WINTER 2024 ANG G31 17 WEEK TWO

NAME: ____________________________
NEUTRAL LANGUAGE WORKSHEET
Objective: to practice neutral language.
Language evolves over time. English no longer defaults to masculine pronouns. In fact, exclusionary
language is considered outdated. Don’t be offensive! Let’s find some alternatives.
1. Inclusive Language
Directions: Read the example of sexist / gendered usage. Identify the issue and find an inclusive
alternative.

Example Explanation Alternatives

Every student must have a
pencil, and he should always
bring it to class.

I have four students to man the

internship table.

Is man inherently capitalistic?

chairman, fireman, policeman,

postman

The cheerleader busied herself

with practice.

waiter / waitress
actor / actress

2. Rewrite these sentences to make them gender neutral. Two easy solutions are: make the
antecedent plural OR eliminate the pronoun completely.

1. After the server escorts the guests to their table, he can take their drink orders.

2. When he spots a bug, the computer technician can pause the batch job and investigate further.

3. Before the manager reaches a decision, she must consult with the director.
WINTER 2024 ANG G31 17 WEEK TWO

4. No eyewitness could recall everything he or she had seen.

5. A witness who is evasive in his testimony on the stand may be treated as a hostile witness by the cross-
examiner.

6. In a sea of language tools, which one should he choose?

7. The Minister may appoint a person to the commission if she determines that the applicant has met the
requirements.

3. Another kind of neutral: Avoiding I and you. (This is Unit 2 in Grammar Goals, p. 15)
In some texts, the pronouns I and you are unavoidable. However, in most academic writing, such
pronouns should be avoided. Edit the following paragraph by removing or modifying any forms of the
pronouns I and you. Use a variety of replacement words.
Example: I will talk about a serious problem in our society. (There is…)

I am very worried about tasers. Taser International claims that the weapons are not armful when

used properly, but facts show otherwise. If you are hit with a taser, you can be injured or even killed. A

single jolt can disrupt your muscle control and overstimulate your sensory system. In my opinion, police

officers underestimate the dangerous effects of stun guns. I think that the death of a Polish immigrant in

Vancouver by taser could have been avoided. The weapons can kill you, and so I truly believe that their

use should be restricted.

Sources:

Center for Research and Outreach (REACH) Lab. Youth Inclusion Training Materials, accessed through USASK Intercultural Skills,
grad.usask.ca, 2023.
Gaetz, Lynne. Grammar Goals, Pearson, 2018.

Peck’s English Pointers. “Gender-Neutral Writing: Questions of Usage,” www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca, Minister of Public Services and
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Procurement, Feb. 28, 2020.