Inclusive language - words and phrases to avoid

	A	B	C	D
1	Word or phrase	Alternative	Reason	Link to source

2	Tone Deaf		"tone deaf" is problematic because it uses a disability as a negative descriptor. Usually when someone uses the phrase "tone deaf," they mean someone or something didn't "read the room well" or that an action or remark was inappropriate for the situation. It's important that we stop linking deafness with ignorance, because these types of misconceptions are harmful to the deaf community.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-4816981
3	Blind Spot		"blind spot" links blindness with ignorance. Not being able to see has nothing to do with one's knowledge, and yet even Harvard-educated disability rights lawyer and advocate Haben Girma, who is deafblind, has had to push back against the narrative that "disabled" is synonymous with "ignorant."	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
4	Cripple or Crippled		"Cripple" or "crippled" is an example of a term that's been reclaimed by disabled people. I even write for a publication called Cripple Magazine. However, this is a term that should never be used by someone who's able-bodied. Throughout college, I often heard people use the word "cripple" to describe their friend who was on crutches due to a temporary injury. This was always awkward, as I use a crutch to get around because of a permanent disability. I'm offended when people use disability as a joke or insult because my identity is sacred to me.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
5	Spastic or Spaz		Another term that has been reclaimed is "spaz," short for spastic. Spastic is used to describe tense muscles that can be a result of cerebral palsy, spinal-cord injuries, strokes, or multiple sclerosis. There's nothing inherently negative about spasticity — aside from the pain that can result from it — but like many neutral words, people have used "spaz" to make fun of people with and without disabilities.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
6	Lame		In recent years, "lame" has become a slang term synonymous with uncool or bad in some other way. But the term was originally defined as "having a body part and especially a limb so disabled as to impair freedom of movement." Even though the language has shifted over time, using a word that once described the disabled to signal that something is uncool is offencive — and, well, uncool.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
7	Differently Abled		This one may come as a surprise because "differently abled" is often thought of as a more positive alternative to "disabled," but the term was originally coined in 1980 by able-bodied politicians at the Democratic National Convention. The disabled community as a whole has never embraced the term because it's a euphemism for disability. Many disabled people push against the belief that disability is inherently negative. And if something isn't negative, there's no need to tiptoe around it.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
8	Special Needs		"Special needs" is another euphemism that people use in place of "disabled." A few years ago, an ad tied to World Down Syndrome Day made clear how absurd the term really is. When you really think about it, it's easy to see why the term "special needs" is offencive; it suggests that disabled people are somehow needier than their nondisabled counterparts, which is not the case. The only reason our needs are seen as "special" is because our society is designed to cater to nondisabled people.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
9	Suffering from a disability		At least once a year, I read a magazine or newspaper article that describes a disabled person as "suffering from" their disability. People often use "suffering" to describe disabilities because they understand disability as a condition, something that only causes pain and suffering. However, disabled people can live fulfiling lives just like anyone else.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
10	Wheelchair Bound or Confined to a Wheelchair		Both "wheelchair bound" and "confined to a wheelchair" are phrases that paint wheelchairs, assistive devices that give people freedom to move about independently, as imprisoning. In reality, many wheelchair users say their wheelchair is liberating.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
11	Imbecile		The term "imbecile" is not only ableist but also classist, as it was used in the early to mid-1900s to justify institutionalizing and sterilizing young women who were poor or considered to have low IQs.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
12	High or Low Functioning		Functioning labels are a point of contention within the disabled community. Autistic activists have done a tremendous amount of work explaining why calling an autistic person "high" or "low functioning" is demeaning.	https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/common-phrases-that-are-ableist-48169813
13	Waiter or Waitress	Server	Gendering a job needlessly is both unnecessary and cumbersome. Think police officer, mail carrier, chair – describe the work, not the gender.	http://carequadrant.com/inclusive-language-examples/
14	Fireman	Firefighter	Use firefighter instead - the gender is not relevant	http://carequadrant.com/inclusive-language-examples/
15	Mum, dad, mummy, daddy	Parent, guardian	This list of terms helps to include more family structures such as grandparents as caregivers, same-sex parents, foster parents, etc.	http://carequadrant.com/inclusive-language-examples/
16	On the warpath	Angry and seeking retribution	This language can demean Indigenous peoples and reinforce stereotypes.	http://carequadrant.com/inclusive-language-examples/
17	The elderly		Be more specific. Focusing on the need avoids assuming that all people from an age group are as described. Not all people over 65 have dementia, for example.	http://carequadrant.com/inclusive-language-examples/
18	Peanut Gallery		In Vaudeville theatres, thre "peanut gallery" was a name for the worst seats in the house- and where the black people were forced to sit	https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVlY7Jnio9/
19	Call a spade a spade		"Spade" is historically a deregatory code name for a black person	https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVlY7Jnio9/
20	Eenie, meenie, miney, moe		The modern "catch a tiger by the toe" was not the original line.	https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVlY7Jnio9/
21	Sold down the river		While today this phrase refers to someone betraying or cheating on you, this phrase orignially reffered to slaves who misbehaved and were literally sold down the river to Missippi where they faced harsher conditions.	https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVlY7Jnio9/
22	Tipping point		This phrase originally refered to families leaving neighbourhoods that had a strong black presence.	https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVlY7Jnio9/
23	Grandfathered in		The Grandfather Clause made anyone who voted before 1867 and their decendants except from newly imposed tests to qualify for voting. This made voting almost impossible for Black men who did not have the right to vote before 1867.	https://www.instagram.com/p/CBidMnUn2wD/
24	Picnic		This word has a history of being associated with White families gathering with food and blankets to watch lyinchings	https://www.instagram.com/p/CBidMnUn2wD/
25	Uppity		"uppity" was a term racist southerners used for black people who didn't know their place.	https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/11/yep-uppity-racist/335160/
26	Pioneer/pioneering when used to mean being the first to do something	Trailblazer, inspirational	Using the word pioneer to mean something positive is a problem because many of the historical pioneers engaged in genocide and thus are not people we want to hold up as positive examples to emulate.	https://writingalchemy.net/podcast-2/words-and-phrases-to-avoid/
27	Crusader when used for something positive	Champion, reformer	Crusaders and the crusades are part of a history of violence and religious intolerance and are not something we want to hold up as a positive example to emulate.	https://writingalchemy.net/podcast-2/words-and-phrases-to-avoid/
28	Being low on the totem pole	Bottom of the heap, low in rank	This phrase is based on a misunderstanding and trivialization of the deep cultural meaning of totem poles.	https://writingalchemy.net/podcast-2/words-and-phrases-to-avoid/
29	Pow-Wow when being used for something that isn’t the Native American ceremony	Meeting, gathering, discussion	This is a culturally significant ceremony and should not be trivialized by using it as a word for other types of gatherings.	https://writingalchemy.net/podcast-2/words-and-phrases-to-avoid/
30	Dumb	Ignorant, impulsive, silly, frustrating	Dumb means being unable to communicate verbally. Most often it is used to refer to deaf people, but it applies to a broad range of disabilities that affect speech.	https://writingalchemy.net/podcast-2/words-and-phrases-to-avoid/
31	Drive me crazy/nuts/insane	drive me up the wall, frustrating	This phrase is based on negative stereotypes about mental illness.	https://writingalchemy.net/podcast-2/words-and-phrases-to-avoid/
32	Being deaf or blind as a metaphor for being unable or unwilling to perceive something	Ignorant, willfully ignorant, deliberately ignoring, irrational	When a disability is used as a metaphor for something negative it sends the message that having that disability makes a person lesser.	https://writingalchemy.net/podcast-2/words-and-phrases-to-avoid/
33	Barren		Refers to people who are infertile, carries sexist connotations as well as ableist ones.	https://diversity.caltech.edu/documents/1901/ableist_terms.pdf
34	Loony/Loony Bin		Refers to people with mental or psychiatric disabilities.	https://diversity.caltech.edu/documents/1901/ableist_terms.pdf
35	Lunatic		Refers to people with mental or psychiatric disabilities.	https://diversity.caltech.edu/documents/1901/ableist_terms.pdf
36	Master		When used as masterclass, master-engineer, scrummaster etc. due to links to slavery	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_disability-related_terms_with_negative_connotations
37	Crazy		Refers to people with mental or psychiatric disabilities.	https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-blog/2018/september/that-crazy-why-you-might-want-to-rethink-that-word-in-your-vocabulary
38	Mental
39	Committed suicide		To say someone “committed” suicide suggests blame.	https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/mental-illnesses-terms-to-use-terms-to-avoid/
40	Husband / wife	partner	don't assume the gender of a person's spouse
41	White listed/ black listed
42	White label (in the context of a rebrand)
43	Whitepaper
44	Dark patterns			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
45	black hat (hacking)			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
46	blacklist			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
47	black box			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
48	dark UX			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
49	fieldworker			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
50	grandfathered			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
51	master			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
52	master/slave			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
53	redline, redlining			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
54	white glove			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
55	white hat (hacking)			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
56	whitelist			Abolish racist language - Content Design (intuit.com)
57	blacklist	Block list, block Blocked (noun) (Blocked accounts, blocked domains, etc.) Not allowed, disallowed Untrusted, Not safe, Unsafe, Unaccepted, Not accepted		https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
58	whitelist	Allow list, Allowed, Word List, Trusted, Permitted, Safe, Include, Cleared, Unblocked, Accepted, Approved	- Any thoughts on "allow list" over "allowlist", etc?	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
59	Grandfather policy/clause	Legacy	A discriminatory voter law allowing illiterate white men to vote, but keeping illiterate Black men from voting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_clause Other possible replacement could be some form of "exempt" (e.g., "you'll be grandfathered in" becomes "you'll be exempt to the new rule").	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
60	Master (noun)	Main Primary		https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
61	Master (noun)	Expert		https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
62	Master (verb)			https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
63	Master/slave pairs		Strong opinion, loosely held: We should avoid all metaphors involving humans. There's always going to be a risk of exclusion—in this case, I'm thinking of people who want children and can't have them along with people who have lost children. Also: one of the principal engineers at my company adds: "I don't think we should use parent/child in place of master/slave, for engineering clarity. Parent/child relationships have a very different engineering meaning (e.g., the hierarchical relationships of an object tree) which we should avoid confusing with primary/secondary replication, or leader election, which are the contexts where 'master/slave' has historically been used."	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
64	redlines, redlining	UI specifications, creating UI specifications	"In the United States, redlining is the systematic denial of various services by federal government agencies, local governments as well as the private either directly or through the selective raising of prices. Neighborhoods with high proportion of minority residents are more likely to be redlined than other neighborhoods with similar household incomes, housing age and type, and other determinants of risk, but different racial composition." In the 1960s, sociologist John McKnight coined the term "redlining" to describe the discriminatory practice of fencing off areas where banks would avoid investments based on community demographics. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redlining	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
65				https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
66	fieldworker	Frontline worker, customer-facing agent, customer representatives, liasons	"fieldworker" has a negative connotation among some people descended from people who were enslaved, and people aware of prison-labor programs. Fieldwork is used as an unpaid (or barely-paid) job and as punishment. How broad or specific is the problematic nature? For example, does it also apply to the distinction between those in the office and those who work "in the field"? (For example, sales staff or, in the case of my company, a Field Operations group of technicicans who go to people's homes) "Frontline worker" compares the employee to a soldier - not racist, but has had huge implications amidst the pandemic. They've been deemed "heroes" when really they've been hostages, forced to work in hazardous conditions in order to pay rent.	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
67	Circle the wagon	Align, unite	It' being the topic discussed Suggested replacement matches "circle back," not "circle the wagons" (definition: unite in defense of a common interest). Recommend alternative replacement.	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
68	Off the reservation	Work outside of the rules off book off-piste		https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
69	Going native	Be a team player		https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
70	Illegal		Often used to refer to undocumented immigrants in a dehumanizing way.	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
71	Invalid		Often used as a derogatory term for people living with disabilities.	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
72	Sherpa		Refers to an ethnic group with a rich cultural heritage and history, but are more commonly thought of only as servants/guides to rich white people who climb up mountains.	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
73	Chinese wall		Refers to a makeshift crudely created barrier to prevent exchanges between opposing projects within the same entity/company; often interpreted as a fake effort or attempt	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
74	Disabled person		The person has a condition which should not be interpreted as the person being defective (see "people-first language").	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
75	Whitehat hackers	ethical hackers	Refers to a hacker with a legitimate purpose; but should not be referenced as white to indicate pure and good	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
76	Blackhat hackers	criminal or malicious hackers	Refers to a hacker with criminal or malicious intent; should not be referenced as black to indicate evil and criminal	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
77	Whitebox testing		Refers to testing in a known or clearly mapped environment; should not reference white to indicate clarity and openness	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
78	Blackbox testing		Refers to testing in unknown or mystery environment; should not reference as black to indicate confusion and negativity	https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
79	male/female (with respect to hardware)			https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1id_HW21nMHkO4OPg2ZtBi9t5ILy2jBFuqlyAjqTA8q0/edit?usp=sharing
80	Ladies and gentlemen	Colleagues, team or people	Assumes a gender	https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
81	Guys and Gals	Colleagues, team or people	Assumes a gender	https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
82	Maternity of paternity leave	Parental leave		https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
83	Husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend	Partner, spouse		https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
84	Perferred pronouns	Pronouns used	As what pronouns people use, not what their prefernce is. Although your initial instinct may be to ask an employee what terms they prefer, this implies that there is a choice in the matter, while many people believe it is not a choice. So, if you need clarity here, it’s best to ask people privately what pronouns they use. For example, something like “Can I ask what pronoun you use?” would be respectful and inclusive.	https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
85	Addressing a person as Ms., Mr., or Mrs	Use first names, such as "Joanna Goodwin", instead of Mrs Goodwin.	terms like Ms., Mr., and Mrs assume a person’s gender. With respect to LGBTQ inclusive language, it’s best practice to use people’s first names when addressing them unless they request to be referred to in another way. For example, HSBC added multiple non-gender specific titles their customers can use, including Mx and M.	https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
86	Sexual prefernce	Sexual orientation	The term “sexual preference” once again implies a preference or choice in the matter, which can alienate many people who identify as LGBTQ. The correct term here is “sexual orientation” because it is inclusive to the LGBTQ community and heterosexual men and women.	https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
87	"gay" to mean bad or stupid		This is a microagression	https://www.aihr.com/blog/lgbtq-inclusive-language-in-the-workplace/
88	Mum or dad	parent or caregiver	Recognise diverse family formation For example, some families are headed by single parents, grandparents, foster parents, two moms, two dads, and more	https://www.uua.org/lgbtq/welcoming/ways/200008.shtml
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