In late 2021, Injustice Watch embarked on a process of updating our style guide, which was outdated and incomplete. The goal was to create a style guide that reflects our newsroom’s values and our commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression, has buy-in from our current staff, is informed by our current audience and beats, is responsive to the ways that language has changed in the past five years, and is flexible enough to continue to evolve.

We formed a style guide committee, which met regularly over the course of about nine months. The committee reviewed a list of terms that had been submitted by members of our team, consulted other organizations’ style guides and reached out to members of different communities, and proposed new style guide entries. These proposals were shared with the entire team. The team offered feedback, asked questions, and made suggestions, which were incorporated into this final version.

This style guide is intended to be a living document that is responsive to the ways that language changes and evolves over time. The list of terms here is not meant to be exhaustive. Rather, it is intended to address some of the most common questions that arise in our reporting. When a term or issue does not appear here, reporters should consult the AP Stylebook.

Thanks to the members of our style guide committee — Grace Asiegbu, Carlos Ballesteros, Jonah Newman, and Charles Preston — for their work on this.

Last updated: Jan. 10, 2023

Table of contents

General Style and grammar

Abbreviations, acronyms

Follow AP style: In general, avoid alphabet soup. Do not use abbreviations or acronyms that the reader would not quickly recognize. Avoid abbreviations and most acronyms in headlines, except those that are widely recognizable.

Accent marks

Follow AP style: Use accent marks or other diacritical marks with names of people who request them or are widely known to use them or if quoting directly in a language that uses them. Accent marks should be used when appropriate, regardless of whether the word is used directly in a quote. Always confirm the spelling of a source’s name, including any accent marks.

Attribution

Said is the preferred verb for attribution, used in the past tense. Avoid “she noted,” “he laughed,” “they contend,” etc. “Explained” is also frequently misused; is the person quoted really explaining something? Put the word of attribution after a name, except when including an identifier. (Source: Buzzfeed Style Guide)

Example: “Rihanna said,” but “said Rihanna, who recently reached billionaire status.”

Content warnings

A trigger warning or content warning is used to warn people about content that might elicit a strong or potentially harmful emotional response. We will use content warnings on all videos, recordings, articles, and commentaries that mention or depict sexual assault, explicit language, violence, suicide, or suicidal thoughts.

Example: Content warning: This story contains mention of suicidal thoughts and death.

Dates

Follow AP style: Capitalize the names of months in all uses. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. Spell out when using alone or with a year alone.

When a phrase lists only a month and a year, do not separate the year with commas. When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with commas.

Examples: January 2016 was a cold month. Jan. 2 was the coldest day of the month. His birthday is May 8. Feb. 14, 2013, was the target date. She testified that it was Friday, Dec. 3, when the crash occurred.

Official, expert

When referring to an “expert” or “experts,” always describe their area of expertise immediately before or after. When referring to an “official” or “officials,” always describe their government affiliation immediately before or after. Keep in mind that expertise is not reserved to academics. Community organizers and everyday people can also be experts in their own right for a certain issue or a combination of issues if they’ve spent substantial time working, studying, or volunteering in a field.

Example: Immigration policy experts warn that reviving the program could lead to human rights violations at the border. But federal immigration officials say new changes to the program would stop the most egregious abuses from taking place.

Person-first language

Person-first language acknowledges an individual’s personhood before their disability, identity, traits, or circumstances. For example, when referring to a person with a disability, use “a person who has autism” or “a person with schizophrenia.” Person-first language avoids stigmatizing or objectifying people and is generally preferred. However, some people prefer identity-first language, which puts their disability or identity first in the description (an “autistic person” or a “disabled person”). When writing about individuals, ask how a person prefers to be identified. However, when speaking generally, use person-first language when possible.

Example: People without health insurance face extra costs.

Political affiliation

Follow AP style: Include party affiliation if a politician’s actions could reasonably be seen as having an effect on policy or debate or if the reader needs it for understanding or is likely to be curious about the party affiliation. For state legislators, use their party and home city.

Example: Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, said ignoring the plight of undocumented seniors would be a moral failure.

Publication names

Capitalize the names of news organizations, whether they are newspapers, magazines, or primarily online publications. Don’t italicize. Capitalize “The” if it’s the way the publication prefers to be known.

Examples: The TRiiBE, the Chicago Tribune, Borderless Magazine.

Reform

Follow AP style: The word reform is not synonymous with change but generally implies that something has been changed for the better or was wrong before. Be careful with using this word to describe something that has simply changed and hasn’t necessarily improved. Also, be wary of politicians or advocates describing something as reform that might not really be.

Serial comma

Injustice Watch generally uses the serial comma, also known as the “Oxford comma.” This comma goes before the last item in a list of three or more items.

Example: She enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her cat.

Sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, sexual assault

“Sexual misconduct” is a general term that denotes behavior ranging from unwanted sexual language or advances to physical touch or assault. Sexual misconduct and “sexual harrassment” can include unwanted sexualized language/comments and verbal harassment, while “sexual assault” implies a physical act that could include groping or rape. “Sexual violence” also indicates more extreme physical acts. Use sexual assault or sexual violence only when there is an allegation of a physical sexual act. After using any of these broad terms, describe the alleged act or acts generally without being too gratuitous or detailed.

When writing about sexual misconduct, unless there has been a conviction or a guilty plea, it is important to frame the account as allegations while taking care to not cast doubt on the accuser’s account. If the allegations are detailed in a police report or another document, refer to that document, e.g., “According to the criminal complaint, Person A assaulted Person B,” or “Person B told police that Person A assaulted them, according to the police report.” Always include if the accused person has denied the allegations or pleaded not guilty in court proceedings.

Slurs, curse words

Curse words can be used as part of direct quotations if they are relevant and if there is a compelling reason to use them or if it is necessary to understand the full weight of a quote. For example, it could be appropriate to use if a public official uses a curse word about someone else or if its inclusion is necessary to understand a person’s character. The goal is clarity, so we’d rather use a curse word than try to write around it in ways that obscure what someone actually said. But we shouldn’t use curse words in our writing or include gratuitous swearing when it doesn’t add to the story. The exception is in first-person commentaries or poetry/art, which we should consider on a case-by-case basis.

Slurs should be considered very carefully and used only within quotes and only if necessary to fully understand the story. Certain slurs, such as the N-word or the F-word, should never be written out.

Example: Mayor Lori Lightfoot, speaking at a Pride rally last week about the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, repeated: “Fuck Clarence Thomas,” causing outrage among some on Twitter and condemnation from her mayoral challengers.

State names

Follow AP style: The names of the 50 U.S. states should be spelled out when used in the body of a story, whether standing alone or in conjunction with a city, town, village or military base. No state name is necessary if it is the same as the dateline (or, for Injustice Watch, if it is in Illinois). The names of eight states are never abbreviated: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah.

Titles

Follow AP style: Capitalize proper titles preceding names: Examples: U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, University of Chicago Law Professor Geoffrey R. Stone, Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Lowercase titles that are primarily occupational in nature, including editorial job titles such as reporter, senior reporter, and managing editor. Lowercase and spell out titles when they are not used with an individual’s name or in constructions in which the title and the name are separated by commas.

Example: When he was a state senator, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul sponsored the bill.

Corrections and updates

Corrections

All errors of fact should be corrected as quickly as possible, and a correction note should be added to the bottom of the story in italics. As soon as an error is identified, notify the story’s primary editor. Avoid repeating the error in the correction unless it’s necessary for clarity.

Example: Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated TK.

If an error has been repeated in our social copy or if the error drastically changes the nature or the scope of the story, the primary editor should notify the audience engagement team, so a correction can be made on social media.

Typos, grammatical errors, or inconsequential misspellings can be fixed without issuing a correction. Clarifications do not require a written correction or an update if it does not change the substance of the story.

Updates

Add an update to the story when you get new information that adds or changes the story. In most cases, add the update to the top of the story with the date. Include the time if the update happens on the same day that the story is published. Only include a year if it’s different from the year that the story was published.

Example: Feb. 16: This story has been updated with a comment from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Ethics

Mug shots

Never use police mug shots of people who have been arrested but not convicted. For people who are in prison, attempt to find photos of them aside from Illinois Department of Corrections mug shots. If that’s the only photo available, ask for their consent before using.

Photos

In general, it is acceptable and legal to take photos in a public setting, such as a public park or a street. However, strive to always ask permission, regardless of the subject’s age and the location. In protest, rally, or other tense environments, use caution and weigh the costs and benefits of taking photos in that setting. Could it endanger the safety of those in the photo given the proliferation of facial recognition technology and its use by law enforcement or because they have identifiable features or tattoos? Will it endanger the safety of you, the photographer, to be taking pictures in that particular moment? Consider taking photos in a way that doesn’t clearly show people’s faces. If republishing photos of a protest from another source (such as an advocacy group or another news organization) check to make sure that anyone whose face is visible gave permission to be photographed.

Similar to written reporting, be careful not to fall into reinforcing stereotypes through photos that lack context or a series of photos that only show one side of a multifaceted or complex problem.

Additional resources: PhotoShelter has an in-depth guide to inclusive photography, emphasizing the differences in making photos of marginalized groups of people.

Pseudonyms and anonymity

We will provide anonymity to sources when identifying them could cause them harm and when we aren’t able to get the same information from an on-the-record source. When a source is central to the story and is quoted repeatedly, you can use a pseudonym (or, preferably, just a first name or real initials). Otherwise, write it in a way that explains their relationship to the topic without stating their name. (Example: “… according to a defense lawyer, who requested anonymity because he still represents clients before Burns.”). We will always explain to the reader why someone is being granted anonymity. We never provide anonymity to flacks or people whose job is to provide information to reporters and the public. We don’t provide anonymity to officials or people in power, unless they are sharing information that could lead to real harm or repercussions against them (e.g., a public official speaking about a supervisor’s misconduct). The reporter and at least one editor must know the identity of anyone being granted anonymity.

Court system

Bail, bond

Bail is the amount of money that a defendant must pay to be released from jail. Starting January 2023, cash bail has been abolished in Illinois, meaning that a person is not required to post money to be released pretrial (This law has been halted by the Illinois Supreme Court). Bond is the promise given to the court that a person will return for their court hearings. A bond can come in the form of cash (a “C-bond” or a “D-bond” — deposit bond) or an individual bond (“I-bond”), meaning that the person promises to return to court without having to post money. These decisions are made in bond court, which is overseen by judges in the Cook County Circuit Court’s pretrial division. Changes to the system of cash bail should be referred to as bail reform.

Chicago Police Department

Write out “Chicago Police Department” the first time that it appears but abbreviate it “CPD” (no periods and no preceding “the”) in subsequent references. Try to avoid “CPD” in headlines (it’s ineffective for SEO purposes).

Convict, ex-convict

Never use the terms “convict” or “ex-convict,” which are terms that reinforce existing and harmful stereotypes. Instead, use “a person convicted of a crime.” Other appropriate terms include “prisoner,” “incarcerated person,” “imprisoned person,” or “detainee.” Or say someone “has a prior felony conviction.”

Identifying someone’s conviction

When writing about people in prison or jail or people who are formerly incarcerated, we don’t identify their charge or their conviction by default. Instead, consider whether the reason that they were incarcerated is relevant to the story or necessary context that the reader needs to understand their perspective or experience. This is especially true for stories that quote people in jail (who are presumed innocent) or people who were charged but never convicted.

For example, in a story about changes to Illinois’ felony murder rule, the charges and the specifics of the crime for which the people we spoke to were convicted were relevant to the reason we were quoting them. But for a story about barriers to higher education access in prison, an incarcerated person’s conviction is not relevant to include.

In general, our aim is to avoid dehumanizing people or reducing them to the worst thing that they’ve done. If possible, consult with the person you’re quoting or writing about to ask for their preference. If you know that mentioning their charge is necessary for the story, be up-front with them about that and give them the opportunity to decline to be interviewed.

Cook County Jail

Follow AP style: Capitalize Cook County Jail or other jails when associated with a place, e.g., McHenry County Jail. Lowercase county jail, city jail, and jail when they stand alone.

Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

Write out “Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center” on first reference, but use “juvenile detention center” or “juvenile jail” on second reference. Avoid “the JTDC” if possible. “Juvenile jail” is also acceptable in headlines.

Correctional officer, prison guard

“Correctional officer” is often the formal title for people who work in prisons and jails and is appropriate in most circumstances. But keep in mind that the use of the word “corrections” for carceral systems is euphemistic. “Prison guard” and “jail guard” are preferred alternatives. Use “state prison officials” to describe higher-ups in the Illinois Department of Corrections or other state or federal prison agencies.

Courts

Use the full names of courts on first reference: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the Cook County Circuit Court, the First District Illinois Appellate Court. These can be lowercase on second reference: the circuit court, the appellate court panel, the appeals court.

Court cases

Italicize and shorten case names: People v. Gacy, Plessy v. Ferguson, and U.S. v. Blagojevich.

A growing number of organizations and activists use the term “criminal legal system” to describe the system of police, criminal courts, jails, and prisons in recognition of the fact that this system has never been just, especially for Black people and other people of color, poor people, and other marginalized groups. As Erica Bryan writes for the Vera Institute of Justice, “Words shape how people think, and our speech should recognize that our system of racially biased policing and draconian punishment is not just.” As a publication called Injustice Watch, created on the premise that the “criminal justice system” is filled with injustices, we certainly recognize that reality. Criminal legal system is also more precise. In general, try to be as specific as possible, using terms such as “criminal courts,” “policing,” “jails,” and “prisons.” But when referring to the entire system, criminal legal system is preferred.

George Leighton Criminal Courthouse

Write out “George Leighton Criminal Courthouse” on first reference. Can use “Cook County court” in subsequent references. Avoid insider terms, such as “26th and Cal.”

Illinois Department of Corrections

Write out “Illinois Department of Corrections” the first time that it appears. Avoid using “IDOC” if possible. Use “the corrections department” or “the department” instead. In a story with repeated references, it’s okay to use “IDOC” (no “the” before).

Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice

Write out “Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice” on first reference. Avoid using “IDJJ” if possible. In a story with repeated references, it’s okay to use “IDJJ” (no “the” before).

Jail, prison, immigration detention centers

Jails are run by counties and typically hold people who are either awaiting trial or sentenced to terms of incarceration of less than a year (typically misdemeanors). Prisons are run by states or by the federal government and hold people who have been convicted of crimes, typically felonies, and sentenced to a year or more. Immigration detention centers are managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — or run by counties or private companies through contracts with ICE — and typically hold people awaiting immigration decisions.

Capitalize the official names of prisons and detention centers. Examples: Stateville Correctional Center, Illinois Youth Center – St. Charles. On second reference, lowercase “prison” unless it is part of the official name. Example: Stateville prison.

Try to avoid euphemistic language describing carceral settings, when possible. For example, Illinois’ youth prisons are called “Illinois youth centers.” Use “youth prison” or “juvenile prison” on second reference. Avoid acronyms.

Judges

Capitalize titles preceding judges names on first reference. Examples: Illinois Appellate Court Judge Nathaniel Howse, U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, Cook County Circuit Judge Michael P. Toomin, Cook County Associate Judge Maryam Ahmad. Use last name only on subsequent references.

Identify members of the Illinois Supreme Court as justices, but appellate court and circuit court judges as judges. Examples: Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, Illinois Appellate Court Judge Michael Hyman.

Lowercase if referring to judges generally or if not preceding a name. Example: A Cook County circuit judge.

Juvenile

Unless referred to in a quote or in a proper noun (such as “Juvenile Detention Center”), reporters should refrain from referring to people younger than age 18 as “juveniles,” as it carries a connotation of criminality. Reporters should instead refer to people younger than age 18 as minors and always specify the age of whomever they are reporting about. Refrain from describing people younger than age 18 as children, unless they are younger than age 13. Teenager refers to anyone between ages 13 and 19, but be as specific as possible.

Parole, mandatory supervised release

Discretionary parole was ended for most prisoners in Illinois in 1978 and replaced with determinate sentences. In 2019, Illinois reintroduced traditional periodic parole opportunities for young offenders (those younger than age 21). Those prisoners still eligible for parole go before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board periodically to request release. For those with determinate sentencing, the terms and conditions of someone’s release from prison are also approved by a smaller panel of Illinois Prisoner Review Board members. Though people still colloquially refer to mandatory supervised release as parole, those terms should not be used interchangeably. Do not conflate parole or mandatory supervised release with probation, which is a penalty to which someone can be sentenced, or pretrial supervision, which is ordered before someone has been adjudicated.

People who are released from prison on parole and mandatory supervised release are often required to check in with parole officers, who are employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Both groups can also be charged with parole violations. Avoid using terms such as “parolee.”

Police officers

Lowercase “police officer,” even as a title. Spell out and capitalize other ranks when used as a title before someone’s name. Be careful about the use of the colloquial terms “cop” and “cops,” which can be seen as pejorative.

Example: Chicago police officer Michael Curry, disgraced former Detective Reynaldo Guevara, Superintendent David Brown.

Pleaded, pled

Follow AP style, which prefers “pleaded” as the past tense to “plead,” but it also now allows “pled.”

Prisoner, incarcerated person, inmate, detainee

In describing people who are in local, state, or federal custody, the term “incarcerated person” is preferred. We also allow “prisoner” and “imprisoned person.” Try to avoid “inmate” or “detainee.” Try to always reflect who is doing the imprisonment: e.g., ICE detainee, people detained in the Cook County Jail. Take care to use humanizing language when describing people in carceral settings, marginalized people who society at large often ignores. Do not use the terms “convict” or “ex-convict.”

Sheriff, sheriff’s deputies, deputy

Capitalize “sheriff,” “sheriff’s deputies,” and “deputy” when used as a title before a name. Otherwise, lowercase.

Subcircuits

There are 15 judicial subcircuits in Cook County, which are geographic regions from which some circuit court judges are elected. Subcircuits were created in 1992 by the Illinois Legislature as part of an effort to diversify the bench racially, ethnically, and politically. Starting with the 2024 judicial primary, there are 20 subcircuits. Capitalize Subcircuit and pair with a numeral when referring to a specific subcircuit. Lowercase when referring to subcircuits generally.

Example: John C. Benson ran for a vacancy in the 11th Subcircuit in 2018.

Supervision, probation

Probation is a penalty to which someone can be sentenced for a period of time, which often includes certain conditions, such as abstaining from alcohol or drug use, regular check-ins with a probation officer, community service, and not getting arrested on a new charge. Probation can be ended “satisfactorily” or “nonsatisfactorily.” People arrested on a new charge while on probation can also be charged with a violation of probation.

Pretrial supervision is ordered before someone’s case has been adjudicated and can include conditions such as curfews, no-contact orders with the victim in a case, or electronic monitoring. Supervision can also be a sentence that is like probation but does not actually enter a judgment of conviction. This means that it can be expunged at the end if it’s terminated satisfactorily.

Victim, survivor

The word “victim” is a noun that defines a person based on the act committed against them, not their resistance to it. The word “survivor” may convey more agency and resilience but also defines a person based on the act committed against them. Ask sources which term they prefer. When in doubt, or if talking generally about a group, use “survivor.” When possible, use person-first language that conveys that sexual assault happened to a person, and that is not the sole experience that defines them.

Example: Jane Doe, who was sexually assaulted in 2015…

Chicago/Illinois

Alderperson, alderpeople

Use the gender-neutral terms “alderperson” or “alderpeople” to describe the 50 members of the Chicago City Council. Abbreviate as “Ald.” when used as a title before a person’s name. Set off the name of the ward that they represent with commas.

Example: Ald. Leslie Hairston, 4th Ward, co-sponsored the police accountability ordinance, which garnered the support of 30 other alderpeople.

Chicago neighborhoods

Capitalize the names of Chicago’s 77 official community areas and Chicago neighborhoods.

Examples: West Town, South Shore, Near North Side, Andersonville

City of Chicago

Capitalize “City of Chicago” when used as part of an official name of a department or unit. But lowercase “city” and “the city” when used alone or in the stand-alone phrase “the city of Chicago.”

Example: The City of Chicago Law Department; the city’s lawyers

Committeeperson, committeepeople

Use the gender-neutral terms “committeeperson” or “committeepeople” to describe the local elected official for the Democratic Party or the Republican Party in a specific ward. Capitalize when used as someone’s official title before their name. Otherwise, lowercase.

Elected officials

Here’s an updated list of local elected officials we write about often, with their official titles and their names, as used on first reference:

  • Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker
  • Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton
  • Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
  • Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
  • Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle
  • Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke
  • Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart
  • Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell Jr.
  • Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach
  • Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos

South Side, West Side, North Side

Capitalize South Side, West Side, North Side when referencing a particular known region of Chicago but not when being used as a compass direction.

The L

Use “the L” when talking about the Chicago transit system.

Identity and Diversity

Asian American

Follow AP style: No hyphen. “Asian American” is an acceptable term for an American of Asian descent. When possible, refer to a person’s country of origin or follow the person’s preference. For example: Filipino American or Indian American. Do not describe Pacific Islanders as Asian Americans, Asians, or of Asian descent. Pacific Islanders are Indigenous people of the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to Hawaii, Guam, and Samoa. Additionally, do not use “Asian” as shorthand for Asian American, as these are two distinct cultural groups.

Black, African American

Follow AP style: Use the capitalized term as an adjective in a racial, an ethnic, or a cultural sense: “Black people,” “Black culture,” “Black studies,” “Black colleges.” “African American” is also acceptable for those in the United States; however “Black” and “African American” are not inherently interchangeable. Americans of Caribbean heritage, for example, generally refer to themselves as Caribbean American. Follow a person’s preference if known, and be specific when possible and relevant. Use of the capitalized “Black” recognizes that language has evolved, along with the common understanding that, especially in the United States, the term reflects a shared identity and culture, rather than a skin color alone. Also, use “Black” in racial, ethnic, and cultural differences outside the United States to avoid reducing a person to just skin color. Never use the terms “Negro” or “colored,” unless it’s in the name of a proper noun or in rare quotations when essential.

Brown

Follow AP style: Avoid this imprecise term in racial, ethnic, or cultural references unless as part of a direct quotation. Interpretations of what the term includes vary widely.

Disabilities

When it comes to writing about disability and people with disabilities, there is no universal agreement on the use of terms. For that reason, when at all possible, we ask sources how they or their organizations want to be described. If that’s not possible, our default is to use person-first language (e.g., “people with disabilities,” “person with autism”) while recognizing that not everyone prefers this approach.

We follow the following general guidance from the National Center on Disability and Journalism’s Disability Language Style Guide:

  • Refer to a disability only when it’s relevant to the story and, when possible, confirm the diagnosis with a reputable source, such as a family member, medical professional, or other licensed professional.
  • When possible, always ask sources how they would like to be described. If the source is not available or unable to communicate, ask a trusted family member, advocate, medical professional, or relevant organization that represents people with disabilities.
  • Avoid made-up words, such as “diversability” and “handicapable,” unless using them in direct quotes or to refer to a movement or an organization.
  • Be sensitive when using words including “disorder,” “impairment,” “abnormality,” and “special” to describe the nature of a disability. The word “condition” is often a good substitute that avoids judgment. But note that there is no universal agreement on the use of these terms — not even close. “Disorder” is ubiquitous when it comes to medical references; and the same is true for “special” when used in “special education,” so there may be times when it’s appropriate to use them. But proceed with extra caution.
  • Similarly, there is not really a good way to describe the nature of a condition. “High functioning” and “low functioning” are considered offensive. “Severe” implies judgment; “significant” might be better. Again, proceed with caution. This is increasingly tricky turf.
  • When writing about students with disabilities, the AP suggests avoiding the terms “special needs” and “special education” and being as specific as possible about the types of services being discussed.

Refer to the NCDJ style guide for guidance on specific terms or conditions.

In addition, we strive to avoid ableist language, which is found in many common idioms. Don’t say a proposal “fell on deaf ears” — say it was “ignored.” Don’t say someone is “crippled by debt” — say they are “trapped” or “stuck.” Don’t say someone has a “blind spot” — say they have “a gap in understanding” or “are missing a perspective.”

Gender-neutral language

Follow AP style: In general, use terms that can apply to any gender. Such language aims to treat people equally and is inclusive of people whose gender identity is not strictly male or female. Balance these aims with common sense, respect for the language, and an understanding that gender-neutral language or gender-inclusive language is evolving and, in some cases, is challenging to achieve.

Examples: Police officer instead of policeman. Chair or chairperson instead of chairman. Spokesperson instead of spokesman or spokeswoman.

Homeless, houseless

Specificity and context is key. Although the term “homeless” is recognized by the AP as “generally acceptable,” Injustice Watch will attempt to define “homeless” as specifically as possible to avoid use of the word, given its susceptibility to stereotyping as an adjective. The terms “houseless” or “unhoused” can be used as an alternative for “homeless.” “Housing insecure” is acceptable for people facing precarious or temporary housing situations.

Immigration status, undocumented, noncitizens

When referring to immigrants living in the United States without proper authorization, you may refer to them as either “undocumented” or “unauthorized” immigrants but never as “illegal.” As with other terms, we strive to use person-first language (Example: John Doe, who is undocumented…). Use “noncitizen” to describe persons who are not U.S. citizens but have legal status, such as green card holders, asylees, and people with Temporary Protected Status.

Income status, poverty

By definition, poverty is an income level judged inadequate to provide a person or a family with basic essentials of life, such as food and shelter. In the United States, it’s a figure adjusted regularly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index, more commonly known as the cost of living. Because there are federally defined parameters of poverty, using the word “poor” interchangeably with “low income” isn’t always accurate. Also, “low income” only addresses one aspect of economic inequality and not other factors, such as wealth, investment, or savings.

When writing about wages or income-based programs, low income is the accurate term to use. However, communities, neighborhoods, and groups of people aren’t poor or low income; they’ve been underfunded, under-resourced, or disenfranchised.

When reporting on poverty, make sure to move beyond statistics. According to On Road Media’s “Reporting poverty: a guide for media professionals,” the best reporting on and around poverty balances the focus on statistics, systems, and individual people evenly. It is important to add structural context that conveys poverty as a societal issue and not a personal, moral failure. Taking a solutions journalism-oriented approach when reporting on poverty is shown to increase people’s empathy and willingness to view poverty as a structural problem that has to be solved.

Latinx, Hispanic

In general, “Latinx” should be used to describe a group of people with roots in Latin America. When possible, be specific about a person’s or a group of people’s country of origin, if applicable to the story. Be sure to ask the person or group how they prefer to be identified.  While it is common to see “Hispanic” and “Latinx/o/a” used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. Hispanic generally refers to people with origins in Spanish-speaking countries. Latinx/o/a generally refers to people with origins in Latin America and the Caribbean. In some cases, Hispanic people also identify as Latinx/o/a and vice versa. Generally, people from Brazil or Haiti do not identify as Hispanic but may identify as Latinx/o/a. Avoid the term “Latin,” unless it is a reference to Latin America or the preference of the person you’re writing about. Latina(s) is appropriate for people who identify as a woman/women. Note that federal policy defines Hispanic as an ethnicity, not a race.  Hispanics/Latinxs can be of any race. (Source: University of Iowa’s style guide)

LGBTQ, Queer

LGBT is an abbreviation for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.” Useful in headlines and short ledes but it should be explained in the first or in an early reference. The “Q” in LGBTQ can stand for either questioning (still exploring one’s sexuality) or queer or sometimes both. Use LGBTQ when speaking generally about LGBTQ people or when it’s not possible to ask a source how they want to be identified. Referring to LGBTQ people is usually more accurate than defining it as one community. Queer, though reclaimed by some, is still a term considered offensive by many, so avoid use unless in a direct quote or as indicated as a self-identification from a source.

Additional resources: Refer to the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists’ style guide for guidance on other related terms.

Mental health, mental illness

Only refer to someone’s mental health when relevant or meaningfully linked to the story. Never use derogatory words, phrases, and slang such as “crazy,” “lunatic,” “mad.” Blanket terms like “mental health” and “mental illness” cover a wide spectrum of health issues, so it’s best to provide as much specificity on a person’s diagnosis as possible. When in doubt, or when referring to general issues related to mental health, use “mental health disorder” over “mental illness.”

For more guidance, check out the National Center on Disability and Journalism style guide and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

Minority

Avoid the term minority to describe groups or people of color. Defining people of color as “minorities” is not recommended because of the ways in which it reinforces ideas of inferiority and marginalization of a group of people.

Older adults; older person

Follow AP style: “Older adults” and “older person” are the preferred terms. Refrain from using “elderly” or “senior,” as they connote frailty and dependence. Use phrases like “older workers” and “older athletes” instead. Older adults and older person/people are best used in general phrases, but specify the age range when possible (e.g., formerly incarcerated older adults aged 65 and over). Refrain from describing all older adults as inherently frail, weak, and vulnerable, and make sure to identify the source of the problem (e.g., “John said his back pain stemmed from sleeping on prison cots for 40 years.”). Remember: Age by itself is not a determinant of health; don’t normalize a person’s mobility issues or health status simply because of their age.

People of color

“People of color” is acceptable in references to races aside from white. It is useful as an umbrella term, but it’s also important whenever possible to identify people by their specific racial/ethnic group, as each has a distinct experience. Never use the acronym “BIPOC” or “POC” unless quoting a person directly or if it’s part of a proper name, and when used, explain on first reference. Do not refer to a person as a “person of color.”

Pronouns

Always confirm a source’s pronouns with them. If we don’t emphasize cisgender people’s pronouns, we don’t have to explain trans people’s pronouns — especially when they are common pronouns, such as “he,” “she,” and “they.” They/them pronouns are not new; the pronoun “they” has been in use as a singular pronoun since the 1300s. When a source uses less common pronouns, it’s acceptable to have a quick explanation mentioning their pronouns. Example: Taylor, who uses ze/hir pronouns, attended the event.

Don’t use the phrase “preferred pronouns.” Someone’s pronouns are not a preference but rather the only appropriate way to refer to that person. The phrase “preferred pronouns” is only appropriate when someone uses more than one set of pronouns and has a preference for one over the other. See the Trans Journalists Association Style Guide and the Diversity Style Guide for more resources on this entry.

Suicide

Avoid the phrase “committed suicide,” which implies a criminal act. Instead, use “killed themself,” “took their own life,” or “”died by suicide.” Avoid describing the method of suicide in detail or sensationalizing it. If a story includes references to suicide or suicidal thoughts, put a content warning at the top and prominently include resources for suicide prevention (such as the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988).

Transgender

Identify people as transgender only if pertinent, and use the name by which they now live publicly. Using their previous name — or deadname — is not acceptable unless they explicitly ask you to use it. Do not use “transgender” as a noun or use the term “transgendered.” Do not use “transsexual” or “tranny.” Transgender is not synonymous with terms such as “cross-dresser” or “drag queen,” which do not have to do with gender identity. “Trans” is acceptable to use in reference to issues specific to trans communities (such as trans health care or violence against trans women of color).

Tribal nations, indigenous

Reporters should identify Indigenous people by their specifical tribal or community affiliation. The terms “American Indian” and “Native American” are broad terms that are only acceptable when referring to two or more people of different tribal affiliations. Some tribes use “member,” while others use “citizen” to describe their affiliation. When in doubt, use “citizen.” According to the Native American Journalists Association, there’s no universally agreed-upon definition of “Indigenous.” The United Nations developed one based on self-identification; historical continuity to precolonial or presettler societies; links to territories and resources; distinct social, political, and economic systems; and possession of distinct languages, culture, and beliefs. Capitalize “Native” or “Indigenous.”

The term “Native” can be used as an adjective, such as “Native art” or “Native music.” Capitalize the word “tribe” when part of a formal name of sovereign political entities or communities sharing a common ancestry, culture, or language. Identify tribes by the political identity specified by the tribe, nation, or community. Examples: the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation.

Additional resources: The GroundTruth Project published this guide on how to tactfully and accurately report on Native American and Indigenous communities.

white

Currently, Injustice Watch does not capitalize “white” when referring to people’s race. News organizations, academics, and scholars are mixed on whether to capitalize “white” in reference to race and ethnicity.

The argument against capitalizing “white” is that doing so would cater to the desires of white supremacists to promote the idea of a unified white race. Editors and style guide writers have also made the argument that “white” is not an ethnic signifier; Dean Baquet and Phil Corbett of the New York Times wrote that: “There is less of a sense that ‘white’ describes a shared culture and history.”

On the flip side, as Eve Ewing wrote, not capitalizing “white” risks, “reinforcing the dangerous myth that White people in America do not have a racial identity.” Doing so allows white people to ignore their shared sociopolitical standing and privilege. And capitalizing other races, but not white, could reinforce the idea that whiteness is standard or default.

There was considerable disagreement on the style guide committee and the broader Injustice Watch team about whether to capitalize white. We’ll continue to lowercase white, in line with AP style, and continue to revisit this discussion in the future, as language and usage continues to change.