Alphabetical Entries: I
84 entries found.
ice-cream vendor/seller; sometimes, ice-cream truck.
retain where necessary for historical accuracy. Otherwise consider ice deliverer/carrier/seller, ice route driver. For slang meaning "killer": liquidator, hired gun, executioner, cutthroat, assassin, racketeer, butcher, mobster, thug, gangster, sharpshooter.
idea machine, creative thinker, wizard, brain, genius, conceptualizer, visionary, daydreamer, ratiocinator, ideator.
avoid this phrase when writing about a trans person’s gender, unless quoting the person. Instead of "identifies as a woman/man," simply refer to the person as a woman or a man, as is done for non-trans individuals.
person/someone with savant syndrome.
because the term "idiot" is unscientific, highly demeaning, and always unacceptable, use instead someone with profound mental retardation/mental impairment/a mental disability; mental impairment/disability. Also avoid abnormal, backward, feeble-minded, freak, imbecile, moron. For the casual insult, consider using blockhead, stupid, fool. See also disabilities, handicapped, normal, retard.
if we can send someone to the moon.
undocumented noncitizen (term ordered by the Biden administration to be used by immigration agencies); unauthorized immigrant (used by the U.S. Census Bureau); noncitizen; migrant; unauthorized worker/resident; undocumented immigrant/worker/resident/citizen; not born in the United States. Never use "alien" in this context. The Associated Press’s stylebook replaces "illegal immigrant" with "illegal immigration"; they "allow the use of the word 'illegal' to refer only to an action, not a person." Neither "alien" nor "illegal" can properly be a noun meaning "human being." Note the racism: White immigrants are rarely noticed as such, let alone labeled (e.g., Melania Trump). Immigration is a complex, multifaceted issue with life-and-death consequences for many; their legal status is complex and constantly shifting. Living in the U.S. without legal authorization (unlawful presence) is a civil offense, while improper entry (crossing the border), is a misdemeanor (other misdemeanors do not result in the "illegals" label). Many undocumented immigrants arrived legally, and thus have committed no crime. Some immigrants came here legally and their visa expired. Others are waiting for paperwork to be processed. Still others have been processed in an immigration court and are awaiting a decision on their application for asylum. Surveys of U.S. public opinion as far back as the early 1900s show that while earlier waves of immigrants were assimilated and eventually considered valuable citizens, the current wave is somehow always "less desirable." Especially in today's climate of economic and social concerns, people are buying inaccurate terminology from well-funded anti-immigrant groups that fuels the public perception that the foreign-born are flooding U.S. shores, draining welfare dollars, burdening public services, and taking jobs from citizens. "How you describe people coming to America says more about you than them ... Once you’ve used language to strip away a person’s humanity, you can take whatever else you want" (Jeffrey Barg, "The Angry Grammarian," Philadelphia Inquirer, June 27, 2019). "What you call these women and men shapes public opinion of them, and that in turn frames the debate over how to change immigration laws" (Jean Hopfensperger, Minneapolis' Star Tribune, Aug. 13, 2006). The current posture on immigration resembles the one on prostitution: labeling, vilifying, and punishing certain individuals while their partners in crime are not mentioned. Why aren't companies, industries, corporations, and individuals who hire undocumented workers also described as illegals and required to face consequences? See also human trafficking, immigrant, wetback.
no human being is "illegitimate"; except for narrow legal uses, avoid these terms. Question the need to mention the circumstances of a person's birth; they are most often irrelevant. When necessary, use child of unmarried parents.
it is good to be able to read and write. It is good to have a culture that values literacy. It is also good to have cultures that value oral tradition, which is what some people have instead of written traditions. It is a more immediate and personal form of communication and transmission of culture, and it is just as 'good' and 'smart' as a literate culture. It does not denote 'backwardness.' It is simply indicative of a world-view that differs from that of the 20th century European (Amoja Three Rivers, Cultural Etiquette). "A person from an oral culture, for example, is likely to have a much more developed memory than a literate person" (Creating Just Language). In discussing cultures with alternative communication traditions, describe those traditions. Occasionally you might use "nonliterate" or "aliterate," which are a little less judgmental. See also culturally deprived/disadvantaged, primitive, savage.
this Muslim cleric is always a man.
the country to which a person moves other than their nationality or usual residence considers the person an immigrant. The country from which the person moves considers them an emigrant. See also illegal alien/illegals/illegal immigrant.
use "impotent" only to describe a man unable to achieve erection; someone who is sterile or infertile may be potent, but unable to father children because of, for example, a low sperm count. Currently it is more common to see, instead of "impotence," "erectile dysfunction" or "ED." See also frigid (referring to a woman's sexual response), infertile, sterile.
there is nothing sexist about these terms, but they do have a sex-specific base. In situations in which their actual meaning might overcome the metaphorical use, consider for the adjective: unassailable, invulnerable, impenetrable, safe, unyielding; for the verb: permeate, saturate, infiltrate, infuse, imbue, implant; fertilize, fecundate, generate.
woman or man. For a less masculine-appearing term, consider promoter, producer, director, manager, talent coordinator, talent agent, booker, advance agent.
you can read the history of this motto, which first appeared on U.S. coins and bills in 1864, at the Department of the Treasury website (treas.gov). It's had its ups and downs (President Theodore Roosevelt, for example, took it off, expressing his "very firm conviction" that putting such a motto on coins was not a good idea). The Founders, who worked so very hard to establish the separation of church and state, would have agreed.
there is nothing wrong with this phrase, but be aware of how many such expressions are male-based. Balance them with female-based expressions, creative expressions of your own, or sex-neutral alternatives: fast/sound asleep, sawing wood, dead to the world, out like a light, sacked out. See also sex-linked expressions.
meaning, respectively, a woman or a man with whom one is in love or with whom one has a relationship, these sex-specific terms are acceptable when used even-handedly. See also boyfriend, girlfriend.
inclusive language includes everyone. Nobody feels left out or thinks, "Where am I in all that?" Inclusive language is advocated by the Modern Language Association, has been used to revise government job titles, and is mandated in most publishing houses, newspapers, government offices, businesses, and higher educational institutions.
when referring to people, this may be appropriate as an adjective, but it is unacceptable as a noun.
India trader, East India trading ship, merchant ship, trader; or retain as is in historical context.
correct term for those who live in India. To avoid confusion with American Indians, use "Asian Indian" (U.S. Census Bureau) or, for those who self-identity this way, "Indian American"; do not use the colonialist "East Indian."
this pejorative and highly resented term arose from a misreading of Indian customs. You may want to circumlocute as the alternatives are not wonderful: half-hearted/two-faced/sorry/repentant giver, gives with the left hand and takes back with the right.