (gender quotient), decide which of the following words you would change, in most circumstances, to a gender-neutral alternative. Answer yes, no or iffy. chairman man-made manufactured midwife actress dude manpower manslaughter Mrs. fisherman Iffy. When referring to the position in the abstract, use the gender-neutral chair or chairperson. But if you know and want to specify the sex of the person holding the position, chairman or chairwoman may be fine. Above all, respect the official job title if there is one: if an organization elects a Chair of the Board, consistently refer to that person as chair. Yes. There are many synonyms that allow for the possibility that a woman had a hand in making the thing. Try fabricated, machine-made, artificial, factory-produced, synthetic. No. Don’t assume that all terms that contain man derive from the word man. Words such as manufacture, manipulate, manual and manuscript come from manus, the Latin for "hand" (making manufactured another option for man-made in question 2). No. Midwife is a Middle English combination of the Old English mid (with) and wif (woman). It means a person of either sex who is with a woman giving birth. Iffy. Actress is a feminine form of actor; actor refers to either sex. Many feminine forms, including authoress, poetess and aviatrix, have exited current English, but actress is one of a few to hang on. For how much longer? One Los Angeles Times article says that "over the last decade or so, most thespians of the female persuasion now refer to themselves as actors, not actresses" (see http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/18/entertainment/ca-actress18). Still, we need only look at acting awards to see how divided the usage is. The Screen Actors Guild Awards honour the best male actor and best female actor, while the Oscars go to best actors and actresses. No. For teens and 20-somethings, dude has become the unisex equivalent of guy (as in you guys, which we older dudes use for males, females or both). Says a University of Pittsburgh professor who has tracked the word, "Dude is used mostly by young men to address other young men; however, its use has expanded so that it is now used as a general address term for a group (same or mixed gender), and by and to women" (http://www.pitt.edu/~kiesling/dude/dude.pdf). This gender-inclusivity is confirmed by a later study, entitled "Dude, Katie! Your dress is so cute: why dude became an exclamation," by Muffy Siegel, and no, I am not making that up (see https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dude,+Katie!+Your+dress+is+so+cute%3A+why...). Yes. Like man-made, this word has many gender-neutral synonyms, among them labour, staff, human resources, workers, personnel, workforce. No. There is no synonym for manslaughter, a category of homicide that comes with a specific legal definition and a complex history of judicial precedent. Any attempt to create a gender-neutral synonym would distort meaning and sacrifice correctness and clarity. Similar words for which we have no reasonable synonyms, and which we should therefore leave alone, are manhole, defenceman and craftsmanship. Iffy. Because the traditional titles Mrs. and Miss indicate marital status, they are not equivalent to Mr., which is silent on whether a man has said "I do." The default honorific for women has therefore become Ms. This blend of Miss and Mrs., until recently thought to have originated in 1949, has now been traced back to a 1901 Massachusetts newspaper article that proposed it as a title that disregarded marital state (see http://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/wordroutes/hunting-the-elusive-first-ms/). Still, as ubiquitous as Ms. has become, there are women who prefer to be called Mrs. or Miss. So how do you handle women’s titles? If the individual has indicated a preference, then respect it; otherwise, use Ms. And don’t assume that Mrs. is acceptable for any female who is married. There are many happily wedded women (your author included) who would no more call themselves Mrs. than they would wear a whalebone corset. Iffy. Who’d have pegged the rugged world of fisheries as the crucible for gender-neutral language in Canada? Yet that’s what it became in the late 1990s, when federal efforts to replace fisherman with fisher in government documents, coupled with a high-profile Supreme Court decision on native fishing rights, caused a riptide of dissent over what to call people who fish. To complicate matters, many women in the industry resented having their job title changed and insisted on being called fishermen. The "Fissure over Fisher," as it was called in an article on the CBC treatment of the issue (http://www.cbc.ca/news2/indepth/words/fishermen), has since narrowed but not closed. On one side is the government approach: fish harvester is now the official term for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (confirmed in an email to me from the department’s Communications Branch, June 21, 2013). On the other side is general publishing: The Canadian Press Stylebook (16th ed., 2010) states under "Sexism" that "there is not an entirely satisfactory substitute for fisherman, although fisher, fish harvester, fish industry worker, fishing licensees or the phrase fishermen and women are all possibilities"; the Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage (2nd ed., 2007), in its entry on job titles, singles out fisher as a term that has yet to gain wide acceptance. Even this brief test shows that stamping out gender bias can be tricky. As always, it’s a question of bearing in mind audience, message and clarity, those familiar ingredients of good writing. And as always, it’s a question of having reliable resources. One I can recommend is the Law Society of British Columbia’s "Respectful Language Guideline" (https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/page.cfm?cid=1005&t=Respectful-Language-Gui...). In particular, check out Appendix A ("Gender-Neutral Language") for a list of terms to avoid and their gender-neutral substitutes. Related quiz Test yourself—Gender-neutral writing: Questions of usageSource: Peck’s English Pointers (articles and exercises on the English language)
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Gender-inclusive writing: Guidelines for translating from French
On this page Introduction: Gender inclusivity and translation Translating text about non-binary individuals Translating other gender-inclusive text Additional information Introduction: Gender inclusivity and translation The French language presents a different set of challenges and solutions for gender-inclusive writing. Sometimes, this can create ambiguities for translators working with both of Canada’s official languages. Translating text about non-binary individuals When you’re writing about a non-binary individual, note that they may use pronouns in English and French that do not completely correspond. For example, some individuals may prefer the pronouns “they” and “them” in English but choose to use il or elle in French. Likewise, use of the common French neopronoun iel does not always signify that an individual will use the common English gender-inclusive pronoun “they.” Remember to ask and follow the lead of the person in question. However, when you’re not certain which pronouns an individual uses in English, the safest approach to translating iel or other neopronouns will generally be to employ the gender-inclusive “they.” Examples of French sentences using the neopronoun iel and their inclusive English-language translations French sentence Inclusive translation Iel a fondé son entreprise en Nouvelle-Zélande en 1994. They founded their business in New Zealand in 1994. C’est alors qu’iel a commencé à réfléchir à son identité comme personne non binaire. It is then that they started to reflect on their non-binary identity. Aujourd’hui, iel milite pour les droits des personnes non binaires partout dans le monde. Today, they promote the rights of non-binary people throughout the world. « Comment s’est déroulé votre vol? », demanda-t-iel. “How was your flight?” they asked. Translating other gender-inclusive text In French, some sentences about non-binary individuals may avoid the use of pronouns. When the subject’s gender is unclear in the original French sentence, the gender-inclusive “they” is a strong tool for effective translation. However, you may also choose to apply other gender-inclusive writing techniques. Additional information Inclusive writing – Guidelines and resources Inclusive writing: Glossary Gender-inclusive writing: Use the singular “they”Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
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2SLGBTQI+ allyship in language: Words matter
An English blog post about allyship and fostering inclusion in the workplace through the use of inclusive language.Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (2SLGBTQI+Note 1) folks often struggle with coming out in the workplace. For many members of the broader 2SLGBTQI+ community, the decision to live authentically at work is contingent on whether they perceive their environment and colleagues to be inclusive. To foster a healthy culture of civility and inclusiveness in the workplace, allies are needed. An ally is an individual who listens to the needs of a person or group that is targeted and discriminated against, and who speaks out and stands up for them. An ally works to end oppression by supporting and advocating for people who are stigmatized, discriminated against or treated unfairly. Being an ally is an active role, and allyship is a journey—it’s a constant work in progress and a commitment to learning and to a state of mind. One way you can demonstrate your allyship to the 2SLGBTQI+ community—and contribute to a workplace that is truly inclusive of everyone—is by using inclusive language. Here are some insights and tips to use as you build your inclusive communication skills. What is inclusive language? While language cannot bruise the skin, it can break the spirit. We should strive to communicate in a way that builds bridges, breaks barriers and affirms peoples’ truths. As noted in an article in the American Psychological Association’s student newsletter, “Inclusive language is more than just avoiding the use of a few antiquated or offensive terms and phrases. It is about embracing communication that acknowledges the power differentials and dynamics of our society and their deleterious effects. It is about showing appreciation for the diversity everyone brings to the table.”Note 2 This includes diversity in gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations and lived experiences . The Government of Victoria’s inclusive language guide notes that “inclusive language ensures we don’t leave people out of our conversations or our work.”Note 3 This includes both the people we work with and the people we serve as public servants. Inclusive language should also be applied both when communicating directly with someone and when describing someone who is not present. Examples of inclusive language include: introducing yourself with your pronouns, and encouraging others to do the same, instead of assuming gender on the basis of appearances using gender-neutral words like “Can I get you folks something?” instead of “Can I get you ladies something?” using person-centered language, which avoids unnecessarily dehumanizing people and reducing them to their gender or sexual identities (for example, saying “gay men” instead of “the gays,” or “a transgender person” instead of “a transgendered”)Note 4 Inclusive language also encompasses a variety of communication modes, including verbal communication, emails, social media, websites and imagery. Putting inclusive language into practice is a shared responsibility amongst employees of all classifications and levels. We can be leaders in this space regardless of whether we are in an entry-level position or the executive cadre. Language is fluid We should all put great thought into how we communicate with and about members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Attitudes can be the most difficult barrier members of the broader 2SLGBTQI+ community face when it comes to achieving full inclusion within the workplace and society. It’s important to remember that language is a mirror of society's attitudes and perceptions. As such, language is constantly changing and advancing to better encompass new ideas, sentiments and connotations. Generationally, we have seen huge societal shifts in how we speak of and address the broader 2SLGBTQI+ community. This includes the reclaiming of some terms which were previously used to disparage the community. Applying inclusive language principles means focusing on the person/people over labels. Listen carefully to how different groups identify themselves and speak of their experiences, and reflect those linguistic choices when communicating with and about these groups. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Impact over intention When practicing allyship, your good intentions can sometimes miss the mark and lead to unintentional negative impacts. If this happens, one of the most important things to do is to listen and learn from the moment. When putting inclusive communication into practice, you may make mistakes. That’s okay! Embrace that you are a learner and not necessarily an expert when it comes to understanding the identities and lived experiences of others. Commit to doing better next time, which may require you to challenge your own unconscious biases, set time aside for self-reflection, and make a commitment to do more learning and listening. Change is the result of small actions over time. Let’s start today, together. Notes 1 The + (plus) symbol represents folks who identify with broader sexual- and gender-diverse communities and who use additional terms outside of the 2SLGBTQI+ acronym. For more information on 2SLGBTQI+ terminology and common acronyms, you can visit the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat (opens in new tab). Return to note 1 referrer 2 Efua Andoh, “Why Inclusive Language Matters (opens in new tab),” Psychology Student Network (September 2022). Return to note 2 referrer 3 “LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Language Guide (opens in new tab),” Government of Victoria, last reviewed August 18, 2021. Return to note 3 referrer 4 Examples in this list are taken from “Affirming and Inclusive Language (opens in new tab),” Egale (2022). Return to note 4 referrerSource: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
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