JULY 2024

From the World of Conscious Language

Note: The authors' viewpoints are not necessarily shared by CSG.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Why We Shouldn’t Call Trump a “Criminal”

“When we use dehumanizing language to describe former President Trump, we are, by extension, stigmatizing others who lack Trump’s wealth and connections.” Read >

JOURNALISM

Stop Saying “Conservative” When You Mean Fascist

“It’s obvious why mainstream news organizations like to use the word ‘conservative.’ It’s a long-accepted term that doesn’t seem to offend anyone. And it’s the word that many people on the right prefer. But it’s not accurate.” Read >

ETHNICITY, NATIONALITY + RACE

59% of N. Korean Defectors Advocate for Changing Legal Terminology: Survey

“When asked about their preferred alternative terms, 27.9 percent of the respondents chose ‘Hanamin,’ implying the unification of the two Koreas, followed by another term, ‘Bukhyangmin,’ meaning people whose hometown is North Korea.” Read >

DESIGN + IMAGES

How Published Images of a “Happy Couple” Can Hurt Victims of Domestic Abuse

“Domestic abuse campaigners and charities have criticised a number of media outlets for publishing photos of happy couples, taken before the woman’s attack or death at the hands of her partner. Critics say these images, often accompanied by language of surprise that ‘a nice guy’ could commit such a horrific act, can hurt those affected by domestic abuse.” Read >

JOURNALISM

Research Highlights Need for Public Health Approach in News Reporting of Gun Violence

“Trauma-informed journalism recognizes the need for journalists to better understand how trauma can affect survivors and how to avoid reporting that could cause additional harm to vulnerable people and those who have experienced trauma. The practice also helps journalists to protect their own mental health.” Read >

ETHNICITY, RACE + NATIONALITY

How Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees Seek Health Care in the US: A Primer and Research Roundup

“The terms ‘refugee,’ ‘asylum seeker’ and ‘immigrant’ are often used in discussions about people moving from one country to another, but they have distinct meanings based on the reasons for their move and individuals’ legal status.” Read >

HEALTH

Words Such as Racist Slurs Can Literally Hurt—Here’s the Science

“Research suggests that although words are abstract they really can cause a reaction similar to physical hurt. In fact, pain is intimately linked to language.” Read >

EMPOWERMENT

More Than Just “We’re Sorry”—How Companies Can Make Apologies We Will Actually Believe

“The timing of an apology is crucial. Apologising quickly shows the company is serious about fixing the issue. Delayed apologies can frustrate customers and signal a lack of urgency or that an issue isn’t a priority.” Read >

PLAIN LANGUAGE

Readers of Online News Prefer Simple Headlines, Research Suggests. Journalists? Not So Much.

“Simple headlines are not necessarily shorter, the research finds. While using common words, an informal style and better readability were associated with higher click rates, character count was not.” Read >

CLIMATE + ENVIRONMENT

Austria: Can I Claim That My Product Is Climate Neutral?

“In a recent judgment, the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) held that the claim ‘climate neutral’ is ambiguous and often misleading unless the advertisement itself explains its specific meaning.” Read >

SUICIDE

The S-Word

“Guidelines from the Higher Education Mental Health Alliance advise that messages to the campus should only confirm a death as a suicide if the family approves, and if designated officials decide that leaving out the information would be ‘disingenuous,’ possibly because the death was very public or the community is widely aware of the suicide.” Read >

List of Statements on Bias in Library and Archives Description

Examples of acknowledging biased, outdated, or harmful language. Visit Miscellaneous: Bridging and Context >

Better Gun Violence Reporting: A Toolkit for Minimizing Harm

“Typical coverage focuses on individual episodes of gun violence and often lacks an explanation of what causes it and what could be done to prevent it. These reporting practices can further stigmatize marginalized communities and promote fatalism around gun violence prevention.” Visit Miscellaneous: Hatred and Violence >

Talking to Kids About Cancer

“Explaining a cancer diagnosis to children or teenagers can feel difficult and overwhelming, but talking sensitively and honestly about cancer can reassure them during a time of uncertainty and change.” Visit Teaching Children >

From the Archives

“Themself” Is a Perfectly Cromulent Word

“Advances in language help us imagine other ways of being.” Read >

In Case You Missed It

In the June 2024 newsletter…

• In Defense of Butch Bodies
• The American Novel Has a Major Problem With Fat People
• How Should We Talk About Dementia? Choosing Better Terminology

Read >

Stuff to Buy

Other Resources

Join Our Online Community: Are you on Facebook? Join the Conscious Language + Design Facebook Group to learn, share, and chat with others who are curious or serious about conscious language.

Find Editors of Color: The Editors of Color Database helps recruiters connect with editors, proofreaders, and sensitivity readers of color in the U.S. and Canada. You can submit job listings for distribution to our private network and explore the 100+ resources in Diverse Databases, which highlights underrepresented groups. Diversify your sources now!

Get More Tips on Instagram: Follow @ConsciousStyleGuide for examples of context that supports sensitive content.

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Bluesky | Threads