For French language considerations see, Guide de rédaction inclusive français, Service de traduction, Université McGill.
Gender-inclusive nouns
When reviewing and writing content, replace gendered nouns (such as "man" and words ending in "man") with gender-neutral language. Here is a list of gendered nouns and some alternatives to consider:
Gendered noun |
Gender-inclusive noun |
|---|---|
|
man |
person, individual |
|
mankind |
people, human beings, humanity |
|
freshman |
first-year student |
|
man-made |
machine-made, synthetic, artificial |
|
the common man |
the average person |
|
chairman |
chair, chairperson, coordinator, head |
|
mailman |
mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker |
|
policeman |
police officer |
|
steward, stewardess |
flight attendant |
French nouns |
|
Gendered noun |
Gender-inclusive noun |
|
un étudiant, une étudiante |
la communauté étudiante, les universitaires |
|
un directeur, une directrice |
la direction |
|
le recteur, la rectrice |
le rectorat |
|
le professeur, la professeure |
le corps professoral, le corps enseignant |
|
un employé, une employée |
le personnel |
|
un Québécois, un Québécoise |
la population québécoise |
|
un chercheur, une chercheuse |
les maîtres de recherche |
Gender-inclusive pronouns
Referring to people or groups of people of varying gender using masculine pronouns (he, his and him) as a default is no longer recommended. Here are a few alternative options to consider:
1. Replace gendered pronouns with gender-inclusive nouns
The use of "he/she" and similar constructions may unintentionally exclude individuals who don't refer to themselves using either pronoun. Consider replacing those pronouns with a gender-neutral noun to ensure that your content is gender-inclusive.
Original sentence |
Rephrased |
|---|---|
|
He/she will be assigned to groups. |
The candidate will be assigned to groups. |
|
She/he will receive a notification email upon registration. |
The registrant will receive a notification email upon registration. |
2. Pluralize nouns and pronouns
If it works for your writing, use plural nouns and pronouns to remove the need for gendered language.
Original sentence |
Rephrased |
|---|---|
|
Each participant must make requests using his/her own email account. |
Participants must make requests using their own email accounts. |
|
A researcher can request internal peer review from the Associate Dean of his/her Faculty. |
Researchers can request an internal peer review from the Associate Dean of their Faculty. |
3. Use “they” as a singular pronoun
The pronoun “they” can also be used as a gender-neutral option for singular pronouns (e.g., “Can you ask them if they can email me the resource?”). Consider your audience carefully when determining whether this solution is appropriate.
References
Singular ‘They’. Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
Gender-Inclusive Language. The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2010.
The Chicago Manual of Style. 17th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017.