English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003
Use Nonbiased Language
Chapter 14 Words and Expressions to Avoid
Part 5 Struttin Your Stuff with Style
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Every time you write, you want to get your message across clearly. The words you choose enable you to achieve your purpose. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to avoid biased language, replace overworked expressions with fresh ones, and replace stuffy language with clear speech. This will help you create an honest, direct, and effective writing style.
Use Nonbiased Language
Language is a powerful tool: We use it deliberately to shape our thoughts and experiences, yet our language can shape us. You wouldn’t discriminate against people based on their race, disability, or age—so neither should your words. Therefore, always use bias-free language. This type of language uses words and phrases that don’t discriminate on the basis of gender, physical condition, age, race, gender, or any other quality. That way, your readers will be able to concentrate on what you say rather than on how you say it.
1. Refer to a group by the term it prefers.
Language changes, so stay on the cutting edge. For example, a hundred years ago, black people were called colored. Fifty years later, the term Negro was used. Today, the preferred terms are African American and black. Here are some other changes to know:
• Asian is preferred over Oriental.
• Inuit is preferred over Eskimo.
• Latino is the preferred designation for males with Central and Latin American backgrounds.
• Latina is the preferred designation for females with Central and Latin American backgrounds.
• Only give someone’s race if it is relevant to your narrative. Further, if you do mention one person’s race, be sure to mention everyone else’s.
Quick Tip
Members of the same ethnic or religious group sometimes call each other by denigrating racial terms. Don’t go there.
2. Focus on people, not their conditions.
Actor Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”) is 60 percent deaf. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of polio. Singer Neil Young and actor Danny Glover have epilepsy. Singer Ray Charles is blind. Actor Tom Cruise and actor-singer Cher have dyslexia, a processing disorder that impedes reading.
People with disabilities can be defined broadly as those with limitations in human actions or activities due to physical, emotional, or mental impairments. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 49 million Americans have a disability; the number with a severe disability is 24.1 million. Expect the number to increase as the population ages. Therefore, it is important to know the accepted ways of referring to people with illnesses.
Biased: the deaf
Nonbiased: people with hearing impairments
Biased: AIDS patients
Nonbiased: people being treated for AIDS
Biased: the mentally retarded
Nonbiased: people with mental retardation
Biased: abnormal, afflicted, struck down
Nonbiased: atypical
3. Avoid language that discriminates against older people.
Biased: old people, geezers, aged
Nonbiased: Senior citizen, mature person
4. Avoid sexist language.
“Hey, babe, you are one foxy chick.”
“He has such a male ego!”
We all know that such blatant sexist language and attitudes aren’t acceptable in today’s world. But sexist language can be much less obvious—and every bit as offensive.
Sexist language assigns qualities to people on the basis of their gender. It reflects prejudiced attitudes and stereotypical thinking about the sex roles and traits of both men and women and so discriminates against people by limiting what they can do.
Further, the law is increasingly intolerant of biased documents and hostile work environments. Since federal law forbids discrimination on the basis of gender, people writing anything—but especially policy statements, grant proposals, or any other official docu- ments—must be very careful not to use any language that could be considered discriminatory. Otherwise, they’re just looking for a lawsuit.
Nonsexist language treats both sexes neutrally. It does not make assumptions about the proper gender for a job, nor does it assume that men take precedence over women. Here are some guidelines to help you use nonsexist language when you write and speak.
• Avoid using man, he, or him to refer to both men and women.
Sexist: A person could lose his way in this huge store.
Nonbiased: A person could get lost in this huge store.
or
You could lose your way in this huge store.
• Avoid expressions that exclude one sex. Here are some of the most offensive examples and acceptable alternatives:
Quick Tip
Watch for phrases that suggest women and men behave in stereotypical ways, such as “cries like a woman,” “thinks like a man,” “man’s work,” “rowdy boys.” Expunge such phrases from your writing and speech.
• Use the correct courtesy title.
Use Mr. for men and Ms. for women, with these two exceptions: In a business setting, professional titles take precedence over Mr. and Ms. For example, on the job, I am referred to as Dr. Rozakis rather than Ms. Rozakis.
• Always use the title the person prefers.
Some women prefer Miss to Ms. If you are not sure what courtesy title to use, check in a company directory or on previous correspondence to see how the person prefers to be addressed. Also pay attention to the way people introduce themselves.
• Use plural pronouns and nouns whenever possible.
Sexist: A good reporter needs to verify her sources.
Nonbiased: Good reporters need to verify their sources.