Business Communication

58  /  Business Communication
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Many people while speaking or writing English, prefer to avoid using language that is sexist. The
modern non-sexist use of language is sometimes called inclusive language.
Sexist language 
Non-sexist 
Male pronoun he, his, him are used even 
though the sex of the person is not known.
• A gardner is usually proud of his garden. 
• A child needs to feel that he is liked by 
his friends. 
They, them or by the combination she/he, 
him or her. 
• A gardner is usually proud of his/her 
garden. 
• A child needs to feel liked by friends. 
Words formed from ‘man’ are used when 
referring to people generally.
• Man is polluting the earth. 
• This is the largest man-made lake in 
Europe 
• Man is not the only animal that uses 
tools. 
Use other words when referring to both men 
and women. 
• People are polluting the earth. 
• This is the largest artificial lake in 
Europe. 
• Human beings/Humans are not the only 
animal that uses tools. 
Many jobs/activities are strongly connected 
with a particular sex.
• The teacher must not be late for his 
class. 
• A manager has a duty towards his 
workers.
• The fall in price is great news for 
housewives.
Use expressions/pronouns that do no support 
sexiest assumptions. 
• Teachers must not be late for their 
classes. 
• A manager has a duty towards his/her 
workers.
• The fall in price is a great news for 
consumers/ shoppers. 
Job names are used which refer unnecessarily 
to the sex of the person. 
• The chairman can not vote. 
• Jane is a camera woman. 
• We’re meeting a group of business men.
• Workman/salesman 
Use job names that apply equally to
women and men. 
• The chairperson can not vote. 
• Jane is a camera operator. 
• We’re meeting a group of business 
people/ executives. 
• Worker/sales representative or agents. 
Male words are frequently put before female 
words in common combinations. 
 
• Men and women; boys & girls; husband 
& wife; brother & sister; mother & 
father. 
Try to balance the ordering of male and 
female pairs. 
• Men & women; girls & boys; husbands 
& wife; mother & father; sister & 
brother.