BIAS-FREE COMMUNICATION

Communication that are written tactfully do not offend the reader. To be effective you must
always try to understand how your reader will interpret and react to your message. Biased
language refers to words and expressions that offend because they make inappropriate
assumptions or stereotypes about gender, ethnicity, physical or mental disability, age, or
sexual orientation. Biased language, which is often used unintentionally, can defeat your
purpose by damaging your credibility. The easiest way to avoid bias is simply not to
mention differences among people unless the differences are relevant to the discussion.

TIPS:

• Avoid identifying people by race or ethnic group unless it is relevant. We don’t

usually point out that an individual is white or of Anglo-Saxon heritage. The rule
should apply to individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity.
• Avoid the term Non-White which sets up white culture as the standard by which all
other cultures should be judged
Cf: negro →black→African American

• Be sensitive to religion when referring to various ethnic groups. Do not make

assumptions. Avoid stereotyping a race, nationality or ethnic group with a specific
religion, e.g., not all Arabs are Muslims.

• Avoid gender-biased words or sexist words and use neutral nonsexist descriptions:

INSTEAD OF USE
Businessman, businesswoman Business executive, manager, owner
Chairman, chairwoman Chair, chairperson
Man-hours Staff hours, worker hours
Manpower Human resources, staff
Policeman, policewoman Police officer
Salesman, saleswoman Salesperson
The man in the street The average citizen
Best man for the job Best candidate…best person…

• One common way to refer to pronoun references that could apply equally to a man
or a woman is the use of the expression his or her, his/her. To avoid this awkward
usage, try rewriting the sentence in the plural, or omitting pronouns completely, if
they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
e.g.: INSTEAD OF – Every employee should submit his or her expense report by
Monday
USE – All employees should submit their expense reports by Monday.
OR - All employees should submit an expense report by Monday.

• Consider how you refer to people with disabilities. If you refer to “a disabled
employee,” you imply that the part (disabled) is as significant as the whole
 (employee). Use “an employee with disability” instead. When the context calls for
discussion of people with and without disabilities, use the term people without
disabilities rather than normal or able-bodied. Normal implies that by comparison,
people with disabilities are abnormal; able-bodied suggests that all people with
disabilities are unable to compensate for their disabilities. Put people first, not their
disability.
E.g.: NOT – the visually impaired students used a special keyboard
BUT – the students with visual impairments uses a special keyboard
• Refer to a person’s age only when it is relevant to the medium or the message and
prefer older to old, senior.
• Sexual orientation and sexuality as terms are preferred to sexual preference. Do not
discuss someone’s sexual orientation and do not assume that everyone involved or
attending a particular activity or events is heterosexual. Use partner, instead of
wife/girlfriend or husband/boyfriend.