# Inclusive Language
Be mindful of the impact of your words and language on the people interacting with your websites and products
# General Guidelines
Widen your gaze. Ask yourself “how does being excluded make me feel?”, and then extend that thought to all the people who may use your site.
Be clear, kind, and specific. Overly general language can be exclusive and presumptive. For tips on describing groups, please refer to the sections below.
Focus only on relevant information when describing people or collecting their data. More data isn’t always better. People trust you to use their data responsibly, but also to collect only what you need. Be aware of why you’re asking for or disclosing information—is it necessary, does it reveal your own bias, or are you simply accustomed to asking for this data? Be careful how you ask for information. When collecting demographic information in a form or survey, be sure everyone is represented in the response choices. Using “other” as a choice for someone who is not represented is dehumanizing and exclusive.
Be aware of your impact. Consider how a user might feel reading your words. How does your language show bias and assumptions about people? When comparing groups, avoid language that reinforces the idea that the dominant group is standard or normative. When presenting data related to groups, avoid displaying dominant groups at the top-left of a page, as this can reinforce the bias that the dominant group is standard.
When in doubt, ask. Referring to groups using their preferred language shows awareness and solidarity.
Be aware of intersectionality. Intersectionality addresses the multifaceted nature of how individuals are shaped by and identify with cultural, structural, sociobiological, economic, and social environments. Every human experience is unique, but our shared understanding of these experiences unites us and makes us more compassionate humans.
# Age
Some demographic information is so widely collected that people rarely think twice about disclosing it when asked, and companies rarely think twice about asking. When asking for a person’s age, or disclosing it in your research, ask if this information is relevant. Some age descriptors intersect with gender (man, woman, boy, girl). Only use these when you know the age and gender of the person or group you are writing about. For any age, “person” or “individual” is appropriate.
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# Accessibility
A product is accessible when all users can easily navigate it, understand it, and successfully complete the required tasks. Don’t assume people using your products have the same access to equipment and technology, or work in the same environments. For example, a remote employee may use a mobile device and would need support information to include help for mobile users rather than desktop users. Both usability and how a product makes a user feel impact interest in our products.
Writing accessibly for neurodiversity means being aware of the invisible ways our brains work differently. Be brief, clear, and avoid ableist language. Write in plain language, and use simple, consistent formatting. Don’t assume an audience’s level of education, or that English is globally normative.
For a more comprehensive guide, check out Skyline's Accessibility section.
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# Gender & Pronouns
Gender and sex are often incorrectly used interchangeably. Gender includes the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a culture attributes to an individuals' sex assigned at birth. Gender is a social construct and social identity. Gender identity is not the same as sexual orientation. Sex refers to sex assigned at birth. Write with precision.
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# Race & Ethnicity
Race usually refers to physical differences between people from different groups. Race is a social construct. Ethnicity refers to shared cultural customs like language and traditions. Be aware of how language can reinforce stereotypes and stigmas. Can you identify some ways your own bias is communicated in your writing?
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# Sexual Orientation & Family Status
Sexual orientation refers to a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to another person. When writing about sexual orientation, don’t assume that heterosexuality, or being “straight”, is normative. Recognize diverse families. Don’t assume homes with children have one mother and one father unless otherwise stated or fail to recognize homes without children as a family unit.
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# Socioeconomic Status
Socioeconomic status includes income, education, occupation and cultural perceptions of social status and class.
Bias around socioeconomic status is reinforced using language that blames individuals for their situation. Instead, recognize a wider social context that influences individual conditions.