The Evolution of Words & Phrases

Guys: Using “guys” to address all people is gendered language that may insinuate that men are the preferred gender. Girl/Girls: For anyone over 18 years old, woman or women is a better choice. Grandfathering/grandfather clause: A way to

exempt some people from a change because of conditions that existed before the change (e.g., we’ve grandfathered some users on an unlimited data plan). The term “grandfather clause” originated in the American South in the 1890s to defy the 15th Amendment and prevent black Americans from voting. A good alternative might be “legacy.” Females: To many English speakers, females sounds like a scientific designation you might use for animals or plants. Use “women” instead. Handicap: Disability advocates believe this term is rooted in a correlation between a disabled individual and a beggar, “who had to beg with a cap in his or her hand because of the inability to maintain employment.” Better alternative: Disabled. Housekeeping: In reference to office work, this language can feel gendered. Suggested alternative: maintenance, cleanup. Ladies/gals: Terms like “ladies,” “gals” or others can feel patronizing. Try women instead, or “folks” or “people” for mixed-gender groups. Man: As a synonym for work – as in “man hours,” “man the inbox,” “man the conference booth” – this is unnecessarily gendered language. Try using work instead. More inclusive: Folks, people, you all, y’all, teammates. Mental Disability: The use of this phrase implies that someone that may struggle or have a psychiatric diagnosis is disabled and unable to do their job. This is likely to make them feel stigmatized and unwelcome in the workplace. Many people who struggle with mental health problems are great at their jobs, despite adversity, and supporting them can make them an even greater asset to your workplace. Ninja/Rockstar: Words sometimes used in tech job descriptions that can skew towards a gendered interpretation and discourage some groups from applying. And there are sports-focused terms and phrases to keep in mind: This task should be a lay-up.

Basketball term for ease of success as a lay-up is one of the easiest two points to score being right under the basket.

Our sales pitch today should be a slam dunk.

Another basketball term for success as in you almost can’t miss getting the guaranteed two points.

To achieve success, you need to take care of the blocking and tackling.

Football term about strategy for putting the people in the right place, and having them take care of their respective assignments, to guarantee success.

It’s fourth and goal, or fourth and one.

A gut-check football term about winning, meaning you either score the touchdown, get the first down, or turn the ball over to the other team.

Let’s go for the Hail Mary.

May be more than a football term but, in football, it means throwing a deep pass and hoping one of your receivers catches the ball in a last act of desperation. By Jennifer Goldsmith Cerra, Director, Communications Herbein + Company, Inc.

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