Inclusive Guide

Updated April 2023

Michigan State University values communications practices that support belonging for all
Spartans. In alignment with strategic efforts that advance diversity, equity and inclusion,
the supplemental Inclusive Guide is a resource that provides best practices for
communications on an increasingly diverse global campus.

The Inclusive Guide is a complement to the MSU style guide and provides
recommendations for informing campus communications professionals that includes best
practices, suggested terms to avoid and inclusive alternatives. The guide does not apply to
academic, medical, legal or other specialized areas.

It’s important to note that using inclusive language in communications is an evolving and
dynamic practice, so while this guide covers several areas, it is not comprehensive in scope.
Accordingly, the guide only provides recommendations that should be considered in a
case-by-case scenario, as many factors will determine the appropriate language for various
types of content and audiences. 

The Inclusive Guide provides best practices for communications in the following areas:

 Gender and Sexuality

 Race and Ethnicity
 Global Identity
 Disability

The guide aligns with the MSU Editorial Style Guide and includes recommendations
informing images, web content, speeches, events and more. 

This resource will be updated annually. To provide suggestions or feedback,

email [email protected].

General Practices

Use great care when writing about identity. This guide is not one size fits all and is meant to
be applied on a case-by-case basis depending on tone, channel, audience and content.
Often, language boils down to individual identity, which brings up the overarching principle
of this guide: Consult with the individual to determine how they would like to be referred.

 Use language in accordance with the individual’s identity.

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  Be specific and avoid generalizing identity groups.
 Avoid the use of pejoratives. However, exceptions can be made for quotations if
relevant to the content.
 The origins of seemingly innocuous idioms or words may be racist, sexist or ableist
in nature, such as “cakewalk” or “grandfather clause.” Consider the origins of
everyday language before freely using it in communications.
 Avoid reinforcing deficit narratives that place people as victims of societal problems
and myths that ignore systemic barriers, as both prop up negative stereotypes.
Instead use truth-telling about those deficits and barriers.
 We all make mistakes. Give yourself grace, reflect and consider ways to
acknowledge any unintentional harm that may have resulted. For tools on inclusion,
respect and accountability, visit Building Inclusive Communities.

Considerations

The purpose of the guide is to inform general communications and does not apply to
academic, medical, legal or other specialized fields. Some terminology, like obesity, is
specific to a disease, thus, recommendations to use alternative options do not apply to
technical applications.

Furthermore, the recommendations do not apply to established names. For example, one
recommendation to use alum(s) or graduate(s) instead of the gendered term alumni does
not apply to office or group names, such as the Alumni Office or MSU Black Alumni.

Although the guide provides a wide scope of practices, it does not provide definitions for
terms. Communicators are encouraged to learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion
terminology by exploring listed resources. The Diversity Style Guide is a recognized
resource used by journalists and media professionals in the United States and is a good
place to start.

Currently, MSU’s guide does not include recommendations around socioeconomic status,
age, body type, veteran status, parent identity and incarcerated people, or land
acknowledgment and land-grant identity and demographics, which may be included in the
future.

In addition, while this guide includes disability language, it is not intended to provide a
comprehensive list of accessibility practices. Consult the Web Accessibility website for
current recommended standards.

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Gender and Sexuality
Language is shifting and changing all the time, as is society’s understanding of gender and
sexuality. Gender is not synonymous with sex. Gender refers to a person’s social identity,
while sex refers to biological characteristics.

Visit MSU’s Name, Gender, Sexual Identity and Pronoun Data Policy for a list of suggested
data labels to use.

Best Practices

 Legal Name: The name that appears on an individual’s legal documents (i.e.,
passport, driver’s license, social security card, etc.)
 Name: The name used by an individual for self-identification should always be used
to refer to that individual unless required or requested. Do not “deadname,” or use
someone’s legal name in direct communication with the individual. In addition,
weigh the risks of potentially outing or revealing their gender and sexuality to others
through their name.
 Legal Sex or Birth-Assigned Sex: This designation refers to a person’s biological,
morphological, hormonal and genetic composition and should not be confused with
gender. This is the sex marker on a person’s birth certificate — typically, intersex,
female or male.
 Gender: A person’s deep-seated, internal sense of who they are as a gendered
being, specifically: woman, man, cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer,
gender nonconforming, agender and two-spirit individuals. Some legal documents
now allow for a person’s gender to match their gender presentation.
 If you use the term transgender, also consider using cisgender. Not including
cisgender implies that cisgender identities are more valid than transgender
identities. Note that cisgender is not synonymous with heterosexual, which refers to
sexual orientation.
 Sexual Orientation: An individual’s sexual orientation is different from gender. It
refers to a person’s physical, romantic and emotional attraction. Transgender
people may be straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc. For example, a person who
transitions from male to female and is attracted to men may identify as a straight
woman.
 LGBTQIA2S+ is often used at MSU to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
questioning and/or queer, intersex, asexual and two-spirit groups. The plus sign
refers to the inclusion of all identities that are not specified in the acronym.
However, LGBTQIA+ is the recommended umbrella term for communications with
external audiences.

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  LGBTQIA+ is acceptable on first reference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer, intersex, asexual and additional identities. Spell out in story.
 Pronouns: Do not assume an individual’s pronouns based on appearance. Always
use the pronouns someone uses to refer to themselves or ask for the person’s
pronouns. Do not refer to someone’s pronouns (or name) as their “preferred”
pronouns. Simply call them “pronouns.” Likewise, “preferred” name implies a
person’s name is optional.
 While pronouns may be placed in parentheses in a signature line, bio or nametag,
do not put pronouns in parentheses following a person’s name in a story unless
requested. Just use their pronouns. When unsure or unable to confirm someone’s
pronouns, the best option is to refer to the person using their name or default to
the gender-neutral ‘they.’
 Pride: Capitalize Pride when referring to specific events or organizations honoring
LGBTQIA+ communities and on subsequent references. For example, Pride Month is
commonly called Pride for short and is capitalized as an adjective in terms: “at the
Pride parade.” Lowercase pride in the context of generally having pride in one’s
LGBTQIA+ sexual orientation or gender, including pride events or the pride flag.
 It is common to reference binary genders, him and/or her, when speaking to large
groups of people or providing examples. De-center the binary and use him, her,
they or simply use the gender-inclusive terms: people, folks, everyone, etc.
 When using courtesy titles, which include Mx., Miss, Ms., Mrs. and Mr. allow the
option to enter another prefix or select none. Do not automatically assign honorifics
based on a person’s assumed gender.
 When describing events, identify the locations of nearby all-gender and accessible
restrooms so that guests can plan accordingly.
 Go to the race and ethnicity portion of the guide for information on intersecting
identities, including Latine/x and two-spirit.

Terms to Avoid

 Avoid the term “female” as a noun for women. The pejorative term reduces women
to their assumed biological anatomy.
 Avoid the term “nickname,” which implies that a person’s name is a substitute for
their legal name.
 “Queer” is originally a pejorative. It is an umbrella term covering people who are not
heterosexual or cisgender. Avoid using the term unless people or organizations use
the term to identify themselves.
 “Sexual preference.” Use “sexual orientation.”
 “Homosexual.” Use “gay” or “lesbian.”
 “Hermaphrodite.” Use “intersex.”
 “Closeted.” Use “not out.”

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  “Normal/norm” to refer to people who are not transgender, gender fluid or
nonbinary.
 “Sex change.” Use “gender transition.”
 “Transsexual” or “transgendered.” Use “transgender” only as an adjective.

Inclusive Alternatives

Also refer to the gender-neutral writing entry in the MSU Editorial Style Guide.

 Instead of “freshman” and “upperclassman,” use “first-year” and “advanced.”

 Instead of “emeritus,” use “emeritum.”
 Technically, “alumni” is the masculine plural form of “alumnus” but is often used to
refer to gender neutral graduates. Consider using “graduate(s)” or “alum(s)” as
alternatives. Does not apply to office or established group names.
 Instead of “women’s/men’s restroom”, use “restroom” or “all-gender,” ”family” or
”single-occupant restroom.”
 Use inclusive terms, such as “chair,” “spokesperson,” “parents,” “siblings,” “relative,”
“family,” “companion,” “significant other,” etc.

Resources

MSU Gender and Sexuality Campus Center: Glossary

MSU Gender and Sexuality Campus Center: Promising Practices for Collecting and
Managing Names, Gender, Pronouns, Honorifics and Sexual Identities

MSU Gender and Sexuality Campus Center: Promising Practices for LGBTQIA2S+

Communications

Associated Press Stylebook: Making a case for a singular ‘they’

Best Colleges Conscious Style Guide: Gender and Sexuality

Gender Spectrum: The Language of Gender 

GLAAD: Media Reference Guide 

National LGBT Health Education Center: Creating an Inclusive Environment for LGBT

Patients

The Association of LGBTQ Journalists Style Guide

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Trans Journalists Association

USA Today Network: Accuracy, Depth and Respect: What to Know When Reporting on Trans
People and Their Stories (2020)

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Race and Ethnicity
Federal census entities recognize race and ethnicity as separate categories. Accordingly,
race is based on physical or biological characteristics and ethnicity refers to a shared
culture or ancestry that is linked to language, practices and beliefs or place of origin.

Federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System guidelines assign individuals to

one of the following race and ethnicity groups.

African American or Black: a person having origins in any of the Black racial groups
of Africa.

American Indian or Alaska Native: a person having origins in North and South
America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or
community attachment.

Asian: a person having origins in East Asia, Southeast Asia or the Indian
subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam. Separated from Pacific
Islanders as of 2010.

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: a person having origins in Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or

other Pacific Islands. Separate category as of 2010.

Hispanic or Latino: a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South American, or

Central American or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

White: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle
East or North Africa.

Two or More Races. Added in 2010.

Limitations of federal race and ethnicity categories:

This guide recognizes that race and ethnicity are socially constructed and uses them
interchangeably with the purpose of more accurately representing the diversity of MSU.
With that said, the current categories are limited and do not accurately capture diversity.

For example, North African and Middle Eastern-identifying individuals are categorized as
white, which may not align with the group’s overall experience. The category of Asian
combines people of numerous origins despite different multicultural backgrounds. For

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Asian Americans, this has led to narratives being shaped by majority members. Addressing
these limitations in communications can help reduce stereotypes like xenophobia or the
model minority myth.

Given the complexity and evolving nature of this topic, the following recommendations
offer general guidance on how to refer to racial and ethnic groups.

Best Practices

Use racial and ethnic identification only when it is pertinent to the content. If you include
someone’s race and ethnicity, be sure to ask the person how they would like to be
identified.

As a rule, communicators should recognize that individual racial and ethnic identity varies
and be careful not to prescribe an identity without consent. Avoid stereotypes. Use a
multiracial lens and consider all communities of color.

Ensure that headlines, images, captions and graphics are fair and responsible in their
depiction of underrepresented people and coverage of issues. Be careful not to use images
that depict racial ethnic groups in a deficit manner.

Capitalize Black, Asian, Indigenous, Native, Jewish, Arab, etc. Use as an adjective: Black
culture, Asian studies, Jewish people, Muslim faculty, Hispanic, Chicano/a or Latino/a/e/x
community, etc. Visit Associated Press News for more info.

Black or African American

 African American and Black are not synonymous. A person may identify as African
or African American or Black from geographical regions or with a distinct cultural
heritage, for instance, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latine/x, Afro-Indigenous or Afro-Asian.
Be specific in text, speech and graphics when writing about the experiences of a
particular community to avoid potential pitfalls.
 Capitalize Black History Month, Juneteenth and Afrofuturism, and in general, the
names of heritage month recognitions and celebrations.
 When communicating about diverse groups avoid the pitfalls of the Black-white
binary that can limit conversations about race to the two groups.

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American and Asian

 APIDA: acronym for referencing the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American group. Add
“and Asian” to be inclusive of international communities, shifting the abbreviation to
APIDA/A.

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  Asian American is acceptable for referring to a group of Americans of Asian descent
from various countries. When possible, refer to a person’s specific country of origin
or follow the person’s preference.
 The model minority myth presents Asian Americans as exemplary to downplay
racism and inequity in the United States. If appropriate, specify an individual’s
multicultural background to allow a greater understanding of the disparity
experienced by people within broad categories.
 Pacific Islander encompasses Indigenous peoples within Melanesia, Micronesia and
Polynesia, including Native Hawaiian (Kānaka Maoli), Samoan, New Zealander
(Māori), Guamanian or Chamorro, Fijian, Tongan and Marshallese peoples and other
Pacific Islanders.
 Desi refers to the diaspora group of people from the Indian subcontinent, or South
Asia, that includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan
and Sri Lanka. List of global diasporas.

North American Indigenous and Native Peoples

 “American Indian” and “Native American” is culturally outdated, although tribal

governments’ names still use the term. Communicators should identify Indigenous
people by their specific tribes, nations or communities in text, speeches and
graphics.
 "Indigenous People" refers to a group of Indigenous peoples with a shared national
identity. Capitalize "people" when referring to specific groups (e.g., the Indigenous
People of Mexico). Otherwise, only capitalize "Indigenous" in Indigenous peoples or
"Native" in Native peoples in general. When using "people(s)" with member names,
do not capitalize, e.g., "Anishinaabe peoples" or "Ojibwe people."
 First Nations or First Peoples are acceptable, although First Nations is generally used
to describe Native People in Canada.
 The Indigenous inhabitants in the Great Lakes region of the United States and
Canada are the Anishinaabeg (adjective: Anishinaabe) — Three Fires Confederacy of
Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. Use Anishinaabe with a modifier to
identify Anishinaabe peoples, students, leaders, language, etc.
 The term Native can be used as an adjective to describe cultural practices, such as
Native foods, Native art or Native media. When applying use discretion, as the term
“going native” is used as a colonial pejorative.
 Use “two-spirit” to be inclusive of Indigenous North Americans to describe Native
peoples who fulfill a third-gender role in their cultures. Māhū in Native Hawaiian
and Tahitian cultures are third-gender people, similar to Tongan fakaleiti and
Samoan faʻafafine.
 Use the present tense and make Indigenous people relevant and contemporary.
Using the past tense reinforces stereotypes of the “vanishing Indian” and negates

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 the experiences and the dynamic culture, not to mention the displacement of
Indigenous peoples.
 Consider the sensitivity around United States holidays that are celebrations of
colonialism, such as Thanksgiving. Instead of Columbus Day, MSU recognizes
Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday in October to celebrate the first
inhabitants of the Americas.

Hispanic, Chicano/a or Latino/a/e/x

 While common to see Hispanic, Chicano/a and Latino/a/e/x used interchangeably,

they are not synonymous. Hispanic generally refers to people with origins in
Spanish-speaking countries. Chicano/a refers to people of Mexican descent born in
the United States but another term to use can be Mexican American. Latine/x or
Latino/a refer to people with origins in Latin America and the Caribbean, including
Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, etc. Always
follow the person’s preference.
 Use Latinx for any source who selects it and as an all-gender adjective to describe
large groups such as Latinx voters. On first reference, include a brief explanation:
“Latinx is a gender-inclusive description of people of Latin American descent who
live in the United States.”
 Latine (la-TEEN-eh) is another gender-inclusive alternative to Latinx that is easier to
pronounce and the -e already exists as a gender-neutral form in Spanish. Use Latine
over Latinx but always defer to a person’s preference.

Middle Eastern and Multiracial

 Middle Eastern or North African refers to a grouping of countries situated in and

around the Middle East and North Africa. The demographic category is used to
distinguish from the experiences of white people.
 Multiracial is the recommended term when referring to people of two or more races
and ethnicity groups.

Racism and Justice

 AAPI is a common acronym for Asian American and Pacific Islander that is
associated with the Stop AAPI Hate movement. Capitalize Asian in anti-Asian.
 Lowercase xenophobia, which refers to a groups’ experiences of “outsider” or
“international” bias.
 According to AP style, Black Lives Matter is capitalized when referred to as a noun or
movement, and BLM is acceptable on second reference.

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  Use caution when using the terms racist, xenophobic, bigoted, biased and nativist,
which should not be used to describe a person but rather a specific policy, system,
action or statement. Lowercase anti-racism with a hyphen.
 Lowercase antisemitism and antisemitic without a hyphen.
 Capitalize Islamophobia.

Terms to Avoid

 “African” or “Black slaves” removes agency and does not acknowledge the act of
enslavement. Instead use “enslaved Black people” or “enslaved African Americans.”
 “Blacks,” “colored” or “Negro” are derogatory terms and should not be used.
 “Brown” has been used for South Asian Americans, Middle Eastern Americans and
Hispanic, Chicano/a and Latino/a/x Americans either as a pejorative term or as self-
identification. Use specific racial identities.
 “Caucasian” as a synonym for white, unless in a quotation.
 “Ghetto” or “slum” as a synonym for the sections of cities inhabited by
underrepresented and poor people.
 Avoid referring to someone from an underrepresented group as “articulate,” as this
can reinforce negative tropes.
 Don’t use the shorthand “POC” for people of color, “BIPOC” for Black, Indigenous
and people of color or “QTBIPOC” for queer, transgender, Black, Indigenous and
people of color unless in a direct quote; when used, explain it. These are vague
terms that may unintentionally leave out race and ethnicity groups or create
hierarchy. In some cases, other wording may be appropriate, e.g., “students from
various racial and ethnic backgrounds,” “diverse groups,” “various heritages” or
“different cultures.” Identify if you are writing about students, staff, faculty, staff,
alums, etc.
 “Racial minority” or “minorities” should be avoided, unless quoted or part of
standard reporting.
 “Minoritized” or “marginalized” can remove agency and reaffirm deficit language,
avoid using unless in a quotation.
 Terms like “at-risk” or “underprepared” blame the person rather than the structures
and barriers that have neglected communities. Move away from deficit language by
using “underrepresented,” “underserved” or “historically disadvantaged.” However,
use specific group names whenever possible.
 Indigenous stereotyping and colonial language: “Indian princess,” “tribe,”
“Michigan Native,” “low man on the totem pole,” “powwow,” “sitting Indian
style,” “bury the hatchet,” “on the warpath,” “shaman,” “rain dance,” “savage,”
“barbarian,” “off the reservation,” “spirit animal,” “scalped,” “peace pipe,”
“hold down the fort,” “frontier,” etc.

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  “Eskimo” is a derogatory term used to stereotype and demean Inuit and Yupik
people in the Arctic polar region. It is best to use "Indigenous Australians" instead of
"Aboriginal."

Resources

Asian American Journalist’s Association: Guidances and Resources

Best Colleges Conscious Language Guide: Ethnicity, Race and Nationality

Conscious Style Guide: Ethnicity, Race + Nationality

Native American Journalists Association: Reporting Guides

National Association of Black Journalists: Style Guide

National Association of Hispanic Journalists: Cultural Competence Handbook (2020)

National Museum of the American Indian: The Impact of Words and Tips for Using
Appropriate Terminology: Am I Using the Right Word?

Race Forward: Race Reporting Guide

Radical Copy Editor: Thirty Everyday Phrases That Perpetuate the Oppression of Indigenous
Peoples (2020)

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Global Identity
When covering topics of global immigration, nationality and religion, accuracy is important
to avoid exclusive and culturally normative language. It is vital to avoid centering
ethnocentric perspectives. Always confirm references to international, migrant and
religious communities.

In addition, conceptions of national identity can be complex. Consult with your interview
subject about how they identify and whether it should be part of the content.

Recognizing what is known and not known to both audience and communicator is
important. Ensure details relative to garments, food, language and holidays are accurately
represented.

Avoid American-centric terms that could be detrimental to an underrepresented group.

General information for MSU families with mixed immigration status is available on the
Undocumented Student Resources website.

Best Practices

 When writing about people who are not from the United States, don’t only refer to
them as international. Name the country, not just the continent. This helps reduce
generalization and creates awareness about parts of the world that are not as
commonly known to American audiences. For example, avoid lumping all Asians
together as a monolithic group.
 Don’t confuse national identity with ethnicity or religion. A country or state
encompasses people of different ethnicities and/or religions. For example, use
“Arab” to refer to someone who speaks Arabic and not as a nationality, and use
“Muslim” to refer to a follower of the religion of Islam. Not all Arabs are Muslims and
not all Muslims are Arabs. Similarly, use “Israeli” to refer to a citizen of the state of
Israel and use “Jew” or “Jewish person” to refer to an ethnoreligious follower of
Judaism. Not all Israelis are Jews, and not all Jews are Israeli.
 Differentiate between the name of the language and religion and the people. For
example, Hindi = language and Hindu = following Hinduism (religious belief); or
Islam = religion and Muslim = follower of Islam; or Sikhism/Sikhi/Sikh Dharma =
religion and Sikh = follower of Sikhism; or Uyghur = Turkic language/people of
Western and Central Asia who are predominantly Muslim.
 Capitalize the names of religions (and religious followers): Judaism (Jews), Islam
(Muslims), Hindu (Hindus), Christian (Christians), etc. Vodou is a religion; do not use
“voodoo.”

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  The debate over word choice to describe migrants, immigrants and immigration is
often contentious. Humanize people and their experiences with specific language.
o Refugee is often used as a blanket term for someone displaced by war,
violence or persecution, but there are different categories of displaced
people.
o An immigrant is a person who moves to another country intending to settle
there permanently.
o Migrants are people moving within a country or through another country for
reasons beyond conflict and persecution and settlement.
o Internally displaced people are seeking safety in other parts of their country.
o Asylum-seekers are people seeking international protection from conflict and
persecution.
o Returnees are people who have returned home after being displaced.
o Exiles are people who have been thrown out or forced to flee authoritarian
regimes.
 Identifying a student, staff or faculty member as an international person should only
be done when the designation is relevant.
 Refer to “continental United States” instead of “the mainland.”
 When possible, include accent marks, especially in names of people or places, as
they can change pronunciation or meaning. For example, in Spanish when the tilde
~ is placed over Spanish n when pronounced ny, as in señor, or Portuguese a or o as
in São Paulo.
 Ask for the pronunciation of names of people, places and religions or use an online
tool.
 Always use images directly related to the main subject of the communications. If
you use archive or stock images, they should be referenced and relevant.
 Pay special attention to the positioning of headlines in relation to the images used
and be aware of playing into existing biases, such as a headline on coronavirus with
a photo of East Asian people, which may perpetuate xenophobia.

Terms to Avoid

 Dehumanizing references to national identity, such as “foreigner,” “alien,” “illegal

immigrant,” “illegals,” etc.
 “Expatriates,” or “expats,” reinforces negative stereotypes, differentiating migrant
white-collar workers of western countries from migrants or immigrants from less-
westernized countries.
 Labeling a person as an “illegal immigrant” or “illegal” is not only dehumanizing but
also a poor way to describe someone’s migration status. Consider using
“undocumented immigrant” or “immigrant who is undocumented.”
 Do not use “oriental” to refer to Asian nationals and peoples.

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  Avoid charged words and judgmental labels to describe religions and religious
communities such as “extremist,” “militant,” “terrorist,” “radical,” “fundamentalist,”
“cult”, “sect,” “devout” and “pious.”
 Avoid the contentious term “Islamist” and instead use the specific name of the
group, movement or institution.
 Avoid references to religious imagery and language. Use terms like “wishing you a
wonderful winter/spring break” or “best wishes for the new year.”

Resources

MSU International Studies and Programs: Globally Inclusive Language and Images Webinar
Series (2021-22)

Awareness in Reporting: Reporting on Religion

Best Colleges Conscious Style Guide: Ethnicity, Race and Nationality and Citizenship

Conscious Style Guide: Ethnicity, Race + Nationality

Ethical Journalism Network

Harvard University: The Pluralism Project

National Association of Hispanic Journalists: Cultural Competence Handbook (2020)

Religion Stylebook

The GroundTruth Project: The dos and don’ts of religion reporting (2019)

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Disability
How the university communicates about people with disabilities, including accessibility
practices, can create a more inclusive campus experience for many Spartans.

The use of person-first or identity-first language is an ongoing discussion in the disability

community. These terms reflect bigger perspectives and conversations surrounding what
disability is and how it relates to personhood.

Person-first language puts the person before the disability and describes what a person
has, not who a person is. For example, phrases such as “students on the autism spectrum”
or “individuals with disabilities” is an effort to move directly away from historically offensive
phrasing, while affirming humanity. Person-first language is the acceptable etiquette for
most circumstances.

More recently, a growing number of people within the disability community are using
identity-first language. This approach puts disability first in the phrase, such as “autistic
person.” For people who prefer identity-first language, it is often a point of empowerment
and pride. If a person selects identity-first language, respect that decision. As always, the
recommended practice is to ask individuals how they would like to be referred.

Accessible web pages and digital documents are the responsibility of every MSU
community member. MSU’s Web Accessibility Policy defines the accessibility requirements
for university web pages and digital content and contains resources, learning tools and
training for creating accessible documents and other web and digital content.

Accordingly, use closed captioning for videos. Provide Word document versions of PDFs.
Practice accessible design and include a text description for all images. Use styles and
headers when preparing Word or text-heavy documents to provide clues about important
information that can be helpful to individuals with learning disabilities and screen readers.

Best Practices

 Maintain the confidentiality of a person’s disability. Do not disclose an individual’s

disability without their consent and then only as necessary.
 Expand the representation of people with disabilities in photos and visual materials
to include invisible disabilities.
 “Impairment” has a negative connotation. Avoid terms like “visually impaired” or
“hearing impaired.” Instead use the terms, “blind” or “low vision” or “deaf/hard of
hearing.”

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  “Confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound” describes a person only in relation
to a piece of equipment designed to provide independence rather than confine.
Emphasize what a person can do, not their limitations, such as “person who uses a
wheelchair” or “wheelchair user.”
 Avoid using the term “special needs.” This term is patronizing, as everyone has
needs and the needs of individuals with disabilities are not “special.”
 Use person-first or identity-first language instead of “differently abled,” “physically
challenged” or “happens to have autism.”
 Functioning labels are common when describing the nature of someone’s disability,
like “high-functioning” and “low-functioning,” which can vary per activity and imply
judgment. Unless you are quoting a source, consider specifying the relevant activity.
“The first-year student resides off-campus and accesses the Resource Center for
Persons with Disabilities for accessible textbooks and assistive technology services.
They have strong verbal skills but sometimes miss social cues.”
 Do not describe an individual as mentally ill unless it is pertinent and the diagnosis
is properly sourced. Mental illness is a general condition. Specific conditions should
be used whenever possible.
 Many experts distinguish between mental illness and developmental disorders.
Unlike mental illness, which can be successfully treated, developmental disorders
are lifelong disabilities affecting a person’s learning ability. “Neurodiversity” is the
term used to refer to people with developmental disorders, including autism
spectrum disorder, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy,
etc.
 Only capitalize names of disorders, diseases, therapies and related terms when
known by the name of a person, such as Parkinson’s disease.
 Avoid ableist language and be inclusive of the perspective of those who have a
disability. When writing or speaking in a conversational tone, this language tends to
emerge in everyday language and as figures of speech that intentionally or
unintentionally discriminate or oppress individuals with disabilities. Refer to the
“terms to avoid” section for examples.
 When asking about accessibility needs for events, center on what is being provided,
use “to request an accommodation to participate in this event” instead of “to
request accommodation for persons with disabilities.”
 When describing an event, identify the accessible entry points to the venue,
including the locations of all-gender and accessible campus restrooms and utilize
the barrier-free webpage for information on accessible entrances on campus.
Consider ways to be inclusive for walk/run or other events.
 When presenting at events, consider introducing yourself with a brief description of
your appearance that can include clothing, hair, eye color and skin tone. Speakers
should re-introduce themselves by identifying their names before they speak.
Presenters should describe all visual images, graphics, text or tables/charts that
appear on screen. Accessible copies of presentations should be provided prior to an
event. Presenters should always use a microphone to amplify their voices.

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  For boilerplate language for inclusive programs, events and courses, visit the
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.
 Representing diversity of size in communication and being sensitive to language is
essential. Be aware that the terms “obese,” “obesity” and “overweight” are
pathologizing stigmas in the size-diversity community. Do not use these when
describing individuals outside of communicating about research. Use “higher
weight” or “larger-bodied” if necessary and consider the barriers that “students of
size” face in marketing, events and classroom experiences.

Terms to Avoid

 Referring to individuals with disabilities as nouns. For example, avoid using of the
terms “an autistic,” “an epileptic” or “the disabled.”
 Ableist language: “crazy,” “insane,” “bonkers,” “nuts,” “psycho,” “demented,” “senile,”
“loony,” “lunatic,” “psychotic,” “addict,” “invalid,” “vegetable,” “paralyzed,” “lame,”
“madhouse,” “tone-deaf,” “spazzing out,” “braindead” or “blindly.”
 When writing a DEI-related stance or inclusive messaging on sensitive topics, avoid
metaphors that draw attention to specific disabilities such as, “the blind leading the
blind.”
 Do not use “obsessive-compulsive disorder,” or “OCD,” “attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder”, or “ADHD,” “post-traumatic stress disorder,” or
“PTSD,” or any other condition to describe undiagnosed behavior.
 Do not use “able-bodied” or “normal” when referring to people without disabilities.
Instead, use the terms, “an individual without a disability,” or “neurotypical” to
describe an individual without a learning disability, autism, ADHD, etc.
 “Midget” is a derogatory slur. Instead use the terms “people of short stature” or
“having dwarfism.”
 “Stricken with,” “suffers from,” “victim of” when referring to a disability.
 Terms that label a group the “disabled/handicapped,” “crippled” or “deformed.”
 “Mental retardation” is offensive and outdated. Use “developmental disability,”
“cognitive disability” or “intellectual disability.”
 Refrain from using the word “special” when writing about persons with intellectual
disabilities.
 “Unfortunate” when talking about people with a disability. Impairment does not
have to be life-defining in a negative way.
 “Mongoloid” or “downs” is derogatory. Use “person with Down syndrome.”
 The term “substance abuse” is considered outdated and perpetuates shame and
trauma. Instead, use “substance use” or “substance use disorder.”

Inclusive Alternatives

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  Instead of “crazy,” use “wild,” “irrational,” “ridiculous,” “silly,” “absurd” or
“outrageous.”
 Instead of “OCD,” use “fastidious,” “overscrupulous,” “perfectionist” or “meticulous.”
 Instead of “visually challenged,” use “blind” or “low vision.”
 Instead of “birth defect,” use “congenital disability.”
 Instead of “epileptic fit,” use “seizure.”
 Instead of “brain damage,” use “brain injury.”
 Instead of “handicapped parking,” use “accessible parking.”

Resources

MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities

MSU Web Accessibility

Americans with Disabilities Act National Network: Guidelines for Writing About People with
Disabilities

Americans with Disabilities Act

Association on Higher Education and Disability

Best Colleges Conscious Language Guide: Disability

Center for Disability Rights: Disability Writing and Journalism Guidelines

Conscious Style Guide: Ability + Disability

National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance

National Center on Disability and Journalism: Disability Language Style Guide 

The Conversation: Watch Your Language When Talking About Autism (2015)

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