Inclusive language

Illustrative sample. Do not use this copy unchanged in production. Licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later, the same terms as AI Context.

Write about people with dignity and respect. Never make assumptions. Ask people how they would like to be described before writing about them. Only mention personal characteristics — disability, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion — when they are directly relevant to the content.

Three core principles

• Always ask, never assume — never make assumptions about how a person identifies or would like to be described. Ask directly wherever possible.
• Write for context — understand the person's or group's context before writing about them. Reflect their lived experience accurately.
• Write with care and respect — apply the University's values of equality, diversity and inclusion. Be accurate, sensitive, and consistent.

Inclusive language guidance reflects ongoing conversations with communities. Terminology in some areas does not have universal consensus. When in doubt, ask.

Disability

Applies when content mentions disability, health conditions, accessibility, or neurodiversity.

Only mention disability when relevant. Do not define a person by their disability or condition. The University uses the social model of disability — people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their conditions — so "disabled person" is generally preferred over "person who is disabled". Respect individual preferences and always ask when writing about a specific individual.

Write: disabled person · people living with cancer · wheelchair user · person living with dementia · mental health condition · neurodiverse (groups) · neurodivergent / neuro-atypical (individuals, by preference) · neurotypical

Do not write: diabetic (as a noun) · the disabled / the blind / the deaf (as collective nouns) · afflicted by / suffering from / a victim of · handicapped · mentally ill · special needs

Place "accessible" first when describing arrangements: accessible toilets, accessible transport, accessible websites and apps.

Sex, sexuality and gender

Applies when content mentions gender, pronouns, names, or sexual orientation.

Only reference gender or sexual orientation when relevant. Ask the person how they would like to be described; do not assume. Sex refers to biological aspects; gender is a social construction relating to behaviours and identity; gender identity is a personal, internal perception.

Use gender-neutral terms: everyone, colleagues, chairperson, spokesperson, they (singular). Avoid: ladies and gentlemen, guys (for a mixed group), chairman, spokeswoman.

Use the pronouns a person uses for themselves — do not assume. "They/them" is acceptable in singular use when pronouns are unknown. Use the name a person uses at the time of writing; do not use a previous name without consent.

Mention sexuality only when relevant. Use language preferred by the group when writing about groups, and be aware terminology varies across cultural contexts.

Race and ethnicity

Applies when content mentions race, ethnicity, nationality, or country/place names.

Only refer to race, ethnicity, or nationality when relevant. Ask individuals how they would like to be described; use language preferred by the group for groups.

Capitalisation: broad ethnicity terms in lower case — black, white (not Caucasian); specific ethnicity/nationality terms in upper case — African, Chinese, Indian, British.

Be specific rather than applying broad geographical labels: write Nigerian rather than African, Chinese rather than Asian, unless the individual uses the broader term themselves.

Avoid BAME (ambiguous, implies homogeneity) unless directly quoting an external source — be specific about the groups discussed instead (Black students, students from South Asian backgrounds).

Use "international students", not "foreign students". Do not describe entire continents or regions (Africa, Asia, the Middle East) as if they were a single country or culture.

Use current place names where they have changed: Kyiv, not Kiev · Beijing, not Peking · Uluru, not Ayers Rock · East Asia, not Far East.

Do not use "first world", "third world", "developed", "undeveloped" or "developing countries" — use the World Bank classification system if an economic status must be indicated.