Inclusive Language
Inclusive writing is about using clear and thoughtful language to create a welcoming experience for all users. Follow these guidelines to ensure that everyone interacting with Teradata products feels welcome and included.
Gender
Avoid assumptions about gender and identity. If you know a person's preferred pronouns, use them. Otherwise, use "they" and "them."
Culture
Do not use jargon, slang, colloquialisms, and idioms, especially those that refer to culture, folklore, and sports. They can be specific to certain groups of people or cultures, potentially excluding people who are not familiar with the references.
Do: "Now, you can create your dashboard by selecting the widgets you want and arranging them the way you like."
Don't: "Creating your personalized dashboard using widgets is now a breeze."
Race
Even if unintentional, language can exclude or harm people who have been historically marginalized. Consider the diverse experiences of users and be intentional about using language that is bias-free.
Do | Don't |
|---|---|
primary | master |
secondary | slave |
blocklist | blacklist |
allowlist | whitelist |
ethical hacker | white hat |
unethical hacker | black hat |
Disability
Use language that is direct, clear, and welcoming for all users, including people with disabilities. Avoid euphemisms or patronizing terms such as "differently abled," "special needs," or "hearing impaired."
Never use "enable" or "disable" to directly describe people. For simple toggles or settings, use "turn on" and "turn off."
Do: "Disable advanced reporting access for admin users."
Don't: "Disable admin users for advanced reporting access."
Do: "You can turn off notifications."
Don't: "You can disable notifications."
Humor
Humor varies widely across cultures. Humor that can be interpreted as racist, ageist, or sexist can make users feel excluded. It can also distract users from the primary purpose of the content.
Do: "You can create a user in three steps."
Don't: "Creating a user is so easy even my grandmother could do it."
Figurative language
Do not use figurative language that can be interpreted as insensitive or violent. You may need to work around established keywords in code.
Do | Don't |
|---|---|
end, quit, stop, cancel | abort |
run, process | execute |
stop responding, pause, suspend | hang |
end, stop | kill |