Writing with Inclusive Language

Becoming an inclusive writer means listening to and learning from others to recognize different perspectives. Inclusive language is about giving people authority over their own lives and experiences. As such, if you are referring to a specific person or group, it is always respectful to ask them how they would like to be addressed. For instance, some communities are reclaiming former slurs to use for themselves, but it is not appropriate for those outside the community to use those same slurs. There is even debate in diverse communities regarding which terms are acceptable and who can use them.

Writing inclusively requires you to think about both who you are writing about and how you are writing about them. As such, inclusive language is not simply following a set of prescriptive rules. It challenges you to continually reflect on your writing process, requiring you to engage critically with your own biases and assumptions. By understanding different voices, you will have a better idea of your topic, which means that you will be able to have a more nuanced perspective to share in your writing.

Ways to be More Inclusive in Academic Writing

Pronouns

No matter your gender identity, we all have pronouns (they/them, she/her, he/him, and many more). Avoid the use of the phrase “preferred pronouns,” because someone’s pronouns belong to them, just like their name.

In the latest edition of its style guide, the American Psychological Association (APA) accepted the singular “they.” In addition to being valid pronouns that people use for themselves, they/them pronouns can be effective in describing a single person when gender is unknown or irrelevant. For instance, instead of saying “someone forgot his or her shoes,” say “someone forgot their shoes.” In this case, you know that only one person forgot their shoes, but you are not sure who. You can use the singular they in similar ways in academic writing instead of assuming that the reader is male and using he/him pronouns.

Human-First Language

Using human-first language empowers people to be seen as people before their status or state of being. For instance, in most cases, it is encouraged to use wording like “a person with a disability” rather than “a disabled person.” It’s also best to use human-first language instead of defining someone entirely by only one aspect of who they are. For example, you would say “a person with an addiction” rather than “an addict.”

The Individual vs. The Collective

Remember that one individual cannot stand for a whole group. Avoiding all-or-nothing language, like “always” and “never,” is a good idea in academic writing, but it is especially important when considering inclusive language. Keeping diversity in mind while you are writing will also help you avoid stereotypes. For example, pointing out that the LGBTQIA+ flag is a rainbow is different from saying that all LGBTQIA+ people identify with the rainbow flag.

Anti-racist Language

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation defines anti-racism as “An active and consistent process of change to eliminate individual, institutional, and systemic racism.” Anti-racist language, then, is the process of dismantling racism through our words. This requires writers to think critically about their own biases and lived experiences and how those reflect in their research and analysis.

In addition to avoiding generalizations and stereotypes, anti-racist language encourages you to actively include BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Colour) voices (sometimes referred to as IBPOC) in conversations. These voices have been historically excluded in scholarly conversations, which means it is even more important to include them now!

Intersectionality

To incorporate more diverse, individual voices, look at the different identities that coexist within each person. We all have different ways of defining ourselves, and our different identities exist at the same time. This is the idea behind intersectionality: each person’s lived experiences are unique based on all the different, varied aspects of who we are.

For instance, if you are drafting a research paper on modern feminism, consider the race, sexual orientations, gender identities, etc. of the scholars you are reading. Though the research may all be feminist, the authors will approach the work in different ways depending on their lived experiences.

Steps to More Inclusive Writing

• Revise your work critically. Examine your work from various perspectives beyond your own point of view to question your own view of “normal.”
• Engage with diverse sources. The more diverse your sources, the more perspectives you are including in your research. This will make it stronger!
• Be open to feedback. Listening to community members is the best way to learn.
• Avoid generalizations. Specificity is key when talking about lived experiences.
• Recognize your own positionality. You are an expert on your own life, so seek knowledge from elsewhere when writing about experiences you aren’t familiar with.
• Stay curious about inclusivity. Pay attention to ways you can write even more compassionately, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’d like to learn more.

Writing Services, Wilfrid Laurier University, CC By-NC 2023