Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Avoid sexist and noninclusive language
Choose appropriate language
Clarity

Sexist and noninclusive language stereotypes or demeans people and should be avoided. Using inclusive language and recognizing individuals’ chosen pronoun usage shows awareness of others. As you write for different audiences, keep in mind that words matter, and always select words that show respect for your readers.

Recognizing sexist and noninclusive language

Some sexist language is easy to recognize because it reflects genuine contempt for women: referring to a woman as a “babe,” for example, or calling a lawyer a “lady lawyer.”

Other forms of sexist and noninclusive language are less blatant. The following practices reflect stereotypical thinking: referring to members of one profession as exclusively one gender (teachers as women or computer engineers as men, for instance) or using different conventions when naming or identifying people of different genders.

STEREOTYPICAL LANGUAGE

✵ After a nursing student graduates, she must face a difficult state board examination. [Not all nursing students are women.]

✵ Running for city council are Boris Stotsky, an attorney, and Mrs. Cynthia Jones, a professor of English and mother of three. [The title Mrs. and the phrase and mother of three are irrelevant.]

Sometimes noninclusive language arises from the practice of using gendered pronouns to refer generically to persons of all genders, or from using the incorrect pronouns to refer to individuals.

GENDERED PRONOUNS

✵ A journalist is motivated by his deadline. [Not all journalists are men.]

✵ A good interior designer treats her clients’ ideas respectfully. [Not all interior designers are women.]

✵ When a student applies for federal financial aid, he or she is given an FSA ID. [Not all students identify as he or she.]

Similarly, terms including man and men were once used to refer generically to all people of that profession or group. Current usage demands gender-neutral terms.

Revising sexist and noninclusive language

When revising sexist language, some writers substitute he or she and his or her. Others alternate female pronouns with male pronouns. These strategies are wordy, can become awkward or confusing, and are not inclusive of all individuals. Instead, use the plural or revise the sentence. You may also use the singular gender-neutral pronouns they and them to refer to individuals inclusively.

USING THE PLURAL

✵ Journalists are motivated by their deadlines.

REVISING THE SENTENCE

✵ A journalist is motivated by a deadline.

USING SINGULAR THEY

✵ A journalist is motivated by their deadline.

For more examples of these revision strategies, see section 22.

NOTE: When using pronouns to refer to people, choose the pronouns that the individuals themselves would use. Some transgender, nonbinary, and gender-fluid people refer to themselves by new pronouns (ze/hir, for example), but if you are unfamiliar with an individual’s pronouns, they and them are acceptable gender-neutral options.

EXERCISE 17-3

Edit the following sentences to eliminate noninclusive language or sexist assumptions. Possible revisions appear in the back of the book.

a. Mrs. Geralyn Farmer, who is the mayor’s wife, is the chief surgeon at University Hospital. Dr. Paul Green is her assistant.

b. Every applicant wants to know how much he will earn.

c. An elementary school teacher should understand the concept of nurturing if she intends to be effective.

d. Our company is going to hire a new I.T. guy. He will update the server and set up remote desktops.

e. If man does not stop polluting his environment, mankind will perish.