Inclusive Writing

Sindhu Pullapantula
2 min readOct 5, 2021

What is diversity?

Diversity means variety. We see diversity all around us — the animals, plants, food, cars, and so on. Diversity also exists among us, human beings. Human beings are diverse in many ways:

What is inclusive writing and why it matters?

Inclusive writing is a socially conscious practice, where the content welcomes all the consumers, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, race, and so on.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is very important across all the business sectors in the world. Workplaces with diversity are known to outperform their less diverse peers. Consumers are more likely to purchase brands that actively demonstrate DEI.

How can we practice inclusive writing?

We can practice inclusive writing by choosing the right terms while describing something. Let us see how we can use the appropriate terms in four categories: Gender, race, ableism, and non-violence.

  1. Gender: Use gender-neutral words.

2. Race: Use racially neutral words.

3. Ableism: It is the discrimination or prejudice against people who have disabilities. Avoid ableist words.

4. Non-violent: Use non-violent words.

To conclude, our writing reflects our thinking. Hence, if we think inclusively, our writing would be naturally inclusive. Enforcing DEI requires a deeper analysis of our business practices in our organizations and incorporating inclusion initiatives. This includes hiring for diversity, treatment of staff, and the company's brand culture.

Let us show unity in diversity.

For more information on writing styles, you can refer to:

Microsoft Style Guide

Google Style Guide

Diversity Writing Style Guide

--

--

Sindhu Pullapantula

Born to Write. I was a developer, turned into technical writer, following my passion for technical writing.