Use inclusive language

Language shapes experience—ableist, gendered, or exclusionary terminology creates unwelcoming experiences and reinforces harmful stereotypes, even unintentionally.

Quick Reference

• Replace ableist terms (crazy, lame, blind to) with neutral alternatives
• Use gender-neutral language (they, users, people) by default
• Write error messages that guide rather than blame users
• Avoid idioms and cultural references that don't translate globally

Check

Review content for ableist language (crazy, lame, blind to), gendered assumptions (he/she defaults), cultural bias, and exclusionary terminology. Verify error messages and instructions are respectful and constructive.

Fix

Replace ableist terms with neutral alternatives. Use gender-neutral language (they, users, people). Avoid idioms that may not translate across cultures. Write error messages that guide rather than blame.