Inclusive Language
Use language that respects all readers regardless of background, ability, or identity.
General principles
- Avoid gendered pronouns when the gender is unknown. Use “they/them” or rewrite the sentence.
- Avoid ableist language: use “check” instead of “sanity check,” “placeholder” instead of “dummy.”
- Use culturally neutral metaphors: “allowlist/blocklist” instead of “whitelist/blacklist.”
Technical terminology
Some established technical terms have inclusive alternatives that are equally precise:
| Avoid | Prefer |
|---|---|
| master/slave | primary/replica |
| whitelist/blacklist | allowlist/blocklist |
| sanity check | validation check |
| dummy value | placeholder value |