From the World of Conscious Language

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

DIVERSITY + EQUITY

Doing DEI When You Can’t Use the “D”, the “E” or the “I” Word

“If you have moral conviction, the right words will find you.”

TEACHING CHILDREN

How Book Bans Control Information and Why They Backfire

“Speaking openly with your children about difficult topics is one of the best ways to ensure they feel comfortable coming to parents about them.”

CREATIVE WRITING

Why Editor Andrew Karre Can’t Imagine YA Literature Without Sexual Content

“Some sexual content is ‘inappropriate’ for teenage readers—but not in the way you’d assume.”

JOURNALISM

Journalism Falters When It Fails to Acknowledge History

“We’ve left out narratives that create a fuller picture…We cannot afford to make those mistakes again—not in a moment of near-constant attacks on free speech, the press, book bans and an active, intentional effort to erase history.”

PLAIN LANGUAGE

Plain Language Resistance: Is “Plain” the Problem?

“The problem, I think, lies not in what plain language is but in what some writers mistakenly believe it is.”

AGE

How AARP Is Redefining Aging Through Inclusion and Authentic Storytelling

“Think of birthday cards that say ‘over the hill,’ or how easily we use phrases like ‘she looks good for her age’ or react with ‘no way are you 40!’”—Karen Chong, VP, Audience Strategy, Age Inclusion, AARP

EMPOWERMENT

Stop Calling Us “Nonprofit”: It’s Time for a New Name for the $1.4-Trillion Engine of Progress

“We are not a ‘non’ anything. We are builders of jobs, innovators in care, stewards of families and communities, and an essential part of the nation’s economic infrastructure.”

ETHNICITY, RACE + NATIONALITY

Travel Expert Who’s Visited 70 Countries Shares 7 Phrases Americans Should Never Say Abroad

“The key lies in approaching international travel with genuine curiosity rather than American-centric expectations.”

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HEALTH

Why Leaders Are Pushing Back on “AI Nurse” Label

“AI should enhance clinical work, not impersonate it.”—Marc Benoy, chief nursing information officer, Summa Health

CREATIVE WRITING / ETHNICITY, NATIONALITY + RACE

African Publishers Battle “Wakanda Problem” as Market Grows

“As African book publishers build a literary ecosystem of their own, they say they’re fighting a stubborn perception problem, with too many international publishers treating the continent’s 54 countries as one homogenous entity.”

JOURNALISM

How Civil Eats Helps Reporters and Audiences Understand Federal Food Policy

“[Publish] different kinds of stories to allow readers to engage with the reporting in different ways.”—Lisa Held, senior staff reporter and contributing editor, Civil Eats

ETHNICITY, RACE + NATIONALITY

How a Washington University Professor Helped Make Netflix’s Most-Watched Movie

“Born and raised in Korea, Mimi Kim took the responsibility [of being a cultural consultant for KPop Demon Hunters] seriously. She advised on everything from correct clothing and scenery to buildings and language.”

EMPOWERMENT / GENDER, SEX + SEXUALITY

60,000 Cisgender Women Write Powerful Open Letter in Support of Trans Community: “We Have Had Enough”

“Stop scapegoating minorities and put the focus back on the things that are really harming women.”—Member, Not in Our Name

ABILITY + DISABILITY

What Autistic People—and Those With ADHD and Dyslexia—Really Think About the Word “Neurodiversity”

“You may find it helpful to think that ‘neurodiverse’ includes everybody in the universe. ‘Neurodivergent’ refers to individuals or groups of people whose brains work differently, for example, autistic people or those with ADHD or dyslexia.”

HEALTH

Heart Failure: Terminology Matters

“Alternatives such as ‘cardiac insufficiency’ or ‘heart dysfunction’ might better capture the clinical reality while reducing psychological compromise.”

EMPOWERMENT

How to Show Up for Your Newly Unemployed Colleagues

“You don’t need a motivational speech. A simple, ‘That’s awful, I’m really sorry you’re dealing with that,’ can mean a lot.”

Most Popular Posts

In the October 2025 Newsletter

• “Diverse” Does Not Mean “Not White”
• Green Words That Should Go Extinct: 10 Terms That Annoy Us All
• How Anatomical Names Can Carry Hidden Histories of Power and Exclusion

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