ACADEMIC WRITING · APA 7TH EDITION
Inclusive, bias-free language
Describe people accurately, respectfully, and only as specifically as the context requires. Avoid treating a group as uniform or defining people solely by a diagnosis or characteristic.
Consider people’s stated preferences for person-first or identity-first language. Review descriptions of age, disability, gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Use singular “they” when appropriate.
Try it
Reread one paragraph about patients or research participants. Are the descriptions relevant, precise, and respectful? Could an assumption be replaced with the information actually collected?