Inclusive language recognizes diversity, conveys respect for all people, is sensitive to differences and promotes equal opportunities. The content should not make assumptions about the beliefs or commitments of any reader; not contain anything that could imply that one individual is superior to another based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability or health condition; and must use inclusive language at all times. Authors must ensure that writing is free of bias, stereotypes, slang, references to dominant culture, and/or cultural assumptions. We recommend aiming for gender neutrality by defaulting to using plural nouns (researchers, academics, clients) whenever possible to avoid using “he, she” or “him/her.”

We recommend avoiding the use of descriptors that refer to personal attributes such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability or health condition unless they are relevant and valid. When using coding terminology, we recommend avoiding offensive or exclusionary terms such as "master", "slave", "blacklist", and "whitelist". We suggest using alternatives that are more appropriate and (self-)explanatory, such as "primary", "secondary", "blocklist" and "allowlist". These guidelines are intended as a reference point to help identify appropriate language, but are by no means exhaustive or definitive.