Word Choice

1
Word Choice
Pick your words like you pick your fruit
2
Word Choice
Which word should you use when referring to a
student in a special education course?
A. Disability
Replaced the term handicap in federal laws
B. Handicap
C. Challenged
Use of challenged and other "euphemisms avoid
reality and rob people of dignity." from Harvard
University Department of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation's online
3
Word Choice
People First Language
Put the person first, not the disability
APPROPRIATE A person with a disability  NOT
APPROPRIATE Disabled person
Adapted from Sasss Speaking and Writing about
People with Disabilitieshttp//www.cloudnet.com/
edrbsass/edpeoplefirst.htm
4
Word Choice

• People First Language
• Avoid generic labels
• APPROPRIATE Person with physical disability
• NOT APPROPRIATE physically disabled
• Avoid euphemisms NOT APPROPRIATE Physically
  Challenged
• Avoiding implying illness or suffering
• APPROPRIATE Person X has multiple sclerosis
• NOT APPROPRIATE Person X suffers from multiple
  sclerosis
• from Department of Physical Medicine and
  Rehabilitation, 2000 Schiefelbusch Institute,
  1996

Adapted from Sasss Speaking and Writing about
People with Disabilitieshttp//www.cloudnet.com/
edrbsass/edpeoplefirst.htm
5
Word Choice
Why should you use people first language?

• Academic WorldFavors people first language
• Federal LawsFavors people first language
• CareersLaw, Health, or Social Sciences

6
Word Choice
Which option below is the best gender neutral
term?
A. He or she
B. He
C. It
7
Word Choice
USING GENDER NEUTRAL TERMS
Gender Specificfiremanpolicemanchairmanmankind
manwaitressactresshehousewifeMiss Smith
Gender Neutralfirefighterpolice
officerchairhumanitypersonserveractorhe or
shehousekeeperMs. Smith
Avoid Gender Specific
Prefer Gender Neutral
8
Word Choice
Why should you use gender neutral terms?

• Academic WorldFavors people first language
• Federal LawsFavors people first language
• CareersLaw, Health, or Social Sciences

9
Word Choice
Use the appropriate term when referring to a
persons religious or ethnic background?
Academic World Preferred TermsExamplesAfrican
American or BlackAsian AmericanCaucasian or
White
10
Word Choice
Commonly confused words
accept (receive) except (excluding) affect
(influence) effect (result) elicit (bring out)
illicit (unlawful) explicit (directly) implicit
(implied) there (place) their (possessive
pronoun) than (comparison) then (time) loose
(not fastened) lose (not to win) lie (to rest on
a surface) lay (to put or place)
11
Word Choice
Trim the Fat! Eliminate Wordiness
Passive VoiceRedundancyPrepositional Phrases
12
Word Choice
Trim the Fat! Eliminate Wordiness
Avoid Redundancy Repeated WordsSynonymsUnneces
sary Words
13
Word Choice
Trim the Fat! Eliminate Wordiness
Avoid Redundancy Repeated Words Weak His
employees experience many problems. The types of
problems that employees face are low pay, lack of
health insurance, and lack of vacation
time.Stronger His employees experience the
following problems low pay, lack of health
insurance, and lack of vacation time
14
Word Choice
Trim the Fat! Eliminate Wordiness
Avoid Unnecessary Words
Strongerbecausein facttomustbecausewhen
Weakdue to the factas a matter of factin
order tothere is a needconsidering the fact
thatin a situation in which
15
Word Choice
Its your choice!
Review Avoid biased language Avoid referring
to gender, race, disability unless it is
necessary Eliminate wordiness If you can convey
your message in fewer words, just do it!