Advocacy-Matters-Fall-2022

0 Substitute gendered words for gender-neutral
words. 5
0 Use plural pronouns and adjectives, they or
them, in place of the singular. This is completely
acceptable informally and becoming
more and more commonplace in formal writing.
0 Use the pronoun “one” instead of using he,
she, or they. Change “When he needs a washroom
break” to “When one needs a washroom
break.”
0 Rephrase the sentence to use the relative
pronoun “who” instead of using he, she, or
they. Change “If a judge needs to use the washroom,
she should take a recess” to “A judge
who needs to use the washroom should take
a recess.”
0 Use plural antecedents. Change “A judge
must announce that he is taking a recess before
excusing himself from the Court” to “Judges
must announce that they are taking recesses
before excusing themselves from the Court.”
0 Omit the gendered word. Change “A Judge
may take a recess to address his personal business”
to “A judge may take a recess to address
personal business”.
0 Use a neutral word or phrase. In these examples,
“judge” or “judges” is neutral.
0 Repeat the noun. Change “A judge must announce
that he is taking a recess” to “The judge
must announce that the judge is taking a recess”
Sometimes, gender is important to the communication
and to the individuals to whom the
communication is addressed. Using the correct
prefixes and pronouns is respectful. 6 As an example,
in an update to incorporate more accessible
and inclusive language in court proceedings in Ontario,
in collaboration with the Court of Appeal for
Ontario, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and
the Ontario Court of Justice, Court Services Division
(“CSD”) provided notice that:
0 CSD staff may invite parties, representatives
and others to share their prefix (also known as
a title or salutation) and pronouns.
0 Participants, including lawyers, litigants and witnesses,
are encouraged to proactively provide
their first name, last name, prefix (e.g., Mr./Ms./
Mrs./Mx., etc.) and/or pronouns (e.g., he/him,
she/her, they/them, etc.) when stating their
name or by updating their screen name during
a virtual proceeding. 7
As a further example, TAS developed guidance
to TAS leadership, committee members, and staff
about the use of gender-inclusive language, including
pronouns, within the day-to-day work of the
Society. 8 In the Guide for TAS Leadership About
the Use of Gender-Inclusive Language and Pronouns
Within the Society, TAS recognizes that the
use of gender-inclusive language, including a person’s
correct name and pronouns, is fundamentally
about respect, human dignity, and equality.
When it comes to the use of pronouns, TAS generally adopts a “lead by example” or “encouragement”
approach. Where someone offers their pronouns, we should respect and use them.
Avoid
Dear Sirs, Dear Mesdames or Dear Sirs and Mesdames
(in a letter or email to colleagues) 9
Use
Dear Counsel or Dear Colleagues or Dear All
Businessman Business executive / entrepreneur /
business person
Workman
Waiter/waitress
Policeman
Finally, use gender-neutral terms
Worker
Server
Police Officer
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