Your Inclusive Language Guide
By Devon Murphy
Inclusive language is a tool that shows your readers that you both recognize and value their differences and strengths as individuals, and helps forge a more authentic connection with your audience. It steers away from words that denote bias, slang terms, and any discriminatory expressions related to race, gender, class, sex, or ability.
As a leader, you can use inclusive language to make every member of your community feel a powerful sense of belonging.
As a leader, you can use inclusive language to make every member of your community feel a powerful sense of belonging.
Why inclusive language is important
- You can reach a wider audience: taking partiality out of your writing can create opportunity to resonate with more groups.
- You can better engage with that audience: a trusted relationship is key to building a lasting connection.
- You can improve access: taking steps to ensure your message is fit for as many groups as possible enables you to amplify that message even further.
How to write more inclusively
Making your language more inclusive takes work. It's a process that starts with examining your own biases. It's natural to have them, but the key here is to get in the habit of calling attention to those biases as they occur.
In addition to noticing how your own beliefs can sneak into your writing, you should make an effort to consider viewpoints outside of your own and incorporate those ideas into your text (this goes for site design too).
Finally, keep in mind that inclusive words function differently depending on who is using them, as many traditionally disenfranchised groups reclaim words that were once used against them in order to empower themselves.
In addition to noticing how your own beliefs can sneak into your writing, you should make an effort to consider viewpoints outside of your own and incorporate those ideas into your text (this goes for site design too).
Finally, keep in mind that inclusive words function differently depending on who is using them, as many traditionally disenfranchised groups reclaim words that were once used against them in order to empower themselves.
Steps to make your writing more inclusive
1. Remove unnecessarily gendered language
Gendered language might end up infusing your work with unwanted connotations rather than serving the goal of your piece. Removing gendered language where possible can clear your work of stereotypes.
Asking your subject how they identify is the surest way to get it right. When having that discussion, remember not to ask for "preferred pronouns" but simply "pronouns" - this isn't about preference, this is someone's identity.
Key areas to look out for:
2. Write for all abilities
People with disabilities should see themselves reflected back as whole people in your content.
The same rules apply here as they do with gendered language with regards to self-identity. You shouldn't assume that people with disabilities are willing to disclose those abilities to you, or that it's all they want to talk about.
Language choice is key here. Empowerment comes from words that focus on what a person can do rather than where they might be limited. And inclusive language goes for both describing people, and providing improved access to your readers.
Steps you can take:
3. Only include the relevant details
Descriptors about a person's race, gender, sexuality, ability, or age can be powerful pieces of context when necessary, but ask yourself if these elements are relevant to the story you're telling. Check in with yourself here to ensure you're not tokenizing someone in an attempt to demonstrate you are an inclusive person or company.
When relevant, default to asking someone how they identify, and do your research to ensure the words you're using are accurate and culturally appropriate.
Specificity is always preferred to ensure you're capturing the truest form of someone's identity (i.e. "Kim is Cree", rather than simply "Kim is Indigenous"). And of course, be sure to use correct spelling and capitalization when using group-specific terms.
4. Define your style
Consider creating an inclusive language style guide for your company so everyone is on the same page about the approach, and your work is consistent across platforms. Watch as language evolves and update your approach as it does.
Gendered language might end up infusing your work with unwanted connotations rather than serving the goal of your piece. Removing gendered language where possible can clear your work of stereotypes.
Asking your subject how they identify is the surest way to get it right. When having that discussion, remember not to ask for "preferred pronouns" but simply "pronouns" - this isn't about preference, this is someone's identity.
Key areas to look out for:
- Occupations or roles: these almost never need to be gender-identified. Take "fireman" right out of your vocabulary.
- Marital or family status: "husband" or "wife" is easily swapped for "spouse" or "partner".
- Hypothetical people: never default to one gender over another. "They" works just fine.
2. Write for all abilities
People with disabilities should see themselves reflected back as whole people in your content.
The same rules apply here as they do with gendered language with regards to self-identity. You shouldn't assume that people with disabilities are willing to disclose those abilities to you, or that it's all they want to talk about.
Language choice is key here. Empowerment comes from words that focus on what a person can do rather than where they might be limited. And inclusive language goes for both describing people, and providing improved access to your readers.
Steps you can take:
- Keep your language clear: help your audience understand you as best they can by avoiding jargon.
- Structure your posts for easy reading: when it comes to helping readers understand your work, short sentences are suggested. Headings, frequent line breaks, and short paragraphs can improve the overall experience.
- Make your alt-text meaningful: Alt-text is a text alternative to visual elements of your post. Putting effort into these descriptions can go a long way to making your audience feel considered, as well as ensuring they get the full context of your post.
3. Only include the relevant details
Descriptors about a person's race, gender, sexuality, ability, or age can be powerful pieces of context when necessary, but ask yourself if these elements are relevant to the story you're telling. Check in with yourself here to ensure you're not tokenizing someone in an attempt to demonstrate you are an inclusive person or company.
When relevant, default to asking someone how they identify, and do your research to ensure the words you're using are accurate and culturally appropriate.
Specificity is always preferred to ensure you're capturing the truest form of someone's identity (i.e. "Kim is Cree", rather than simply "Kim is Indigenous"). And of course, be sure to use correct spelling and capitalization when using group-specific terms.
4. Define your style
Consider creating an inclusive language style guide for your company so everyone is on the same page about the approach, and your work is consistent across platforms. Watch as language evolves and update your approach as it does.
