As part of DiversityInc's mission to bring clarity and education to the business case for diversity, we've created this style guide.

Acceptable words and phrases can become obsolete and even offensive tomorrow. The opposite also can be true, breathing new life into formerly forbidden words and phrases.

Style guides provide guidance on the use of words and phrases that do not yet have generally accepted principles for usage--and this one is no exception. However, this guide also gives readers directions on which words and phrases to use and when to use them. It also lets readers know which words and phrases should be avoided.

Answers to grammatical questions, such as when to use a comma, are not found here. Other guides cover those concerns. This guide focuses only on language related to diversity.

The answers in this guide are our current educated opinions. We offer them to you as our best recommendations after many sources were researched.

Send comments about this style guide to editor@DiversityInc.com.

You can also download a PDF version of this style by clicking here.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

A

Able-bodied

Refers to a person who does not have a disability. Although not a derogatory term, it is not preferred. Use without a disability. See disability, disabled.

Accents

Many words used in English derived from other languages require accents (e.g., resume: to begin again, résumé: summary of a job applicant's experience) to retain their meaning. Use accents in a proper name only if the person uses them. [For PC users: press Ctrl plus ' then release and press desired vowel for an acute accent (e.g., á).]

Acculturation

Process of acquiring a second culture. It is not assimilation. See assimilation, immigration.

ADA

Acronym for Americans with Disabilities Act, federal civil-rights legislation that deals with discrimination in employment, public accommodation, transportation and telecommunications, on the basis of disability. See disability, disabled.

Affirmative Action

Refers to proactive policies that increase representation of people of color and women in employment, education and business by expanding access and opportunity.

Africa

Use Africa only if related to the continent as a whole. Use specific countries or regions in the continent when possible. Do not use Dark Continent. See African, African American.

African

Resident of Africa, regardless of race or ethnicity. Not a synonym for African American. See African American, black.

African American

Nonwhite person of African descent who lives in the United States. Not a synonym for black. See black.

Afro-American

Outdated synonym for African American. Although not a derogatory term, avoid when possible. Use black or African American if appropriate. See African American, black.

African Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean

Although people from the Caribbean of African descent can be from any race or ethnicity, the terms refer to nonwhite Caribbean people of African descent. Both are acceptable. See African American, black.

AIDS

Acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a disease that weakens the human immune system, which makes it difficult for the body to fight opportunistic infections. Medications can slow progression, but there is no cure. HIV is only one of the factors needed for an AIDS diagnosis. HIV-positive people do not always develop AIDS. Regardless of orientation, anyone can develop AIDS. HIV disease is gaining popularity as an alternate term, but AIDS is still the preferred term. Do not use full-blown AIDS, AIDS victim or AIDS sufferer. Use person with AIDS, or, if used in a medical context. AIDS patient. See HIV.

Alien

Do not use the term "illegal alien." When referring to people who enter into a new country to live but are undocumented, use "undocumented immigrants." See immigrant, immigration, emigrant.

Amerasian

Describes person born in Korea of a Korean mother and a non-Asian father, and a person born in Vietnam of a Vietnamese mother and a non-Asian father. Originally described people fathered by members of the U.S. military during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Although not a derogatory term, avoid when possible. See Asian, Asian American.

American

Describes a citizen of the United States. However, this term also may describe any citizen of North, Central or South America.

American Indian

Used by the U.S. Census Bureau as the preferred term for Native American. Although not a derogatory term and used by some Native Americans, it is not preferred. Do not use Indian as a synonym. See Native American, Indian.

Arab

Person from an Arabic-speaking nation. Not a synonym for Muslim. Most Arabs are Muslims, but not all Muslims are Arab (e.g., Iranians are Persian and speak Farsi). See Islam.

Asian

Describes resident of the continent of Asia, regardless or race or ethnicity. Not a synonym for Asian American. See Asian American.

Asiatic

Derogatory term for Asian or Asian American. See derogatory terms.

Asian American

Person of Asian descent from the United States. Hyphenate only when used as an adjective. Asian is not a synonym. See Asian.

ASL

Acronym for American Sign Language, the most common language used by deaf people in North America. See deaf, disability.

Assimilation

Process of replacing one's first culture with a second culture. Is not acculturation. See acculturation, immigration.

Assistance animals

Describes animals that assist people with disabilities. Mostly refers to dogs, but can include other animals. Also service animals, guide dogs. Seeing Eye dog is a trademark of a group called The Seeing Eye. See disability, disabled. << Back to Top

B

Barrio

Avoid using barrio to describe a low-income Latino neighborhood. Use the name of the neighborhood. See ghetto.

Bilingual

Although bilingual often refers to Spanish and English, it describes fluency between any two languages.

Bilingual education

A teaching method in which students are taught the language of the country they live in by using their native language. Although often related to Spanish and English, it refers to any two languages.

Bindi

Hindi name for decoration worn by some Asian women between the eyebrows. Does not indicate marital status. See Hindi.

Birth defect

Derogatory term for a disability since birth. Use congenital disability or disability since birth. See congenital disability, disability, derogatory terms.

Bisexual

Person attracted to either sex. Do not assume or infer non-monogamy. See orientation.

Black

Nonwhite person of black descent, regardless of national origin. Use black only in this larger context. Use terms as African American, Haitian, etc. when race is known. See African American, white, race.

Blind

Use only for a person with total loss of sight. Many people who are legally blind have partial sight. For them, use visually impaired, partially sighted or person with low vision as alternatives. Avoid as a synonym for ignorant. See disability, disabled.

Buddhism

Religion founded by the Buddha. Adherents are Buddhists. Not synonymous with Hinduisms or Hindus. See Hinduism.

Braille

A system of writing and printing for people who are blind where characters and letters are formed by raised dots felt with the fingers. Not limited to English. Always capitalized. See blind, disability, disabled. << Back to Top

C

Cantonese

Dialect spoken in the Canton province of China, and Hong Kong. Spoken by many 19th century Chinese immigrants to the United States and still spoken widely in many Chinese-American communities. See Chinese, Mandarin, Asian, Asian American.

Catholic, Catholicism

Although these terms usually refer to the Roman Catholic Church, they can also refer to other Christian denominations, such as the Eastern Orthodox churches. Use in reference to the Roman Catholic Church only when the context is clear. See Christian, religious terms.

Caucasian

Synonym for white person. Derived from the Russian Caucasus mountains. Always use white unless Caucasian is in quote or a title. See white, race.

Chicano

Term for Mexican American popularized by Mexican Americans activists in the 1970s. Also Chicana(s) for women and Chianos for women and men in a group. Although not a derogatory term, it is not preferred by many Mexican Americans. Use only if preferred by the person or if in a quote or title. See Latino, Hispanic.

Chinese

Describes a person from China. Also the written language for China and Taiwan. Mandarin is the spoken language. Do not use as a synonym for Chinese American, a person of Chinese descent from the United States. See Mandarin, Cantonese, Asian, Asian American.

Christian

Person who believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ, regardless of religious denomination. See religious terms.

Civil unions

Civil unions offer same-sex couples some of the benefits of marriage under state laws. Depending on their state's law, same-sex partners who enter into civil unions may have the right to visit each other in the hospital, file their state taxes jointly, inherit each other's property and take part in other benefits. The "Defense of Marriage Act," denies same-sex couples access to any federal protections of marriage, such as Social Security survivor benefits. There also is no guarantee that civil unions will be recognized by other states or the federal government. See opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples, civil unions, same-sex marriage.

Civil rights

Political, social and economic legal rights and responsibilities guaranteed by the government. Also equal rights. Many groups in U.S. history, such as women, people of color and LGBTs, have struggled to attain them. The civil-rights movement refers to the struggles of African Americans. Do not use special rights.

Closeted

Describes a person who does not want to reveal his or her orientation or gender identity. Also in the closet. See coming out, outing.

Cognitive disability

Describes a disability that affects learning and similar brain functions. Use specific disabilities when possible. Avoid mental retardation. See disability, disabled.

Colored

Although used in regions of Africa to describe people of mixed race, do not use in the United States to refer to any people of color. See people of color.

Coming Out

Abbreviated from coming out of the closet. Choosing to reveal formerly hidden orientation or gender identity. See closeted, outing.

Congenital disability

Describes a disability since birth. Also disability since birth or born with a disability. Do not use birth defect. See disability, disabled.

Cripple

Derogatory term for person with a disability. See disability, derogatory terms.

Cross-dresser

Person who occasionally wears clothes identified with the opposite sex. Do not assume orientation. Do not use as a synonym for a transgender person. See transgender. << Back to Top

D

Deaf

Use for a person with total or profound loss of hearing. Many people have only moderate or mild hearing loss. For them, use person with hearing loss, partially deaf or hearing impaired. Do not use deaf-dumb, deaf-mute. See disability, disabled, mute.

Derogatory terms

Offensive words or phrases. Do not use except in quotes that reveal the bias of people quoted or when their use is in some way essential to a written communication. Terms considered derogatory by many people are used by some people in an informal, non-derogatory manner among each other in an attempt to reclaim them from their hateful origins. Because such usage in controversial, however, and people who use these terms informally consider their use by people not in their group as inappropriate, avoid them.

Developmental disability

Federal and legal definitions vary, but the term can include conditions such as autism and epilepsy. Use specific terms when possible. See disability, disabled.

Disability

Functional limitations of at least one major life activity, such as walking, learning, etc. Legal definitions vary. Do not mention unless relevant. Person with a disability is preferred, not disabled person. Do not use victim of, suffers from, stricken with, afflicted with. See disabled.

Disabled

Do not use the disabled. Use people with disabilities, disability community or disability activists as alternatives. See disability.

Diversity

Although often related to only race ethnicity and gender, it also includes people with disabilities, orientation and gender identity. White people should be included. See race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, gender identity.

Domestic partnership

Legal recognition of unmarried, opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples, which gives them some of the legal rights of married couples. Domestic partnerships are not marriages or civil unions. They are not usually binding between jurisdictions. See opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples, civil union, gay marriage.

Dwarf

Term for person of short stature. Derived from dwarfism, a medical term. See short stature, little person.

Dyke

Derogatory term for a lesbian. See lesbian, derogatory terms. << Back to Top

E

EEOC

Acronym for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency that enforces civil rights laws. See civil rights, affirmative action.

Emigrant

Person who exits country of origin to live elsewhere. See immigration, immigrant, alien.

ESL

Acronym for English as a Second Language, a method of teaching English in the United States to non-English speakers. See TOEFL.

Ethnicity

Classification of humans based on shared cultural heritage, such as place of birth, language, customs, etc. Do not use race as a synonym. See race. << Back to Top

F

Faggot

Derogatory term for a gay man. Also fag. See gay, derogatory terms.

Filipino

Person from the Philippines. Many younger Filipino Americans prefer Pilipino because Tagalog, the primary dialect, does not have an F sound.

FTM

Acryonym for female-to-male. Describes a transgender person classified as female at birth, but who identifies as male. Do not assume sex-reassignment surgery. See MTF, transgender. << Back to Top

G

Gay

Person attracted to the same sex, sexually and emotionally. Most associated with men. Describes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people as a group, but the acronym LGBT is preferred. Avoid homosexual(s). Do not use gay lifestyle. See LGBT, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, orientation.

Gender

The behavioral, cultural or psychological traits associated with being masculine or feminine. Do not use sex as synonym. See sex, transgender.

Gender-neutral terms

In general, use gender-neutral terms (e.g., police officer, not policeman) whenever possible, except if gender-specific terms are preferred by the person or if in a quote or title.

Gender expression

Describes how gender identity is expressed, regardless of orientation, including traditionally masculine or feminine behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice and gestures. See gender, gender identity, orientation, transgender.

Gender identity

Self-identification as male or female, regardless of sex assigned at birth. Do not use gender identity and orientation as synonyms. See gender, gender expression, orientation, transgender.

Ghetto

Avoid using ghetto to describe a low-income neighborhood of people of color. Use the name of the neighborhood. See barrio. << Back to Top

H

Handicap, handicapped

Although they are not derogatory terms, avoid them when possible. Use only in legal contexts, in quotes or titles. Use disability. See disability, disabled.

HBCU

Acronym for historically black colleges and universities, established to provide higher education to African Americans at a time in U.S. history when such access was limited. Most of them now do not have only African Americans as students, but most of them still retain African-American majorities. See affirmative action, HSI.

Hermaphrodite

Derogatory term for intersex person. Derived from hermaphroditism, a medical term. See intersex, derogatory terms.

Heterosexual

Person attracted to the opposite sex, sexually and emotionally. Use straight in informal contexts. See orientation.

Hindi

Official language of India. Not synonymous with Hindu, an adherent of Hinduism. See Hinduism.

Hinduism

Major religion in India. Not synonymous with Hindi, the official language of India. See Hindi, Indian.

Hip hop

An urban culture rooted in rap music, break dancing and graffiti that was created by African Americans and Latinos in the late 1970s, now popular with most U.S. youth. Do not capitalize. Hyphenated only when used as an adjective. See rap.

Hispanic

Person of descent from a Spanish-speaking country, regardless of ability to speak Spanish. Always capitalized. Use Latino instead of Hispanic, except if the person quoted prefers Hispanic, if Hispanic is in a quote, or title, or if Latino would be inaccurate. The U.S. Census Bureau uses Latino and Hispanic interchangeably to refer to persons of any race of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, Dominican, Spanish, and other Hispanic descent. See Latino, Spanish.

HIV

Acronym for human immunodeficiency virus, a retrovirus identified as the main cause of AIDS. HIV virus is redundant. Do not use HIV-infected or infected with HIV. See AIDS.

Homophobia

Describes fear, hatred, and/or dislike of gay men and lesbians. Also often includes bisexuals and transgender people, but transphobia is the term when referring to trans-gender people specifically. See homosexual, orientation, gender identity, transgender.

Homosexual

Person attracted to the same sex. Because of negative use historically, avoid homosexual as a synonym for gay. Use only if heterosexual would be used similarly, such as in a scientific reference. Do not use homo. See gay, hetereosexual.

HSI

Acronym for Hispanic-serving institutions, a term created by the federal government for colleges and universities. HSIs must have at least 25 percent Latinos, half of which are low income. Universities that earn this classification become eligible for additional funding. See affirmative action, HBCU.

Hyphenated Americans

Derogatory term coined by Theodore Roosevelt to describe Americans that he believed did not want to join the U.S. mainstream. Still used negatively to describe people that identify as African American, Mexican American, etc., even though these terms are now hyphenated only when used as adjectives. See derogatory terms. << Back to Top

I

Immigrant

Person who enters into a new country to live. See immigration, emigrant, alien.

Immigration

Avoid negative related terms such as "invasion." Use neutral terms, such as "arrival." See immigrant, emigrant, alien.

In-culture

Describes outreach to racial and ethnic groups using familiar cultural contexts, which can include methods, images and languages.

Indian

Describes a person from India. Use Indian American if referring to someone of Indian descent born in the United States. If referring to an American Indian, the term Native American is preferred. See Native American, American Indian, indigenous.

Indigenous

Describes descendants of native people of any region. Use specific terms when possible, such as Native American, Inuit, etc.

Intersex

Person whose sex is ambiguous. Intersex people often are operated on soon after birth, but it is becoming more common not to perform surgery, even though a sex is assigned. In these cases, intersex people are allowed to make their own decisions about their sex and whether to have surgery when their gender identities are m