As we will see throughout the course, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to writing inclusively. We need to be mindful of context, audience, and the evolving nature of language to ensure our communications are respectful and inclusive.

To enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of your writing, we will present five key principles. These principles will empower you to make thoughtful and informed choices, cultivating a communication style that is more inclusive, equitable, and reflective of the diverse world around us.

Principles of Inclusive Writing

These principles are designed to help the federal public service and any other organization produce writing that is free of discrimination based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, or any other identity factor.

While not everyone will agree with all the options presented, they do offer a variety of possible solutions to issues you might encounter when aiming for inclusiveness. These principles are designed to be applied thoughtfully, taking into account the specific context of each situation rather than applying them rigidly across the board.

Here are the five key principles which we'll be covering in the course:

1. Use what works best
2. Respect people’s wishes
3. Make choices that are respectful of diversity
4. Write clearly and effectively
5. Be consistent

Now let's continue and look at each principle in turn.