Words You Need to Stop Using Right Now

The power of language is unusual: a single word can heal or hurt. Words can create cultures of belonging or exclusion, and it’s crucial to understand which words or phrases are which, especially if you value diversity (and you should).

Age changes along with culture, and the trend is towards using respectful people-first language. Keeping up with this is essential for a healthy, inclusive work culture.

“Using inclusive language helps build trust and credibility, particularly with groups that have felt historically underrepresented or misrepresented,” says Rachele Kanigel, editor of The Diversity Style Guide.

Here are ten outdated words to cut:

Addict → person with a substance abuse disorder

Using the term “addict” perpetuates negative stereotypes and stigma around those with addiction. The Partnership to End Addiction recommends using “person with a substance use disorder” or “person struggling with addiction” instead.

Non-white → person of color

Avoid using “non-white” as it assumes whiteness as default and creates a sense of inferiority for non-white individuals. Instead, opt for “people of color” or other direct terms.

Elderly → senior

Avoid using ageist language like “elderly”. Instead, use “older person” or “senior adult” to prevent discrimination.

Homeless → people experiencing homelessness.

Using this term to describe a group of people means defining them according to one trait they happen to share and one that, for many, is a temporary state. It perpetuates the stigma associated with homelessness. A better option would be to say someone who is experiencing homelessness.

Sex change → transition

According to GLAAD, the term sex change places an unnecessary emphasis and focus on the surgical aspect of transitioning. The decision to have surgery or not is personal, and someone who has transitioned should not have to reveal whether they’ve had surgery or not. The term sex change has also been used to out trans people, so it’s both offensive and outdated. The preferred term for the surgery itself is sex reassignment surgery or gender affirmation surgery.

Exotic → don’t, mainly if it refers to a woman.

The label “exotic” is often given to non-white women, leading to feelings of objectification due to its colonial and racist origins. Describing a human being with a term meant for objects dehumanizes them and suggests that they do not fit a narrow definition of beauty, while also objectifying them.

Allow → allow list, permit list.

Using color coding to indicate ‘good’ or ‘bad’ connotes racism, even if it’s used to describe things instead of individuals. Therefore, it’s problematic and can be substituted with alternative terms like ‘permit list’.

Insane → don’t

Stigma has long plagued mental illness, perpetuating negative stereotypes about those who experience it and making it harder for them to seek help. Using a phrase that doesn’t carry a stigma, such as “a person with a mental illness,” is a better option for treating mental illness.

Person-hours → person-hours, engineering hours

Using the term “person-hours” or “work hours” is a more inclusive and descriptive way to classify hours worked instead of relying on a binary gender classification. The term “alcoholic” should be replaced with “person with a substance abuse disorder,” as it avoids attaching negative connotations to the individual and instead focuses on the disorder itself.

Alcoholic → person with a substance abuse disorder

As with the word addict, this word takes a person and makes them synonymous with their disease. This tethers them to all the negative ideas connected to that disease. For those who have alcoholism, this can make it harder to feel as though they’re making progress. A better option would be to say the person has a substance abuse disorder.

“If you’re unsure of what terms to use, ask your sources. When you can’t ask sources, seek out guidance from community leaders and respected organizations,” says Kanigel. “It can be difficult to ask about gender and racial groups, so it’s important to be active in educating yourself and actively seeking out information from reliable sources.”

For a comprehensive list of inclusive language, check out Writer’s Inclusive Glossary guide.

May Habib is the co-founder and CEO of Writer, an AI writing assistant for teams.