Language
Bias-Free Language
“In all coverage …. strive to accurately represent the world, or a particular community, and its diversity through the people you quote and depict in all formats. Omissions and lack of inclusion can render people invisible and cause anguish.” — AP Stylebook Online
Note: This guide is an ever-evolving resource that attempts to address a variety of concerns around bias-free language. The overarching theme is to be mindful of how others wish to represent themselves. Never apply terms to others without their consent.
Your input will ensure this guide is continually improved so that it accurately and thoughtfully refers and speaks to our many and varied audiences. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact identity@berkeley.edu.
Terms and Usage
Alum, alums
Use alum(s) instead of alumni. Instances exist in which alumna, alumnae, alumnus, and alumni have historically been used: Alumnus of the Year Award, for example. Avoid when possible, but you may need to defer in some instances and use these terms since award names, various reports, and so forth include these terms.
Cases do exist in which we use the term alumni.
- Alumni and Parents Weekend at Homecoming
- University Development and Alumni Relations
- Cal Alumni Association
In these instances, note that the word is used as a modifier. In instances that it does not, use alum/alums whenever possible. Use emerita and emeritus since no bias-free option exists at present. Inform partners about bias-free language in this regard when appropriate.
See also Alums and Emeriti in Academic Terms and Usage, and the first two paragraphs of “Gender” in this section.
African American, Black
Both terms are acceptable. If you are writing a profile about someone, ask them if they wish to include this indicator of identity. If so, ask which one to include or if you may use both terms, alternating between them in a longer piece. Capitalize Black as the term conveys an essential and shared sense of history, identity, and community among people who identify as Black, including those in the African diaspora and within Africa. The terms may be used interchangeably in longer pieces, or you may choose one to use.
Asian Americans
Pacific Islanders
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
The first two terms may be mentioned alone: Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders.
- The Asian American Affinity Group at UDAR meets once a month.
- The Pacific Islander Festival is held every year in San Diego.
The two communities are sometimes mentioned together. If used in a piece only once, use Asian American and Pacific Islanders with no acronym. If referring to this group of communities more than once, use Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) on first reference and AAPI in remaining instances.
If quoting people or citing the name of an organization, spell out the term as soon as it makes sense later in the piece:
- Stop AAPI Hate tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders nationwide.
See also entries Filipina, Filipino, and Filipinx
Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)
This acronym stands for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. If mentioned in a piece only once, use Black, Indigenous, and people of color with no acronym. If referring to this group of communities more than once, use Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) on first reference and BIPOC in remaining instances.
If quoting people — and they use the acronym — or citing the name of an organization, spell out the term as soon as it makes sense later in the piece:
- “We want to ensure all BIPOC students feel supported and connected to the Cal community,” said Isabel Sanford, technology resources manager. To achieve that goal, Sanford became a driving force in establishing the Multicultural Collaboration Hub for students who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
Spelling out the term within a quote can appear clunky or take away from the feeling and immediacy expressed by people being quoted.
Chicanx, Latinx
These are accepted gender-neutral terms for people of Mexican American and Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the United States. If you are writing a profile about someone, ask them if they wish to include any indicators of identity. Latinx is used most universally at UC Berkeley. You may also use Chicano, Latino, Chicano, or Latina if an individual or group prefers these terms.
Class years
When referring to general class years, use first-year instead of freshman. Use second-year, third-year, and so forth. Note: Some institutional collateral may use freshman/ freshmen.
Gender, pronouns
The AP Stylebook advises against “[presuming] maleness in constructing a sentence.” Also, be mindful of words that use –ess and denote femaleness, such as hostess.
Use gender-neutral terms whenever possible:
- chair, chairperson, police officer
When possible, choose a gender-neutral alternative.
Recasting in the plural whenever possible is a way to stay gender-neutral:
- Donors may pay by credit card if they so choose.
Be careful not to mix singular and plural.
- Incorrect: Every student has their preference.
- Correct: All students have their preferences.
From Pronouns.org: “Often, people make assumptions about the gender of another person based on the person’s appearance or name. These assumptions aren’t always correct, and the act of making an assumption (even if correct) sends a potentially harmful message — that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate the gender that they are or are not. Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect them.”
When interviewing individuals or otherwise referring to people, ask them how they should be referenced (male, female, man, woman, transgender, gender fluid, nonbinary, another term). Additionally, ask if there are pronouns that should be used when they are being referenced (he/him/ his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, other terms) — more on other pronouns below. Finally, ask if there are any terms they do not want to be used in reference to them and in which cases that might apply.
In pieces about people who identify as neither male nor female or ask not to be referred to as he/she/him/her, use the person’s name in place of a pronoun. Some people don’t have a preferred pronoun. While the use of they/them/there is acceptable as a gender-neutral pronoun, avoid confusion whenever possible by using the person’s name. If they/them/ their is essential, explain in the text that the person uses (not prefers) a gender-neutral pronoun.
More about pronouns
According to Pronouns.org: “There are additional sets of pronouns that some people might use (ze/zir, per/pers, ey/em, xe/xem, etc.). Please check with the person who goes by those pronouns and/or look for online resources to determine the proper ways to utilize them. Some people go by multiple sets of pronouns, and usually that means that it is okay to use any of the sets they go by. Some people ask that others vary the pronouns that are used within certain sets of pronouns. If in doubt about what that means for someone or to request examples of how to do that in practice, let the person know you want to be supportive and ask the person for more information or examples so that you can get it right.”
Historically marginalized, marginalized
Avoid this term. Also avoid other related terms such as vulnerable and at-risk.
Historically underrepresented
This is acceptable to use for internal communications. For donor communications, it may be necessary to specify that this term includes African American, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Native Americans, women, and others. Be sure not to overuse the term in one piece of collateral.
See the entry “underrepresented minorities,” in this section.
Filipina, Filipino, Filipinx
Berkeley News uses all these terms. Use the term(s) preferred by an individual or group being profiled/ referenced.
Indigenous
Capitalize Indigenous in reference to original inhabitants of a place. These changes align with long-standing capitalization of other racial and ethnic identifiers such as Asian American, Native American, and Latinx.
LGBTQ+
Always include the +. You may notice other outlets using a longer term that includes additional letters or symbols. Public Affairs uses LGBTQ+ in its coverage. If an organization name includes additional characters (LGBTQIA+, for example), use it:
- Thank you for your gifts to the LGBTQIA+ Science Students Fund.
You may encounter other groups that do not use the symbol:
- National LGBTQ Task Force
Again, use the organization’s correct name. If in doubt about an organization name, ask.
Low-income
This is acceptable. Instead of saying low-income students say students from low-income backgrounds or students from low-income environments.
Native American
Associated Press uses this term to refer to Indigenous peoples of the United States and its territories. Ask people if they want to include this indicator of identity.
People of color, students of color
These terms are acceptable. It’s best to provide context instead of simply using this descriptor. Don’t say persons of color, as it’s too formal. Persons is used largely in formal or legal contexts.
People with disabilities
“Do not refer to a disability or condition unless it is crucial to your subject and relates to the full understanding of your [audience],” notes the Fort Worth, Dallas, Denton & Plano Resource Centers on Independent Living in its guidelines for writing about people with disabilities.
When in doubt about how to portray someone, ask them. For example: “John, I know that you are passionate about helping students with autism such as yourself. How do you want me to refer to you in this piece?” Let people being profiled tell you how they want to be portrayed. Don’t assume they want to highlight a disability. It may not be something they wish to share. Always ask.
Always use people-first language. Don’t emphasize a disability:
- People with visual impairments and students with disabilities not blind people or disabled students
Use a positive expression of ability instead of framing it the other way around:
- Ravi is partially sighted not Ravi is partially blind.
Avoid labeling people and putting them in categories, as in the disabled, the deaf, and so forth. Again, emphasize people:
- a person who has multiple sclerosis, people with hearing impairments, and so on
Underrepresented minorities
Use sparingly. For internal audiences only, you may use the term. For donor communications and other external audiences, try to avoid the term and do not use the acronym often associated with this term, URM. Refer specifically to people and communities:
- We need to support our Black and Indigenous graduate students whose diverse perspectives and brilliance deepen the intellectual vitality at UC Berkeley.
Under-resourced
Avoid this term. It’s too general.
Underserved
Avoid for the same reason as above.
Womxn
Our university — including Marketing Communications at UDAR, the Chancellor’s office, and Public Affairs — does not use this term officially.
The term womxn may not be the “one-size-fits-all welcome sign it’s hoping to be,” according to Cassie Barradas (they/them), former lead writer of the Girlboss Daily newsletter.
“There are many valid and important reasons people may choose to use the word womxn to describe themselves. It’s when the term is ascribed to trans women or nonbinary people without their consent that it becomes problematic,” Barradas says.
Some nonbinary and trans folks point out that this term is alienating and invalidating. Some folks don’t mind it; others very much do. Never apply this term or any other terms to others without their consent.
References
Associated Press Stylebook Online
Berkeley News
California State University, Diversity/Inclusivity Style Guide
Fort Worth, Dallas, Denton & Plano Resource Centers on
Independent Living
National LGBTQ Task Force
Pronouns.org
Reproductive Justice Glossary
The Society for Editing
University of Florida, Multicultural and Diversity Affairs