What is Inclusive Language?

The best way to explain inclusive language is to give examples of language that is and is not inclusive.

Many gender-specific terms can be reworded for gender neutrality.

Some examples include:

• Human-made instead of Man-made
• Humankind instead of Mankind
• Police Officer instead of Policeman or Female Police Officer 
• Chairperson instead of Chairman
• Nurse instead of Male Nurse
• Firefighter instead of Fireman

While some gender-specific terms may be appropriate, it is important to know when to use them and when to be gender-neutral. 
For example, an individual may identify as Latino or Latina, but the non-specific term Latinx is a more inclusive way to describe a person of unknown gender or a whole population of mixed genders (90).  

When writing, you typically want to choose terms of identity that respect your subject. In order to do this, you must use “people-first language” and not “identity-first language.”

For example:

• People with diabetes instead of diabetics
• People on probation instead of probationers
• A person who is black instead of a black person
• A person with autism instead of an autistic person
• A person who is queer instead of a queer person
• People who were enslaved instead of a slaves

By using people-first language, the subject is not defined by that single aspect of their identity - they are a person first. When you use identity-first language, their identity is the focus.
However, it is important never to generalize. Some people prefer people-first language and others may prefer identity-first language depending on the context. That is why it is vital that writers respect whichever language that is preferred by certain individuals or groups.

Correct Usage of Pronouns

Many writers believe they have already been taught to use inclusive pronouns. When writing a general sentence about a student, writers may refer to the student as “he or she” or “his/her.”

For example: 
When a student studies abroad, his or her communication skills in the target language are likely to improve dramatically, especially if he or she avoids speaking English with the other students.  

However, this is assuming that every student identifies as a man or woman, and in today’s society it is important to avoid that assumption and use the non-gender-specific pronouns: they, them, and their.

In order to minimize pronouns that exclude, we must revise the sentence to eliminate the gender-specific pronouns and recast the subject as plural.

Revised example:
When students study abroad, their communication skills in the target language are likely to improve dramatically, especially if they avoid speaking English with the other students.  

Furthermore, writers should follow the preferred-pronoun of individuals they write about if they are aware of the individual’s preference. You must respect their preference, even if you do not agree or understand completely. Similar to how you wouldn’t rename someone with a hard-to-pronounce name, you cannot reassign someone’s pronouns to your liking. It is their identity, not yours. This is also where you may use they/them/their as a singular pronoun if that individual has chosen those as their preferred pronouns.

For example:

• Jules is writing their research paper on Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
• Each taxpayer must file their tax return by 15 April.
• I am impressed by the resume of T. C. Blake, a candidate for the web developer job, and will schedule an interview with them.
• Since Jamie is always friendly and on time for work, they will probably receive “Employee of the Month” again.

You will notice in the examples above that they/them/their is used as a singular pronoun. While many writers were taught that these pronouns are plural, it has changed and they has gained acceptance as a generic, third-person singular pronoun used to refer to hypothetical or anonymous people.