Gender

Gender-fair language
Please use gender-fair, or nonsexist, language. Avoid using he/him/his as universal pronouns to refer to unspecified people in the third person. Similarly, using s/he or she/he erases people who identify outside the gender binary. Instead, consider restructuring sentences to avoid using pronouns or using plural constructions wherever possible. 

As the editors of the recent editions of the Chicago Manual of Style (2017), the Associated Press Stylebook (2018), and other style guides affirm, the pronoun they is appropriate to use in writing when referring to singular antecedents, including when writing for publication.

When referring to any individual, respect that individual’s chosen pronoun usage, or lack thereof. (Note: while the singular they is the most common nonbinary pronoun, there are others, including but not limited to: ey / em / eirs and ze / hir / hirs. See the University of Minnesota’s “Nonbinary Gender Pronouns” for more details.)

Some Usage Examples:

Exclusionary (binary): Every cast member should know his or her lines by Friday.
Inclusive (any gender): Each cast member should know their lines by Friday.
Inclusive (student whose chosen pronouns are they/ them / theirs): Alex needs to learn their lines by Friday.     

Exclusionary (binary): Each should wait until he / she is notified of his / her test results.
Inclusive (any gender): Each should wait until they are notified of their test results.
Inclusive (student whose chosen pronouns are they/ them / theirs): Janani should wait until they are notified of their test results.

** Source: National Council of Teachers of English Guidelines for Gender-Fair Use of Language



Page last modified June 20, 2022