Inclusive language

This is a list of inclusive language ideas that we use with some of our projects, including ones with United Nations affiliates, government agencies, multi-national organizations, and many of the companies listed below. This helps the goal of creating working environments that embrace equality.

If you use this list, adapt it as you wish and how the words may relate to your context, such as your priorities, cultural sensitivities, workplace recommndations, etc.

We welcome constructive feedback.

We welcome contributions in other languages.

Introductions

• United Nations - gender-inclusive language - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish

• United Nations - disability inclusion language guidelines - Chinese, English, French, Russian

• Inclusive language in technology: ASWF, Buffer, Detroit Labs, Forbes, IBM, Northwestern.

• Gender bias issues: Amazon, Facebook, GitHub, Twitter, Uber, Wikipedia.

• Psychological safety: Harvard, Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, Wikipedia.

• Inclusive Naming Initiative involving Cisco, Intel, RedHat, Extreme Networks, Canonical.

• Brand Naming Changes involving Disney, Lego, Nestlé, Mars, PepsiCo, Unilever.

• Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative by Stanford University

• Writing Help Central: Gender-Neutral Equivalent Words

• Good Practices: Inclusive Language

• Merriam-Webster: Words at Play: Mx. gender neutral title

• Merriam-Webster: Words at Play: Singular non-binary they

Roles with -man or -woman

Roles that end with gendered suffix "-man" or "-woman" can change to end with "person" or to an alternative.

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
ad-man, ad-woman, adman, adwoman	ad-person, adperson, advertising executive, ad executive, advertising agent, ad agent, promoter
airman, airwoman	airperson, air crew member, pilot
alderman, alderwoman	alderperson, council member
anchorman, anchorwoman	anchor, anchorperson, commentator, newscaster
assemblyman, assemblywoman	assemblyperson, assembly member
barman, barwoman, barmaid	barperson, barkeeper, bar-keeper, barkeep, bar-keep, bartender, bar-tender
bondsman, bondswoman	bondsperson, guarantor, insurer
boss man, boss woman	boss, chief, president, leader
brakeman, brakewoman, brakesman, brakeswoman	brake operator, train conductor's assistant
businessman, businesswoman, business man, business woman	businessperson, business person, executive, manager
cameraman, camerawoman, camera man, camera woman	cameraperson, camera person, camera operator, cinematographer
careerman, careerwoman	careerperson, business person, professional, careerist
caveman, cavewoman, cave man, cave woman	caveperson, cave person, cave dweller, prehistoric human, prehistoric person, primitive person
chairman, chairwoman	chair, chairperson, coordinator, head, president, director
clergyman, clergywoman	clergyperson, clergy member, cleric, preacher
councilman, councilwoman	councilperson, council member
committeeman, committeewoman	committeeperson, committee member
confidence-man, confidence-woman, con man, con woman	confidence-person, swindler, crook, trickster, con artist
congressman, congresswoman	congressperson, congressional representative, legislator, lawmaker, congressional delegate
contact-man, contact-woman, contact man, contact woman	contact-person, contact person, contact, coordinator
countryman, countrywoman	countryperson, compatriot, fellow citizen, fellow national
craftsman, craftswoman	craftsperson, crafter, craft maker, artisan
crewman, crewwoman	crewperson, crewmate, crew member
dairyman, dairywoman, dairymaid	dairyperson, dairy farmer, dairy worker
deliveryman, deliverywoman, delivery man, delivery woman	deliveryperson, delivery person, delivery driver, deliverer, courier, clerk
doorman, doorwoman, doorsman, doorswoman	doorperson, door attendant, doorkeeper, gatekeeper, security guard, porter, concierge
draftsman, draftswoman, draughtsman, draughtswoman	draftsperson, draughtsperson, drafter
enlisted man, enlisted woman	enlisted person, enlistee, soldier, recruit, private
everyman, everywoman	everyperson, the common person, the average person, commoner, worker
fall guy, fall gal	fall person, scapegoat
fellowman, fellowwoman	human person, person, fellow citizen, peer, partner, comrade
fireman, firewoman	firefighter
fisherman, fisherwoman	fisherperson, fisher, angler
fishermen, fisherwomen	fisherpersons, fisherfolk, anglers
foreman, forewoman	foreperson, manager, supervisor, captain, team leader
freshman, freshwoman	first-year student, first-year member, newcomer, novice, beginner
gentleman, gentlewoman	gentleperson
handyman, handywoman	handyperson, repair person, repairperson, maintenance worker
horseman, horsewoman	horseperson, horse rider, equestrian
layman, laywoman	layperson, church member, nonordained person
kinsman, kinswoman	kinsperson, relative
lawman, lawwoman	lawperson, law enforcement officer, sheriff
layman, laywoman	layperson, nonprofessional, non-professional, amateur, civilian
letterman, letterwoman	letterperson, varsity athelete
lineman, linewoman, linesman, lineswoman	lineperson, linesperson, line worker, line maintainer
mailman, mailwoman	mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker
middleman, middlewoman	intermediary, go-between
newsman, newswoman	newsperson, reporter, correspondent, news anchor
ombudsman, ombudswoman	ombudsperson, investigator, appointee
outdoorsman, outdoorswoman	outdoors person
patrolman, patrolwoman	patrolperson, patrol officer, patroller
policeman, policewoman	police officer, law enforcement officer
postman, postwoman	mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker
pressman, presswoman	press operator, journalist, reporter
prodigal son, prodigal daughter	prodigal child, returning child
repairman, repairwoman	repairperson, maintenance person, technician, repairer
schoolboy, schoolgirl	schoolchild, student
snowman, snowwoman	snowperson
spokesman, spokeswoman	spokesperson, speaker, representative
sportsman, sportswoman	sportsperson, sport player, athelete, teammate
sportsmanlike, sportswomanlike	sportspersonlike, sportlike, sporting, sporty
sportsmanship, sportswomanship	sportspersonship, sportship, sporting, sporty
statesman, stateswoman	statesperson, political leader, policy maker, diplomat
strongman, strongwoman	bodybuilder, strength athlete
watchman, watchwoman	watcher, watchperson, guard, attendant, security officer, security guard
weatherman, weatherwoman	weatherperson, weathercaster, weather forecaster, weather reporter

Roles with -boy or -girl

Roles that end with gendered suffix "-boy" or "-girl" can change to "-person" or to alternatives.

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
bagboy, baggirl, bag boy, bag girl	bagperson, bagger, assistant, caddy
batboy, batgirl, bat boy, bat girl	batperson, bat assistant, caddy
bellboy, bellgirl, bell-boy, bell-girl	bellperson, bellhop, hotel attendant
boy wonder, girl wonder	child prodigy
busboy, busgirl	busperson, busser, bus staffer, kitchen helper
cabinboy, cabingirl	cabinperson, cabin attendant, cabin helper
choirboy, choirgirl	choirperson, choir member, choir singer
chorusboy, chorusgirl	chorusperson, chorus member, chorus singer
copyboy, copygirl	copyperson, copy clerk, copy maker
cowboy, cowgirl	cowperson, cowhand, ranch hand
flyboy, flygirl	flyperson, pilot, aviator
boy Friday, girl Friday	aide, assistant, helper
newsboy, newsgirl	newsperson, news seller, paper carrier
officeboy, officegirl	officeperson, clerk, messenger, assistant
paperboy, papergirl	paperperson, paper carrier, paper deliverer
playboy, playgirl	playperson, partier, carouser, pleasure seeker

Roles with -ess -enne -ette

Roles that end with feminine suffix "-ess" or "-enne" or "-ette" can change to omit the end.

Be aware that in some contexts, some meanings may differ; for example, in some cultures or religions a "priest" role can have differences as compared to a "priestess" role.

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
actor, actress	actor, performer
comedian, comedienne	comedian, humorist
conductor, conductress	conductor, coordinator
host, hostess	host, welcomer
major, majorette	major, dancer
masseur, masseuse	masseur, massage therapist
patron, patroness	patron, funder
poet, poetess	poet, lyricist
priest, priestess	priest, clergy
sculptor, sculptress	sculptor, artist
sorcerer, sorceress	sorcerer, enchanter
shepherd, shepherdess	shepherd, herder
steward, stewardess	steward, attendant
tempter, temptress	tempter, enticer
usher, usherette	usher, assistant
waiter, waitress	waiter, server
DJane	DJ

Roles with -master or -mistress

Roles that end with gendered suffix "-master" or "-mistress" can change to end with "-maker" or "-leader" or "-er" or to alternatives.

Be aware that in some contexts, some meanings may differ; for example, in some cultures a "shipmaster" role can have differences compared to a "shipmistess" role.

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
brewmaster, brewmistress	brewmaker, brew leader, brewer
headmaster, headmistress	headmaker, head leader, head of school, principal
shipmaster, shipmistress	shipmaker, ship leader, captain, commander
taskmaster, taskmistress	taskmaker, task leader, tasker, director, supervisor, tyrant
toastmaster, toastmistress	toastmaker, toast leader, toaster, announcer, head of ceremonies

Roles with -lord or -lady

Roles that end with gendered suffix "-lord" or "-lady" can change to end with "-keeper", which is the original derivation in English.

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
lord, lady	noble, liege, monarch, regent, sovereign
landlord, landlady	landkeeper, property owner
overlord, overlady	overkeeper, ruler, authority

Roles with gender

Roles with gender words can change to use pan-gender words.

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
king, queen	monarch, the crown, your majesty
prince, princess	royal, highness, heir to the throne, eminence, liege
lord in waiting, lady in waiting	courtier, royal attendant, valet
butler, maid	domestic worker
midwife	maïeuticien, obstetrician

Phrases

Phrases with "man" can change to use "one" or "person".

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
forefathers, foremothers	foreparents, forebearers, ancestors
founding fathers, founding mothers	founding parents, founding leaders, founders
gentlemen's agreement, gentlewomen's agreement	unwritten agreement, honor agreement
grandfather clause, grandmother clause	pre-existing clause, pre-defined clause, legacy clause
low man on the totem pole	low person on the list, least one in the group
maiden voyage	first voyage
man about town, woman about town	bon vivant, mover and shaker
man among men, woman among women	outstanding person, excellent person
man of action, woman of action	action-oriented person, go-getter, dynamo
man of distinction, woman of distinction	person of distinction, notable person
man of letters, woman of letters	person of letters, academic, scholar
man of the hour, woman of the hour	person of the hour, newsmaker of the hour
man to man, woman to woman	person to person, face to face, head to head
no-man's land	no-go land, neutral zone, uninhabited area, unclaimed land
no man is an island	no one is an island
the common man	the common person, the average person
the man in the street	the person in the street, the average person
the right man for the job	the right one for the job, the right person for the job
to a man	to a one, each one, everyone, unanimous, without exception
to the last man	to the last one

Idiomatic uses of Names and Placeholder Names

Expressions that involve gendered first names

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
Average Joe	average person
Jo Schmoe, Joe Schmo, Joe Shmo, Joe Shmoe	anybody, no one in particular
Jack of all trades, Jill of all trades	all-arounder
John Doe, Jane Doe	unnamed person, unidentified individual, anonymous
John Q. Public, Jane Q. Public	citizen, common person, member of society
Jolly Roger	pirate flag, skull and bones
Lazy Susan	turntable, rotating tray
Peeping Tom	voyeur
Smart Alec, Smart Aleck	know-it-all, conceited person
Tom Dick and Harry	ordinary people, anyone, everyone
Father Time	time, time personified, time deity
Mother Nature	nature, nature personified, nature deity

General

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
boy, girl	person, individual, child
boyfriend, girlfriend	friend, date, partner, companion, consort, significant other, S/O, SO
man, woman	person, individual, adult
mankind, womankind	people, humans, humanity, humankind
Mother Nature	nature
husband, wife	spouse, consort
widow, widower	widowed person, bereaved spouse, bereaved person

Greetings

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
Dear Sir/Madam	Dear Reader, To Whom It May Concern, etc.
ladies & gentlemen	everyone, esteemed guests, honored attendees
men & women	everyone, attendees, guests, adults, colleagues, coworkers, etc.
boys & girls	everyone, attendees, guests, children, students, classmates, etc.
Mr., Ms., Mrs., Miss, Madam, Mme.	Mx. (pronounced "mix")

Families

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
mother, father	parent
mother figure, father figure	parental figure
motherhood, fatherhood	parenthood
daughter, son	child
sister, brother	sibling
girl, boy	child, youth, youngster
niece, nephew	nibling
aunt, uncle	auncle
fraternal twins	differentiable twins, non-identical twins
godfather, godmother	godparent

Weddings

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
girlfriend, boyfriend	friend, date, partner, companion, consort, significant other
wife, husband	spouse, consort
fiancée, fiancé	nearlywed, fiancé (one é), spouse-to-be
bride, groom	newlywed, marrier, celebrant, spouse, broom
maid of honor, matron of honor, man of honor	person of honor
best man, best maid, best matron	best person
bridesmaid, groomsman	attendant
bridesmaids, groomsmen	attendants, wedding party
flower girl, flower boy	flower child, flower person, flower pal
bachelor, bachelorette	bachelorx (pronounced "bachelor-ex")
hen party, stag party	animal party, fox party, nearlywed party
maiden name	family name, birth name

Miscellaneous

Gender-exclusive	Gender-inclusive
alumnus, alumna	alum, graduate
alumni, alumnae	alums, graduates
brethren	laity
brotherhood, sisterhood	siblinghood, fellowship, camaraderie
brotherly, sisterly	siblingly, kindly, helpfully
brotherly love, sisterly love	siblingly love, charity, goodwill
coed	student
man (verb)	to guard, to staff, to operate, to mind [the store]
man-made, woman-made	hand-made, human-made, machine-made, not natural, synthetic, artificial
manhole	utility hole, access hole, sewer hole, maintenance hole
manpower, womanpower	personpower, teampower, workers, workforce, staff
meter-maid, meter-matron, meter-man	meter-reader, parking enforcement officer, PEO, parking officer, parking inspector, traffic warden, civil enforcement officer
motherland, fatherland	homeland

Pronoun-related

Gender-exclusive singular pronoun	Gender-inclusive singular pronoun
he, she, he/she	they
him, her, him/her	them
himself, herself, himself/herself	themselves, themself, oneself
his, her, his/her	their
his, hers, his/hers	theirs

Disability-related

Phase out phrases that have the disability before the person; phase in phrases that have the person before the disability.

Phase out "people"; phase in "persons".

Phase out "special"; phase in "tailored".

Phase out passive victim words; phase in language that respects disabled persons as active individuals with control over their own lives.

Phase out	Phase in
disabled/handicapped/differently-abled person	person with disability
disabled/handicapped/differently-abled people	persons with disabilities
disabled/handicapped/differently-abled place	accessible place
person/people of determination	person with disability
special needs/assistance/education	tailored needs/assistance/education
suffering/afflicted/stricken/troubled (with a disability)	has a disability
afflicted by, suffers from, victim of	has [name of condition or impairment]
able-bodied	non-disabled

Specific disabilities and specific sayings:

with a visual disability, with a visual impairments, partially sighted

Phase out	Phase in
addict	person with an addiction, person with a substance disorder
addicted (in a pop culture sense)	excited, immersed, engrossed
albino	person with albinism
basket case (pejorative)	useless, unable to cope, unfunctional
blind
blind as a bat (pejorative)	completely blind, unable to see
confined/restricted to a wheelchair, wheelchair-bound, wheelchair user	person who uses a wheelchair
crazy (in a psychological sense)	person with a psychosocial disability
crazy (in a pop culture postive sense)	excited, enthusiastic, fanatical, passionate
crazy (in a pop culture negative sense)	foolish, irresponsible, unsound
cripple, crippled, invalid, deformed, physically challenged	person with a physical disability
deaf	with a hearing disability, with a hearing impairment, who uses sign language
deaf as a post, deaf as a doorknob, deaf as a doornail (pejorative)	completely deaf, unable to hear
deranged (pejorative)	person with a psychosocial disability, person with a mental health condition
dumb as a rock, dumb as a doorknob, dumb as a doornail (pejorative)	clueless, stupid
fits, spells, attacks	seizures
I have Alzheimer's (sarcasm)	I'm forgetful
I have OCD (sarcasm)	I'm very precise, highly specific, extremely detail-oriented
I'm paranoid(sarcasm)	I'm mistrustful
I'm lame (sarcasm)	I'm boring, I'm not cool
I'm a spaz (sarcasm)	Hold me back (thanks Hannah & Lizzo!)
insane, crazy, maniac, psycho, hypersensitive, lunatic, demented, panicked, agitated (pejorative)	person with a psychosocial disability, person with a mental health condition
lame, limping	person with a mobility disability
lame duck	ineffectual, unsuccessful, in the final period of office
leper	person affected by leprosy
mad, mad as a hatter (pejorative)	person with a psychosocial disability, person with a mental health condition
mental patient, mentally ill, mentally handicapped, mentally defective	with an intellectual disability, with a learning disability
midget, dwarf, stunted	person of short stature, person with restricted growth
mongoloid	person with trisomy-21, person with Down syndrome
OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (in a pop culture sense)	very precise, highly specific, extremely detail-oriented
retarded, simple, slow, afflicted, brain- damaged, intellectually challenged, subnormal, of unsound mind, feeble-minded, mentally handicapped	person with an intellectual disability
spastic	person with cerebral palsy
Spazzin'	Blastin' (thanks Hannah & Beyoncé!)

Transgender-related

Words that sound prescriptive can change to words that are individualistic.

Phase out	Phase in
preferred pronouns	personal pronouns
transsexual	trans person, transgender person
sex change, sex reassignment	gender affirmation, transition care, change of gender marker
biological man, biological woman	cisgender person or non-transgender person
feminine pronouns, female pronouns	she/her pronouns
masculine pronouns, male pronouns	he/him pronouns
hermaphrodite	intersex
lifestyle, preference	orientation, identity
non-binary	agender, bigender, pangender, multigender, genderqueer

Inclusive language for business

There are many kinds of inclusive language that come up in business. Here are some examples.

Phase out	Phase in
best practices	our practices, company practices, practices recommended by
culture fit, cultural fit	values fit, practices match, ways of working alignment
Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI)	Diversity Equity Inclusion Belonging (DEIB)
Underrepresented Minorities (URM)	Historically Underrepresented Groups (HUG), Historically Marginalized Communities (HMC)
Gender Non-Conforming (GNC)	Gender Independent (GI), Gender Individualistic (GI), Gender Variant (GV)

Inclusive language for geography

There are many kinds of inclusive language that come up in geography, such as when a country is seeking indpendence or autonomy, and the country's leaders choose a new name.

Reference:

• https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_renaming

Countries:

Phase out	Phase in
Cape Verde	Cabo Verde
Ceylon	Sri Lanka
Czech Republic	Czechia
Holland	The Netherlands
Republic of Macedonia	Republic of North Macedonia
Swaziland	Eswatini
Turkey	Türkiye
Wales	Cymru

Geography places within Cymru/Wales:

Phase out	Phase in
Snowdonia (National Park)	Eryri
Snowdon (Mountain)	Yr Wyddfa
Lake Bala	Llyn Tegid
Lake Australia	Llyn Bochlwyd
Bearded Lake	Llyn Barfog

Inclusive language for technology

There are many other kinds of inclusive language, and in our line of work, some that come up are about techology.

Phase out	Phase in
white-list/black-list (security)	accept/reject, include/exclude, allow/disallow
culture fit (human resources)	values fit
dummy value (configuration)	example value, placeholder value, sample value
housekeeping (project managment)	cleanup, maintenance, streamlining
master/slave (copying)	replicator/replica, original/duplicate, primary/secondary, source/destination, leader/follower, sender/receiver, publisher/subscriber, producer/consumer, writer/reader, onsite/offsite
master branch (version control)	main branch, trunk branch, default branch
master table (database)	schema table
native feature (user interface)	core feature, built-in feature
scrum master	Scrum leader, Scrum manager