18. Bias-Free Language

Thoughtful writers try to avoid harmful bias in language. They respect their readers and don’t want to insult them, anger them, or impede communication. You may not be able to eliminate discrimination from society, but you can eliminate discriminatory language in your writing. Be on the lookout for words that insult or stereotype individuals or groups by gender, age, race, ethnic origin, sexual preference, or religion.

18a To eliminate sexist language, use alternatives that make no reference to gender

Decades ago American feminists challenged the male bias built into the English language. Why, they asked, do we talk about prehistoric man, manpower, and the brotherhood of man, when by man we mean the entire human race? Why do we focus attention on the gender of an accomplished woman by calling her a poetess or a lady doctor? Why does a letter to a corporation have to begin “Gentlemen:”? On the other hand, to substitute “Everyone prefers their own customs” for “Everyone prefers his own customs” replaces sexism with bad grammar. Although there are no perfect solutions, sensitive writers try to minimize the sexist constraints of English.

18b Avoid terms that include or imply man

Try substituting human for man or a word starting with man.

SEXIST Mankind studies man’s inhumanity to man.
CLUMSY Humankind studies humans’ inhumanity to other humans.

If the result weighs down the sentence, look for a more graceful solution.

REVISED Human beings study people’s cruelty to one another.

Similarly, you need not simply replace the ending -man with -person. Instead, think about meaning and find a truly neutral synonym.

SEXIST Did you leave a note for the mailman?
REVISED Did you leave a note for the letter carrier?
SEXIST Ask your steward [or stewardess] for a pillow.
REVISED Ask your flight attendant for a pillow.
18c Use plural instead of singular forms

Replace the singular with the plural (they and their for he and his).

SEXIST Today’s student values his education.
REVISED Today’s students value their education.
18d Where possible, omit words that denote gender

You can make your language more bias-free by omitting pronouns and other words that needlessly indicate gender.

SEXIST There must be rapport between a stockbroker and his client, a teacher and her student, a doctor and his patient.
REVISED There must be rapport between stockbroker and client, teacher and student, doctor and patient.

Also treat men and women equally in terms of description or title.

SEXIST I now pronounce you man and wife.
REVISED I now pronounce you husband and wife.
SEXIST Please page Mr. Pease, Mr. Mankodi, and Emily Brillantes.
REVISED Please page Mr. Pease, Mr. Mankodi, and Ms. Brillantes.
18e Avoid condescending labels

A responsible writer does not call women chicks, babes, woman drivers, or any other names that imply that they are not to be taken seriously. Nor should an employee ever be called a girl or boy. Avoid terms that put down individuals or groups because of age (old goat, the grannies), race or ethnicity (Indian giver, Chinaman’s chance), or disability (gimpy, handicapped).

CONDESCENDING The girls in the office got Mr. Birt a birthday cake.
REVISED The administrative assistants got Mr. Birt a birthday cake.
CONDESCENDING My neighbor is just an old fogy.
REVISED My neighbor has old-fashioned ideas.

When describing a group, try to use the label or term that its members prefer, even if it is difficult to determine.

POSSIBLY OFFENSIVE Alice wants to study Oriental culture.
REVISED Alice wants to study Asian culture.
18f Avoid implied stereotypes

Sometimes a stereotype is linked to a title. Aside from obvious exceptions, never assume that all the members of a group are of the same gender.

STEREOTYPE Pilots have little time to spend with their wives and children.
REVISED Pilots have little time to spend with their families.

Avoid stereotyping individuals or groups, negatively or positively.

STEREOTYPE Roberto isn’t very good at paying his rent on time, which doesn’t surprise me because he is from Mexico.
REVISED Roberto isn’t very good at paying his rent on time.
STEREOTYPE I assume Ben will do very well in medical school because his parents are Jewish.
REVISED I assume Ben will do very well in medical school.
18g Use Ms. for a woman with no other known title

Ms. is the preferred title of polite address for women because, like Mr. for men, it does not indicate marital status. Use Miss or Mrs. only if you know that the woman prefers this form. If a woman holds a doctorate, professional office, or position with a title, use that title rather than Ms.

Ms. Jane Doe, Editor Dear Ms. Doe:
Professor Jane Doe, Department of English Dear Professor Doe:
Senator Jane Doe, Washington, D.C. Dear Senator Doe: