Gender-neutral language

Gender-neutral language or gender-inclusive language is language that avoids reference towards a particular sex or gender. In English, this includes use of nouns that are not gender-specific to refer to roles or professions,^[1] formation of phrases in a coequal manner, and discontinuing the collective use of male or female terms.^[2] For example, the words policeman^[3][4] and stewardess^[5][6] are gender-specific job titles; the corresponding gender-neutral terms are police officer^[7][8] and flight attendant.^[9][10] Other gender-specific terms, such as actor and actress, may be replaced by the originally male term; for example, actor used regardless of gender.^[11][12][13] Some terms, such as chairman,^[14][15] that contain the component -man but have traditionally been used to refer to persons regardless of sex are now seen by some as gender-specific.^[16] An example of forming phrases in a coequal manner would be using husband and wife instead of man and wife.^[17] Examples of discontinuing the collective use of terms in English when referring to those with unknown or indeterminate gender as singular they, and using humans, people, or humankind, instead of man or mankind.^[18]