A reference list of common English words and phrases that carry racial, gender, ageist, ableist, religious, or cultural bias, each paired with an inclusive alternative and a short note on where the bias comes from. Use it to spot and replace loaded language in your writing.
Brown Bag→Lunch bag
Racial. In the slavery era in the United States, a brown paper bag was held up to the faces of potential business patrons; they were served only if their skin was lighter than the bag.
Cake Walk→Easy peasy
Racial. Dates back to the slavery era, when enslaved people on plantations were required to enter dance competitions with a cake as the prize; using it for a simple task is derogatory toward African-American people.
Christmas Vacation→Winter vacation
Religious. Many people do not celebrate Christmas; 'holiday break' or 'winter vacation' is more inclusive regardless of religion.
Native English Speaker→Fluent in English
Language. Shows bias against people who learned English as an additional language; requiring fluency is a better job-posting requirement.
Hey Guys→Hey, everyone
Gender. Addressing a mixed group as 'guys' shows gender bias and can exclude women from the conversation.
Grandfather Clause→Exemption or preapproval
Racial. Rooted in post-emancipation US voting laws that let white people vote without meeting literacy requirements if their grandfathers could vote, excluding non-white citizens.
Long Time No See→I haven't seen you in a while
Racial. Likely originated in Americans mocking Native American or Chinese speech patterns; biased against people of a specific ethnicity.
Man Hours→Work hours
Gender. Implies only men work; gender-neutral alternatives include work hours, time at work, and billable hours.
Master Bedroom→Largest bedroom, suite
Racial/Gender. 'Master' refers to the master of a plantation and also implies a male owner in power within the home.
Disabled Person→Person with a disability
Ableist. Person-first language puts the person before the disability, making clear the disability is not what defines them.
Peanut Gallery→People who aren't in the arena
Racial/Classist. In vaudeville, the cheapest seats, often sold to African-American audience members, were the peanut gallery; the term dismisses their comments as invalid.
Spirit Animal→Best friend, cut from the same cloth
Racial. Many Native American and First Nations people find the term offensive because it makes light of indigenous cultures that do not embrace the concept.
Elderly→Senior or senior citizen
Ageist. Associated with ageist biases that can lead to hiring discrimination and unfair treatment of older adults.
Mankind→Humankind
Gender. Excludes more than half the population; use 'human' or 'humankind' to refer to the human race.
Mumbo Jumbo→Double talk
Racial/Cultural. Traced to the Mandinka tribe's Maamajomboo, a masked ceremonial dancer feared by 1700s English colonizers; now used to mean nonsense.
Victim (of a disease)→Person diagnosed with (disease)
Ableist. Calling someone a victim can make them feel powerless; person-first language centres the person over the condition.
Paddy Wagon→Police vehicle
Cultural. 'Paddy' is a derogatory slang term for an Irish person, dating to heavy US discrimination against Irish immigrants in the 1800s.
Indian Style→Criss cross apple sauce
Racist. 'Indian' is a misnomer from Columbus mistaking the Americas for India; using it to describe sitting cross-legged can be offensive.
Tipping Point→Boiling point
Racial. Refers to the ratio of minority to white residents that triggered 1950s 'white flight' from cities to suburbs.
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