Module 1 — Effective
writing: Strategies
and principles
| Course Guide | Module 1 | Module 2a | Module 2b |
Alternatives to discriminatory writing
The table provides a list of some typical examples of discriminatory writing along with our proposed alternatives for saying the same thing. Have a look and see if you recognize any of these terms or expressions.
Original |
IMPROVED |
|---|---|
The department head must submit his draft budget by March. |
Department heads must submit their draft budgets by March. |
The applicant must place his signature on the dotted line. |
You must sign on the dotted line. |
Mankind |
People, human beings |
Manpower |
Workforce, personnel, employees, human resources |
The average man |
The average person |
male nurse |
nurse |
female doctor |
doctor |
chairman |
chair, chairperson (You can use 'chairman' or 'chairwoman' if you know the gender of the chairperson) |
The disabled, the handicapped, disabled people |
people with disabilities |
The physically handicapped |
people with physical disabilities |
victim of HIV/AIDS or HIV/AIDS sufferer |
people living with HIV/AIDS |
confined to a wheelchair |
wheelchair user |