Inclusive language

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Inclusive language is a way of speaking and writing that avoids words or phrases people see as biased, insulting, or unfair to groups of people. It aims to be fair to everyone and not assume who the reader is, including differences in race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, abilities, and age. The goal is bias-free communication that includes all readers.

Supporters say language can spread prejudice, and using inclusive language helps create safer, more productive workplaces and societies. The idea is sometimes called political correctness, but many see it simply as a practical way to communicate.

Inclusive language is promoted in public policy, organizations, and many companies. In languages with gendered grammar—like Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and German—using gender-neutral forms is controversial and sometimes banned.

Anti-gender movements oppose inclusive language, arguing it harms tradition or biology. They see it as part of a broader backlash and try to police language to limit gender diversity.

People use language guides that list words to avoid and better alternatives. These guides are common in nonprofits and many organizations. The aim is to communicate without bias and to avoid assumptions about who the audience is.

Bias-free language means choosing words that do not discriminate and that include all readers. It helps people feel respected and understood.

There are debates and examples. In French, a group of friends once used “amis”; some now write “ami·e·s” to include all genders. In Argentina, Buenos Aires briefly banned gender-neutral words in schools and communications, saying they hurt reading. Uruguay’s public education system has also limited inclusive language. Laws and attitudes around this vary by country.

Many U.S. organizations and some tech companies publish equity or inclusive language guides, including groups like the Sierra Club, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, Columbia University, and the University of Washington. Tech companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, and SAP also promote these guides.

Inclusive language covers more than gender. It aims to reduce bias in many areas of language. Both inclusive language and political correctness try to use neutral terms to fight prejudice, but reactions differ, and some people see it as part of culture wars.

Scholars note that anti-gender groups resist inclusive language, especially around trans and nonbinary identities, often arguing for binary gender definitions. This resistance is part of a broader debate about rights and language.

A notable example of changing language: some animal-rights groups use the word “guardian” instead of “owner” to avoid the connotations of ownership and slavery.