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MLA Style, 9th. edition: Avoiding Bias

This LibGuide includes information on how to format your paper and create the Reference page using the guidelines in the Publication Manual of the Modern Language Association, 9th Edition, 2021

Avoiding Bias

The  MLA style manual (9th ed.) provides guidance for reducing bias language in writing. 

Be Sensitive to Labels

Call people what they want to be called.  Appropriate terminology changes over time, and not everyone within a certain group will agree with a label.  Be sure to be sensitive to what you are calling people. (from MLA 9th edition manual).

Inclusive Language Rules

  • Avoid using terms that specify the subject's ethnicity, religion, gender, social orientation, disability age, or social status if it is not critical for your context. 
  • Implement gender neutrality as "human-made" can be used instead of "man-made". 
  • Use Latinx terminology instead of Latino or Latino. The same goes for similar terms. 
  • Avoid using terms like Muslim community or Native American language by changing it to Sunni Muslims in India or Chinookan languages. 
  • Avoid religious generalizations by always making it clear what religion or beliefs you are referring to. ​

 

Reducing Bias by Topic

The MLA style manual provides more guidance for reducing bias language in the areas of age, disability, gender, racial & ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic states, and intersectionality. The MLA website also provides general guidelines for writing about these populations of people. You can find links to these topics below.

MLA Handbook on Inclusive Language