Alphabetical Entries: Q
15 entries found.
someone with/who has quadriplegia. If necessary to mention a disability, information can be conveyed neutrally without labeling the whole person by something that is only part of them. Quadriplegia, a paralysis of the body from the neck down, is also known as tetraplegia. See people-first language, disabilities, hemiplegic, paraplegic.
Quaker. Although the word "Quaker" was at one time used derogatorily, it was adopted early on by the members of the Religious Society of Friends. Today the word Quaker has a long and honorable history; it is used interchangeably with Friend. See also feminine word endings.
this is a good word sometimes found in the wrong places, that is, "qualifying" people whose qualifications would be taken for granted if they were, for example, white, male, young, and able-bodied. "Why is the word 'qualified' applied only to those who have to be more so?" (Gloria Steinem, Moving Beyond Words). Use with care.
quarrier, quarry worker.
in the Army, this term refers to a field of specialization, not to an individual; members of this branch include supply sergeants, supply officers, and supply NCOs. In the Navy and Coast Guard, "quartermaster" is a job title or rank used for both women and men involved in navigation. Civilian equivalents might include: petty officer, quarterdeck; commissary, provisioner, storekeeper, victualer; navigator, small craft/large ship operator. The Air Force and the Marine Corps do not use the term "quartermaster"; they call their supply branches Individual Equipment (Air Force) or Supply (Marines).
acceptable sex-specific word for royalty. If you need a gender-free term, try ruler, monarch, sovereign, crowned head, leader. In the world of slurs, "queen" can be used to demean a man considered to be "effeminate." "King" has not been similarly misused and downgraded. If you are reporting hate speech, set the term in quotation marks to show the bias of the speaker. Better yet, to avoid giving the word an airing, report that the person "used a derogatory word for a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person." Gay men might use "queen" among themselves, but its use is unacceptable by non-gays. See insider/outsider rule.
women "queen it over" others, while men "lord it over." While somewhat asymmetric, the terms are functionally benign. Should you need inclusive alternatives, consider: have the upper hand, hold something over someone's head, wear the crown, hold court, have/get it all one's own way, have the game in one's own hand/corner/court.
correct when referring to the inhabitant of a hive. If you want a less sex-specific expression for its metaphorical use, consider big wheel. For additional terms, see prima donna; totem pole, high man on the.
in referring to the wife of a reigning king, it is acceptable to drop the word "consort" except in some narrow circumstances (legal or historical references and official titles).
terms like this give new meaning to the roles of kings and queens as "rulers." The term is irreplaceable because of its specific descriptions of beds and bed linen (where the use of "single," "double," "queen," and "king" is standard) and its euphemistic use for such items as queen-size pantyhose. However, it undergirds the female-as-lesser/smaller perspective and if you simply mean "very large," you might consider one of the many synonyms of huge. See also king-size.
there is nothing particularly biased about these sex-specific words, but, like most stereotypes, they are vague. If you want more precise adjectives, consider: regal, imperial, noble, dignified, imposing, impressive, stately, majestic, commanding, haughty.
An adjective used by some people, particularly younger people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual (e.g. queer person, queer woman), "queer" has become a useful umbrella term, despite the fact that it was used pejoratively for many decades. GLAAD says "Nevertheless, it is not universally accepted within our communities, and used out of context it is still derogatory." Use "queer" with gay abandon only when you self-identify this way or when you know your audience appreciates it. For an excellent guide to related terms, see GLAAD Media Reference Guide: https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/GLAAD-Media-Reference-Guide-Tenth-Edition.pdf. See also gay lifestyle, genderqueer, homosexual.
Those who self-identify as questioning are often in the process of exploring and accepting their individual sexuality. You'll see LGBTQ or GLBTQ, meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and either queer or questioning. "Questioning" is an identity that is claimed, not bestowed.
quotation marks are used to question the legitimacy of a word or phrase, for example, "Indian giver," "all American," "Yellow Peril." Sometimes they impute dubiousness where there is none. Journalist Susan Berkson writes, "George Will came up with another boffo idea: To silence any radical feminist criticism, put basic facts—'sexual violence,' 'survivors,' 'silencing'—in quotation marks, calling into question their very existence." In a review of the work of a respected archaeologist, the writer's opinion of "feminist archaeology" was underlined by putting the term in quotation marks. Use quotation marks to imply that something is "so-called" or "alleged" or to express your disagreement with a concept; be wary of using them to disparage other people's realities.