Using Gender Neutral Language

We usually use masculine nouns and pronouns when the gender of the subject(s) is unclear or inconsistent, or when a group to which we are referring contains members of both sexes. For example, the US Declaration of Independence states that " . . . all men are created equal . . ." and most of us were taught in elementary school to understand the word "men" in that context includes both male and female Americans.

In recent years, however, as women have become increasingly involved in the public sphere of life, writers have reconsidered the way they express gender identities and relationships. Because most English language readers no longer understand the word "man" to be synonymous with "people," writers today must think more carefully about the ways they express gender in order to convey their ideas clearly and accurately to their readers, and not offend anyone.

There are a number of different strategies we can use to express gender relationships with accuracy. Here are some tips:

1. Use "he or she" or "s/he" when not knowing the gender of the subject.

2. Avoid phrases that have the word "men" in them and try to use alternatives, such as:
* Person instead of man
* Chairperson instead of chairman
* Postal worker instead of mailman
* Police officer instead of Policeman
* Flight attendant for steward or stewardess

3. Refer to women subjects by their last names, just as you would do for men subjects.

Verb tenses
Comma rules
How to write a summary
How to write an essay
How to prepare a presentation