The Elements of Nonsexist Usage: A Guide to Inclusive Spoken and Written English

By Val Dumond

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0133689115
• ISBN13: 9780133689112
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 4.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Short and to-the-point reference guide.

If, like me, you've ever tried to write a story or article in a gender neutral way, you know how difficult that is. A lot of words used in our language today are clearly male-specific, yet in meaning have come to include women as well as men. Why are we using words in our communication that are inaccurate? How can we make sure the message we convey is the one we meant to send?This short book gives insight into why language has become so male-centered. It uses a few pages to make the reader (more) aware of this bias in words by role-reversal. The bulk of the book is filled with techniques on how to correct sentences that use gender-specific words when talking about gender-neutral things. Each technique is illustrated by at least a few examples. There is a small glossary of alternative terms, and an index, at the end.I bought this book at a used bookstore. There were two on the topic, one thick book and this pocket guide. I picked the latter to serve as a quick reference.