This is a list of gender-inclusive language that we use with some of our projects.
This list is organic, adaptable to local context, social context, priorities, cultural sensitivities, etc.
We welcome constructive feedback.
We welcome contributions in other languages.
| Gendered pronoun | Gender-inclusive pronoun |
| he, she | they |
| him, her | them |
| his, hers | theirs |
| Gendered noun | Gender-inclusive noun |
| mother, father | parent |
| daughter, son | child |
| sister, brother | sibling |
| niece, nephew | nibling |
| wife, husband | spouse |
| girlfriend, boyfriend | friend, partner, significant other |
| Gendered language | Gender-inclusive lanuage |
| actress | actor |
| airman | airperson, air crew member, pilot |
| anchorman | anchor, anchorperson, newscaster |
| bellboy | bellhop |
| businessman | businessperson, executive, manager |
| caveman | cave dweller |
| chairman | chair, chairperson, coordinator, head |
| clergyman | clergyperson, clergy member |
| councilman | councilperson, council member |
| committeeman | committeeperson, committee member |
| congressman | congressperson, congressional representative, legislator |
| craftsman | craftsperson, crafter |
| doorman | doorperson, security guard |
| everyman | everyperson, the common person, the average person |
| fireman | firefighter |
| freshman | first-year student, first-year member |
| gentleman | gentleperson |
| layman | layperson, church member, nonordained person |
| lineman, linesman | lineperson, line worker, line maintainer |
| mailman | mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker |
| man (n.) | person, individual |
| man (v.) | to guard, to staff, to mind [the store] |
| mankind | humankind, humanity, human race, human beings, people |
| man-made | synthetic, artificial, hand-made, machine-made |
| manhole | utility hole, sewer hole |
| manpower | workers, workforce, staffing |
| middleman | intermediary, go-between |
| newsman | newsperson, reporter, correspondent |
| ombudsman | ombudsperson, investigator, appointee |
| policeman | police officer |
| postman | mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker |
| spokesman | spokesperson, speaker |
| statesman | statesperson, political leader, policy maker |
| steward, stewardess | flight attendant |
| the common man | the common person, the average person |
| weatherman | weatherperson, weather forecaster, weather reporter |
| Sir (in “Dear Sir,” etc.) | Dear Reader, Dear Member, To Whom it May Concern |
| Mr., Ms. | Mx. |
United Nations - Gender-inclusive language - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian