It's 2019 and whether it be people are more sensitive than ever or we as a society are more cautious than ever, there is now a guide of words and phrases to avoid at Colorado State University.
CSU's online Inclusive Language Guide, compiled by the school’s Inclusive Communications Task Force, offers replacements for those words and phrases they say should be avoided.
The words making the biggest waves inside the guide are “American” and “America.” Both are listed as non-inclusive words "to avoid," due to the fact that America encompasses more than just the U.S. By referring to the U.S. as America, the guide claims that one “erases other cultures and depicts the United States as the dominant American country.” The school suggests using “U.S. citizen” or “person from the U.S.” as substitutes.
“Male,” “female,” “ladies and gentlemen,” “Mr./Mrs./Ms.,” “handicap parking,” “war,” “cake walk,” “eenie meenie miney moe,” “Eskimo,” “freshman,” “hip hip hooray!”, “hold down the fort,” “starving,” and “policeman” were among other words and phrases deemed non-inclusive by CSU.