# HUG's Guide to Inclusive Language

#### Race and Ethnicity

* Capitalize and do not pluralize Black.
* Only identify a person’s race, ethnicity, or national origin if relevant and always defer to how they want to self-identify.

#### Gender

* When referring to a group of people, use non-gendered identifiers (e.g. folks, everybody, or Huggers).
* When referring to a specific individual, always defer to how they self-identify and if not, use gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them.
* Accidentally misgendered someone? Acknowledge and apologize gently, then move on without feeling the need to make a scene.

#### Identity

Use LBGTQIA+ or best align with how a community or person chooses to identify.

#### People with disabilities and/or chronic conditions

When referring to people with disabilities, respect individual preferences. Some communities prefer to emphasize the person (e.g. “A person with a disability” not “disabled person”), while others have a strong preference for identity-first language (e.g. “I am autistic” not “I have autism”). The important thing is to listen to how individuals refer to themselves, and try to honor that if you can.

#### Other

Research the origin of any idiom before using it in copy, some examples of non-inclusive vocabulary include terms like whitelist, frens, and even tribe.