##  [Gender-inclusive writing: Gender-inclusive nouns](/writing-tips-plus/gender-inclusive-nouns)

## Avertissement

Du contenu semblable en français est présenté dans l’article [Écriture inclusive : mots épicènes](/fr/cles-de-la-redaction/ecriture-inclusive-mots-epicenes).

Pour plus d’information sur l’écriture inclusive en français, veuillez consulter la page [Écriture inclusive – Lignes directrices et ressources](/fr/cles-de-la-redaction/ecriture-inclusive-lignes-directrices-ressources).

## Section: Inclusive writing

Go to the main page of this section: [Inclusive writing – Guidelines and resources](inclusive-writing-guidelines-resources).

## On this page

- [Introduction: Gendered nouns and inclusive solutions](#intro)
- [Occupational titles](#occupational-titles)
- [Expressions containing “man” or “woman”](#expressions)
- [Terms denoting relationships](#terms)
- [Use of the singular “they” with gender-inclusive nouns](#singular-they)
- [Additional information](#additional-information)

## Introduction: Gendered nouns and inclusive solutions

Many nouns in English are unnecessarily [gendered](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gendered). You might recognize some of these nouns as outdated today, but others may still find their way into your everyday writing. In general, these terms are best avoided because they often contain sexist assumptions and are not inclusive of other [genders](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender). Wherever possible, it’s best to replace them with [gender-inclusive](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender-inclusive) nouns.

Examples of sentences with gendered nouns and their inclusive alternatives

| Sentence with gendered noun | Sentence with inclusive alternative | Being a **stewardess** is a demanding job. | Being a **flight attendant** is a demanding job. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humour is **mankind’s** greatest blessing. | Humour is **humanity’s** greatest blessing. |
| **Guys**, we’re running out of time. | **Everyone**, we’re running out of time. |
| An unruly **boy or girl** should be removed from the activity. | An unruly **child** should be removed from the activity. |

## Occupational titles

Over time, many occupational roles and titles have taken on or carried forward an unnecessary [gendered](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gendered) component. In most cases, you can use alternative [gender-inclusive](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender-inclusive) titles to convey the same meaning.

Examples of gendered occupational titles and their inclusive alternatives

| Gendered occupational title | Inclusive alternative | steward   stewardess | flight attendant |
|---|---|---|---|
| waiter   waitress | server |

Many of these gendered occupational titles contain the word “man” or “woman.” Titles using these terms are not inclusive of diverse [gender identities](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender-identity). Moreover, it’s rarely necessary to focus on an individual’s gender when describing their occupation; in general, a person’s gender is irrelevant to the job they do and the way they do it.

Examples of gendered occupational titles and their inclusive alternatives

| Gendered occupational title | Inclusive alternative | chairman   chairwoman | chair or chairperson |
|---|---|---|---|
| policeman   policewoman | police officer |

For this reason, too, you should avoid compound expressions such as “male nurse” or “female lawyer” unless the gender distinction is relevant and essential to the context. For example, such a distinction would be relevant and acceptable in the description of an agenda item for a conference addressing the status of women in science and bringing together a panel of top “women scientists.”

Finally, it’s good practice to thoroughly review all your documents before they’re published so you can identify and replace any gender-specific occupational titles that are still in common usage. You should almost always use a gender-inclusive title.

For further examples, please refer to the [Inclusionary](inclusionary).

## Expressions containing “man” or “woman”

In addition to occupational titles, there are many other expressions that contain the word “man” or “woman.” These expressions should also be avoided whenever possible. They often reflect older sexist thinking that takes “man” as the neutral or default (as in “mankind”) or emphasizes an individual’s [gender](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender) in a context where it’s not relevant (as in “career woman”). They are also not inclusive of [non-binary](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-non-binary) genders.

Examples of gendered expressions containing the word “man” or “woman,” and their inclusive alternatives

| Gendered expression | Inclusive alternative | the common man | the average person |
|---|---|---|---|
| mankind | humankind   humanity   civilization |
| career woman | Use the person’s specific occupation: doctor, engineer, professor, etc. |

A more detailed list of [gendered](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gendered) expressions containing the word “man” or “woman,” along with their [gender-inclusive](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender-inclusive) alternatives, is available in the [Inclusionary](inclusionary).

## Terms denoting relationships

There are many [gendered](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gendered) terms in English to describe relationships between individuals. Unlike gendered occupational titles, these terms don’t have to be avoided at all times. However, it’s important to use [gender-inclusive](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender-inclusive) terms in cases where you don’t know an individual’s [gender](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender) or where you’re writing to or about a group of people of mixed genders. Of course, gender-inclusive terms are also preferred by many individuals who don’t identify with binary genders.

Examples of gendered terms describing relationships, and their inclusive alternatives

| Gendered term | Inclusive alternative | husband   wife | partner or spouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| brother   sister | sibling |
| mother   father | parent |

For a more detailed list of examples and practical alternatives, consult the list of gendered terms denoting relationships and their inclusive alternatives in the [Inclusionary](inclusionary).

## Use of the singular “they” with gender-inclusive nouns

When you use a [gender-inclusive](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-gender-inclusive) noun generically, always pair it with a gender-inclusive pronoun in order to preserve inclusiveness. A good practice is to use the [singular “they”](/en/writing-tips-plus/inclusive-writing-glossary#def-singular-they) to refer to generic gender-inclusive nouns. (Of course, if you’re using the gender-inclusive noun in reference to a specific person, you should pair it with that person’s specified pronoun.)

Example of a sentence that uses a generic gendered noun and pronoun, and its inclusive solution

| Gendered sentence | Inclusive solution | The **Chairman** is responsible for the administration of the board meeting. **He** brings the meeting to order, manages the proceedings and oversees the votes. | The **Chair** is responsible for the administration of the board meeting. **They** bring the meeting to order, manage the proceedings and oversee the votes. |
|---|---|---|---|

For more information, read the full article on using [the singular “they”](gender-inclusive-writing-use-the-singular-they) in gender-inclusive writing.

## Additional information

- [Inclusive writing – Guidelines and resources](inclusive-writing-guidelines-resources)
- [Gender-inclusive writing: Use the singular “they”](gender-inclusive-writing-use-the-singular-they)
- [Gender-inclusive writing: Inclusionary](inclusionary)

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## Liens connexes

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