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The Inclusive Language Field Guide
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The Inclusive Language Field Guide

6 Simple Principles for Avoiding Painful Mistakes and Communicating Respectfully

Suzanne Wertheim
Berrett-Koehler, 2023
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9

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Today’s language etiquette includes words and phrases that might seem strange or awkward. Dismissing these changes as political correctness gone mad is easy, but language continually evolves to reflect changing attitudes. Words that you find innocuous can offend others. To forge connections and facilitate trust, consider the needs, feelings and preferences of those who have been marginalized in the past. Embrace linguistic anthropologist Suzanne Wertheim’s six principles of inclusive language to better understand the dynamics of communication and avoid hurting others with your words.

Summary

The six principles of inclusive language provide a communication framework that engenders connection and trust.

Some words and phrases that you have used for years might now be socially unacceptable. People expect you to use inclusive and considered language and to think about the feelings and preferences of those you’re addressing – particularly when speaking to historically marginalized groups or individuals. A single word or misguided phrase can cause irreparable harm in such contexts.

Today’s more inclusive reality often feels like a minefield, especially if you aren’t up-to-date on 21st-century language etiquette. The six principles of inclusive language provide the tools to navigate this new terrain and interact confidently. Even as language evolves and contexts shift, these scientific concepts can help you understand communication dynamics. Use them to sidestep faux pas and avoid unintentionally hurting others with your words.

Dictionary definitions don’t encompass the nuances of what a word conveys in context.

Linguistic anthropologists examine words through...

About the Author

Linguistic anthropologist Suzanne Wertheim is CEO of Worthwhile Research & Consulting. She has taught at Northwestern University, the University of Maryland and UCLA.

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