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The notions of “appropriate language” and “political correctness” have made it even more difficult for people to know how to avoid bias in their speeches. What do these terms mean exactly? The idea behind appropriate language is that words have tremendous power to influence the ways people think of, feel about, and treat each other; thus, it is important to avoid—as often as possible—words that could cause harm or pain to others, especially in terms of a person’s or a group’s identity.

Some people, on the other hand, argue that efforts to encourage the use of appropriate language often go too far. Rather than protecting certain vulnerable people from hurtful language, critics say that these guidelines limit people’s precious right to freedom of expression by establishing strict rules of political correctness—written or unwritten codes of conduct requiring language that reflects a politically and socially liberal view.

The best way to avoid the debate over appropriate language and political correctness is to simply support your position on an issue—no matter what it is—with credible evidence and logical reasoning. Otherwise, your listeners will likely perceive you as prejudiced. Saying something like, “We all know that the Americans with Disabilities Act puts an unfair burden on employers” would instantly reveal bias and a lack of thought about your topic. On the other hand, you could build a much stronger case on the difficulties some businesses might encounter in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act by making careful word choices and offering solid and unbiased evidence, such as compelling examples, credible statistics, and solid expert testimony.