Gender-neutral language in English

If you've read an English job ad lately, you've probably noticed that "salesman" has turned into "salesperson" and "chairman" into "chair." Over the past few decades, English has been moving toward words that describe the role instead of the gender of the person doing it. Here's what that looks like in practice.

A different approach from German

If you speak German, you're probably used to a different system. German often adds a feminine form, like Lehrer and Lehrerin, and many people now write both with forms like Lehrer:innen. English mostly goes the other way. Instead of adding a female version, it drops the gender from the word altogether. That's why many women in film now call themselves "actors," and words like "stewardess" and "poetess" sound old-fashioned.

Everyday alternatives

Here are some common swaps you'll come across. The older words haven't disappeared, but the newer ones are now standard in job ads, news, and most workplaces.

Firefighter instead of "fireman"

• Firefighters were at the scene within minutes.

Police officer instead of "policeman" or "policewoman"

• A police officer stopped us to ask for directions.

Mail carrier instead of "mailman"

• Our mail carrier always leaves packages by the back door.

Salesperson instead of "salesman"

• The salesperson helped me find a laptop in my budget.

Server instead of "waiter" or "waitress"

• Our server recommended the fish of the day.

Layperson instead of "layman"

• The book explains the science in a way any layperson can follow.

Chair or chairperson instead of "chairman"

• The chair opened the meeting at ten.

In everyday conversation, you'll still hear plenty of people say "waiter" or "freshman." You don't need to correct anyone. But in professional writing, the neutral versions are the safer choice.

Using "they" for one person

The biggest change is how English talks about a person whose gender you don't know or don't need to mention. Instead of "he or she," most people now use "they," even for one person.

• If a customer calls, tell them I'll be back at two.
• Someone left their umbrella in the meeting room.
• Each student should bring their own laptop.

This might look like a mistake at first, but it's been part of English for centuries, and most style guides and dictionaries now accept it. Some people also use "they" as their personal pronoun, and using it for them is a simple way to show respect.

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