Niner Diversity Style Guide

Note on the Use of Queer

The word "queer" has historically been considered a slur, so you may want to avoid use of the word, limiting it to quotes, names of organizations, and instances when an individual indicates he/she/they would prefer it used in reference to themselves. That said, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBTQIA people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBTQIA community. Queer can also be used in academic circles related to domain (e.g., "queer studies") and or a range of post-structuralist theories that deal with the construction or reconstruction of sexuality and/or gender identity known as "queer theory." Other variants, such as "quare theory," consider the intersection of identities, such as race. In your writing, avoid comparisons that reflect a heteronormative bias—in other words, heterosexual/cisgender as "normal" or the norm.

Note: When interviewing someone or otherwise referring to a source or subject in your writing, ask the individual how they prefer to be referred to (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, intersex, etc.) related to their gender and/or sexual identity. This may include identifications that are not common or specific. Ask, too, if there are any terms they ask not be used in reference to them and in what cases.

Note on the Use of "Transsexual" and "Transgender"

The GLAAD Media Reference Guide notes that "transgender" is preferred to "transsexual" and the latter should not be used. Some folks who seek to alter their body in some way may use transsexual and NOT transgender precisely because of the politics that bar folks from altering their bodies on their terms. Transgender is the larger term while transsexual is the more local term for a smaller group of folks who fall under the larger transgender umbrella but who may not call themselves transgender." When in doubt, ask someone how the prefer to be referenced.

Gender is not synonymous with sex. According to the AP Stylebook, gender refers to a person's social identity while sex refers to biological characteristics.

Since not everyone falls in the category of "male/man" or "female/woman," in your writing, avoid references to both as inclusive of all people. Consider referring to a person or people or, if appropriate, including the term "non-binary" as a way to encompass all people.

Transgender is an adjective (so modifying man or woman—as in transgender man, transgender woman) that refers to someone whose biology at birth does not match their gender identity. AP allows the use of trans on the second reference and in headlines. Do not use transgender as a noun or use the term transgendered.

Exception: In federal reporting, such as terms used by the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDs, federal enrollment and graduation rates, sex and gender ARE used interchangeably and this data refers to "men" and "women" (not male and female). UNC Charlotte is beginning to collect data on gender identity through banner, students are able to choose other options when self-identifying on their application).

Note: When interviewing individuals or otherwise referring to people, ask them how they want to be referenced (e.g., male, female, man, woman, transgender, gender fluid, nonbinary, etc.). Further, when writing about said individual(s) ask how they would like to be referenced (e.g., he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs).

The AP Stylebook advises against "[presuming] maleness in constructing a sentence." If you can reword a sentence to avoid gender, that's ideal. If that's not possible, you may opt to use "they" or "their" to indicate that the gender of the individual referenced is either not known or the reference applies to any gender.

Consider using the suffix –person (e.g., chairperson instead of chairman; spokesperson instead of spokesman) in your writing to avoid presuming maleness. Ask the person whose title you're referencing what they prefer as well, if possible. Be aware, too, of words that use –ess and denote femaleness, such as stewardess or hostess. When possible, choose a gender-neutral alternate, such as flight attendant.

The singular "they": In March 2017, the Associated Press voted to accept the singular they (as well as them/their ) as a gender-neutral pronoun when he/she or her/him is not accurate or preferred.

If possible, try to reword a sentence to avoid using the singular they/their/them, since this usage is still unfamiliar to many, if not most, readers and can cause confusion. So rework the sentence if you can and use the person's name in place of a pronoun when you can.

Another exception to avoid using only men/women or male/female (a binary reference) would be in a reference where men/women or male/female are necessary for accuracy, as in the case of a study that included men and women.

Mx: Though the Oxford Dictionary accepts Mx as a gender-neutral alternative to Mr., Mrs. or Ms., the AP Stylebook doesn't use these courtesy titles so does not offer guidance on the use of Mx.

It is the work group's feeling that this is currently not commonly understood and its use would likely confuse readers. Recommendation: Avoid using Mrs., Mr., and/or Ms. altogether, and only use traditional titles when necessary.

Terms to Avoid 

• Hermaphrodite (preferred term: intersex)

• Normal/norm (to refer to people who are not transgender, gender-fluid, non-binary)

• Sex change (preferred terms: sex reassignment, gender transition)

Click here for additional Guidelines for Non-Sexist Use of Language

Race and ethnicity are not the same. The U.S. Census Bureau defines race as a person's self-identification with one or more social groups, which can include White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and/or Other Pacific Islander.

Federal statistical standards used by the Census and the National Center for Education Statistics, conceptualize a person's ethnicity into one of two categories: Hispanic(or Latino/a/x) or Not Hispanic (Latino/a/x). If a person is Hispanic/Latino, they can self-report/identify as any race.

Federal regulations from 2007 about racial and ethnic data require institutions of higher education to collect and report a single, mutually exclusive major racial/ethnic group for students in federal collections (e.g., IPEDS). 

The fastest-growing demographics in the U.S. are "Two or More Races," the Asian population, and the Hispanic population. By 2044, there is expected to be no race or ethnic group in the U.S. that represents a 50 percent or greater share of the population. In this style guide, we attempt to provide basic guidance on style for:

African American, Black

African American / Black (the B in Black is capitalized; African American is not hyphenated)

African American and Black are not synonymous. If you are including someone's race in the content you're creating, be sure it is necessary to mention it and ask the person how they prefer to be identified. A person may identify as Afro-Latino or Afro-Caribbean, for instance, or Haitian American or Jamaican American.

The Associated Press made the decision to begin capitalizing the b in Black on June 19, 2020. 

African American is not hyphenated. Never use the word colored or Negroas a descriptor. Afro American is an archaic descriptor and should not be used.

In the body of a piece, it is preferred to use Black people and not Blacks to refer to a group.

Terms to Avoid

• Colored
• Negroes
• The other "N" word 
• Blacks or "The Blacks"

Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, Latine, Latin@, Chicano/a

Hispanic / Latino/a/e / Latinx and related terms

Federal policy defines Hispanic as an ethnicity, not a race. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Latinx is increasingly used unless the individual or people discussed prefer another term.

While it is common to see Hispanic and Latinx/Latino/a/ used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. Hispanic generally refers to people with origins in Spanish-speaking countries. Latinx/Latino/a/e generally refer to people with origins in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Most Hispanics also identify as Latinx/Latino/a/e and vice versa. Generally, people from Brazil or Haiti do not identify as Hispanic, but may identify as Latinx/Latino/a/e.

Avoid the term "Latin" unless it is a reference to "Latin America."

Latina(s) is appropriate for individuals who identify as a woman/women, unless the person/people prefer Latinx.

Chicano/a is a term that refers to Americans of Mexican ancestry.

Again, be sure to ask the individual/group how they prefer to be identified. The individual may prefer, for example, a gender-inclusive and neutral term like Latinx or Latin@, or a broader term, like Afro-Latino (the person may identify as both African or African American and Latino/a).

Also, be aware of gender when using Latino and Chicano in your writing.

Latinidad and Latin@ are emerging terms that may be favored by younger generations. 

Asian, Asian American

Asian American and Pacific Islanders and related terms (no hyphen)

When writing about someone or a group of this background, ask the person how they prefer to be referred to. Specifically, if it makes more sense to refer to a specific background—e.g., Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Filipino—use that term rather than a collective noun.

Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA): This is the preferred term to use, versus Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), or Asian American Pacific Americans. The latter is not incorrect, but for consistency's sake, we recommend the preferred use.

South Asian: This collective term refers to people from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Desi-American is a term commonly used by people from India, but not by all South Asians. Check with the source/individual to confirm how they prefer to be identified and ensure that identifying their race/ethnicity is essential to the content you're creating.

American Indian, Alaska Native, Hawaiian Native, Native American, Native People, Indigenous People

Native American and related terms (no hyphen)

The most inclusive and accurate term to use to refer to those who inhabited land that became the United States (or, previously, territories) is: American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN).

You may also see the terms:

• ​​​First Nation 

• First People(s)

• Indigenous People(s)

• Native People(s)

• Tribal Communities

• Tribal People

Always ask someone how they prefer to be identified, including Hawaiian Natives. The person may prefer that you refer to them by their tribally specific nation. If a tribal name is used, ask for a phonetic spelling of the name.

American Indians and Alaska Natives/Hawaiian Natives have a distinct political and cultural identification constructed in and through treaties, executive orders and the Constitution. American Indian and Alaska Native/Hawaiian Natives' cultural identification is place-based, diverse, and informed by the practices of their culture (e.g., language, singing, dancing, ceremonies).

Caucasian/White

Caucasian / White the W in white is often and remains lowercase according to the Associated Press. However, the National Association of Black Journalists (2020) recommends "...that whenever a color is used to appropriately describe race then it should be capitalized, including White and Brown."

The Center for the Study of Social Policy also makes an impassioned case for the capitalization of White as well as Black. “We believe that it is important to call attention to White as a race as a way to understand and give voice to how Whiteness functions in our social and political institutions and our communities,” staff members Ann Thúy Nguyễn and Maya Pendleton wrote in a post on the organization’s website. “Moreover, the detachment of ‘White’ as a proper noun allows White people to sit out of conversations about race and removes accountability from White people’s and White institutions’ involvement in racism.

In addition, the American Psychological Association Style Guide recommends capitalizing both White and Black, but it advises against using other “colors to refer to other human groups; doing so is considered pejorative.” 

Race and Ethnicity: Terms to Avoid 

Do not use the term "colored person/people." Use a broader term, like "people of color," which refers to any person who is not white, especially in the U.S. You may see this referenced as "POC." This acronym may be used, but only after the phrase it stands for (i.e., people of color) is shared on first use.

In general, no racial or ethnic slur should ever be included in what you write. You may consider an exception if your content is about this slur (as in a research study examining use of the word) or, possibly, if it is essential to your piece and is used in quotes. In this case, ensure that its use is absolutely necessary and that your source has approved the attribution of the slur(s) to them.

This Atlantic article is useful in identifying when it might be permissible to use an ethnic slur in your writing. If you're in doubt, please Ask the Editor. It's worth mentioning that the Department of Homeland Security considers the use of ethnic slurs a form of harassment on the basis of race and/or national origin in some circumstances.

APA tips on writing about Socioeconomic Status

The ways in which we talk and write about students who are low-income should convey compassion, inclusion, and sensitivity. Writing about poverty and those who do not have the money they need is, of course, a sensitive matter and sometimes a source of shame and stigma for the student.