Page 12 - Style Book 2020

NONSEXIST WRITING
What to do with he and his
• Avoid using he to cover both he and she, and the possessive his for both his and hers. Try rewriting the sentence so that the plural pronoun they (theirs) can be used or the pronoun is eliminated.
Awkward: Each student has received his own school handbook.
Instead: All students have received their own school handbooks.
Instead: Each student has received a school handbook. Awkward: The average student is worried about his grades.
Instead: The average student is worried about grades. And then there’s he/she, him/her
• Avoid the he/she double pronoun construction. It is cum- bersome and becomes awkward if read aloud. Again, try to rewrite the sentence in the plural or eliminate the pronoun. Be careful, however, not to use a plural pronoun to refer to a singular antecedent. If you cannot avoid using it, he alone is more acceptable.
Awkward: A student who was satisfied with his/her perfor- mance on the test advanced to the next component.
Instead: Students who were satisfied with their perfor- mance on the test advanced to the next component.
Awkward: Everyone should bring their Strategic Plan to the meeting.
Instead: Everyone should bring a copy of the Strategic Plan to the meeting.
And man
• Instead of using man, try substituting other words such as person, individual, someone, anyone, no one, human being, one, etc. Here are some well-known examples.
Awkward: Ours is a government of laws and not of men. Instead: Ours is a government of laws and not of people.
• Instead of using man or manned to mean “to take assigned places in, on, or at for work or defense,” as in “to man the information booth,” use work, staff, run, operate, serve at, etc.
Awkward: We need three people to man the registration table. Instead: We need three people to work (or any of the other
alternatives) the registration table.
Occupational titles
• Avoid using occupational titles ending with –man, -ess or –woman. Here are some common examples and generally accepted alternatives.
Examples
anchorman, anchorwoman policeman, policewoman fireman
mailman
craftsmen
newsman
repairman
draftsman
cameraman
salesman, saleswoman
housewife
waiter, waitress businessmen
foreman
weatherman, weather girl
stewardess, steward actress
clergymen
congressmen
deliveryman
bellboy, bellman workman
Alternatives
anchor
police officer
firefighter
mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker
craftspeople, craft workers, crafters, artisans
reporter, newsperson, journalist
repairer
drafter
camera operator
sales agent, salesperson, sales associate
homemaker
ser ver
business people
super visor
weathercaster, weather reporter, forecaster
flight attendant actor
clergy, members of the clergy
congressional representatives, members of congress, Congress people
deliverer, courier, delivery clerk
bellhop worker
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