Language, language-use, writing, and all forms of communicating are always changing. Inclusive writing is not about memorizing lists of words to use and words not to use. Indeed, many terms that used to be considered inclusive are now understood as exclusionary. The pace of change is fast!  

Inclusive and antiracist practice is, in many ways, about getting better at recognizing our own assumptions, especially the ones we have never noticed before -- those things that we have always just taken for granted to be "true." [1] 

One of the best ways to do this is to engage widely, intentionally seeking out experiences and perspectives that are different from your own. Sometimes this includes talking with people around you, but often it involves first taking a look at the books you read and the media you consume. 

Inclusive and antiracist writing is about more than just words, but words matter too![2] Slow down your writing process. Ask yourself questions like, "Why am I choosing this word?" "How do I think this word will impact others?" Then, extend this careful thought beyond words to include grammar, syntax, punctuation, capitalization

Don't expect to get it right the first time. Expect to learn more, have more questions, and to revise your writing accordingly. 

While we are at it, we can do away with the idea of "getting it right" altogether. As Tema Okun identified, perfectionism is a characteristic of white supremacy. Instead of aiming for "perfect" or even "right," we can aim to put our best selves and best work forward on the page. 

Seek feedback from external readers, especially those whose experiences differ from your own – these readers can help you to understand your work in new ways. Once you've sought out this feedback, back sure you learn from it!

As we do this work, we will make mistakes, but mistakes are not an excuse to stop trying. When someone gives you feedback –- especially critical feedback –- practice thanking them for giving you an opportunity to learn more, even if the learning is uncomfortable for you.

Whether you are seeking or providing feedback on writing, this document outlining Anti-Racist Scholarly Reviewing Practices can be incredibly supportive for offering feedback that is, itself, inclusive and antiracist in intention and impact. 

Sometimes people make sweeping generalizations about others based on some aspect of their identity (for example, “all women are emotional,” “all queer men are liberal,” etc.). People cannot be defined or categorized according to one aspect of their identity alone, and all groups of people are made up of individuals who have their own thoughts, opinions, experiences, etc. [3]

Your writing is, of course, about your content (i.e., your ideas), but it is also about how you present your content. Pay attention to the readability of your document (some fonts are easier to read than others), about whether you can simplify your language, and whether you have provided alt-text for any images included with your work (see Glossary for explanation). Did you know that you can run an accessibility check on Word documents and Powerpoint slides?

You also have choices to make about the linguistic strategies and repertoires that you use. There are many valid and effective ways to use the English language and many ways to engage multilingualism in writing as well! 

Recognize when a dominant experience or perspective is being applied (incorrectly) to everyone. For example, "women got the right to vote in 1918." This comment is specific both to Canada and to white women. [4]

In almost no case is it acceptable to use an adjective (a descriptive word) to refer to a person or group of people (for example, the gays, the Blacks, the homeless). Furthermore, it is not acceptable to write about an individual as though they speak for or represent an entire group or category of people, or the entirety of a particular experience.