Appendix VII. Inclusive Language
To help writers use gender-neutral language, this section lists some of the terms that may cause problems and offers alternatives. The examples have been taken from the Guidelines for Nonsexist Use of Language published by the National Council of Teachers of English in 1985.
Problems |
Alternatives |
| authoress | author |
| businessman, businesswoman | business executive, manager |
| chairman, chairwoman, chairperson | chair |
| congressman, congresswoman | congressional representative |
| fireman | fire fighter |
| freshman, freshmen | first-year student, first-year students |
| mailman | letter carrier, postal worker, mail carrier |
| male nurse | nurse … he |
| policeman, policewoman | police officer |
| poetess | poet |
| salesman, saleswoman | sales clerk, sales representative, sales associate |
| stewardess | flight attendant |
| waitress | server, food server |