How To Use Unbiased Language To Improve English Writing

Whenever you write, your aim is to get your message across clearly. This involves a careful selection of words so that your ideas and opinions are expressed in a lucid and forceful manner while also do not offend any particular community, group, or race. For this, you need to write using a bias-free language i.e. words and phrases that are not denigrating or demeaning to age, race, gender, physical conditions, ethnicity, and religion. Here are some detailed suggestions on the same that will help you improve your English writing skills:

Refer to a group by the term it prefers

Language changes as per the evolving social structures. What was deemed acceptable some fifty years ago could be seemingly offensive today. For example,

 Black people were referred as ‘colored’ or ‘negro’ earlier, but now the acceptable terms are African American and Black.

Asian is used instead of Oriental.

Latino/Latina is used for males and females from Central and Latin America, respectively.

It is best to avoid mentioning the race unless it is absolutely necessary to your narrative.

NOTE: Members of the same ethnic or religious group may sometimes call each other by offensive racial terms. DON’T COPY THEM.

Don’t use insensitive language for people with disabilities

There are many celebrities who suffer from different disabilities that create physical, emotional, or mental impairments. For example, actor Tom Cruise and singer Cher suffer from dyslexia, a processing disorder that impedes their ability to read. But when you talk about them, would you focus on their disabilities or their success and influence in the entertainment industry?

Do not use insensitive or biased language for those with disabilities.

Biased: the deaf

Nonbiased: people with hearing impairments

Biased: the mentally retarded

Nonbiased: people with mental retardation

Don’t use language that is offensive to older people

Biased: old people, geezer, aged

Nonbiased: senior citizen, elderly, retired person, pensioner

Avoid sexist language

Sexist language is one of the most problematic ones today. It assigns gender roles and qualities to people on the basis of stereotypes and prejudiced attitudes.

Example:

Don’t cry like a girl!

Grow some balls and be a man!

Such phrases should be expunged from your writing.

Other offensive expressions are those that exclude one sex. For instance,

Sexist	Nonbiased
chairman	chair, moderator
female lawyer	lawyer
fireman	firefighter
male nurse	nurse
policeman	police officer
waitress	server
old wives’ tale	superstition