Race- and ethnicity-inclusive language

Avoid language that expresses bias towards or against a particular race, ethnicity, or indigenous people, or that expresses the belief that some races are inferior to others. These biases can be overt or implied. For example, many expressions use "white" to mean "good" and "black" to mean "bad."

Avoid using terms or expressions from other cultures outside of their original meaning and context. For example, don't use the words "guru," "sherpa," or "ninja" to describe people, programs, or products unless they are part of an official brand name. Using these terms incorrectly can diminish their original significance through cultural appropriation.

Many non-inclusive terms are well-established in the technology industry. If replacing a common term might cause confusion for readers, then refer to the non-inclusive term on the first use and put it in parentheses. For example, "to add a sender's IP address to the blocklist (sometimes called a blacklist)." Afterward, use the inclusive replacement term throughout the rest of the document.

Non-inclusive words and phrases to avoid

Some of the following terms have antiquated uses in technical contexts, whereas others are more applicable to everyday conversation or when writing about people from different races or cultural backgrounds.

note

The following list isn't exhaustive, and language is constantly evolving. If you're unsure about a term or have other language recommendations to add to this list, please contact the Content Quality team in the #unity-style-guide Slack channel.

IT-specific words and phrases

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Black box, white box, gray box Blackbox, whitebox, graybox These terms contrast blackness with whiteness. Don't use to refer to methods of software testing or monitoring.	Black box testing Black box monitoring White box testing White box monitoring Gray box, grayboxing	Opaque box testing Synthetic monitoring Clear box testing Introspective monitoring Prototype, prototyping
Black hat, white hat, gray hat These terms contrast blackness with whiteness to mean harmful and helpful, respectively. Don't use to refer to software hackers or testers.	Black hat hacker, gray hat hacker White hat hacker	Unauthorized user, bad actor Computer security expert, security tester
Blacklist, whitelist By using "black" and "white" to determine whether an entity is excluded or included, respectively, these terms imply that black is bad and white is good.	Blacklist Whitelist Graylist, greylist To blacklist To whitelist	Blocklist Allowlist Provisional list To deny, to block, to exclude To allow, to include
Final solution This term refers to the genocide of Jewish people in Europe during World War II. Instead, use "solution" as a standalone term, or use on alternative modifier depending on the context.	Final solution	Solution Definitive solution Optimal solution Best solution Last solution
First-class, first-class citizen Where possible, don't use socially-charged terms for technical concepts. Instead, consider terms such as "core feature," "built-in," "top-level."	First-class citizen First-class	Core feature Built-in Top-level
Grandfathered This term refers to the historical protection of white Americans from voting restrictions intended for African-Americans. Don't use to refer to something that is allowed to violate a rule because it predates the rule. Instead, use an adjective like "legacy" or "exempt."	Grandfathered in	Exempt Legacy
Master, slave These terms refer to slavery and the oppression of marginalized groups. Instead of "master," use the appropriate alternative for the context, such as "primary," "main," "original," "controller," or "initiator." Instead of "slave," use alternatives like "worker" or "replica." For more information about alternative terms, refer to Microsoft Style Guide: master/slave.	Master branch Webmaster Master/slave	Main branch, trunk Website administrator Primary/replica Primary/secondary Primary/subordinate Principal/agent
Monkey test, monkey testing Don't use to refer to tests or testing. Instead, use a more accurate term to describe the specific function. For example, "automated, random tests." Don't use "monkey" to refer to people.	Monkey test Monkey testing	Automated, random test Automated, random testing
Native When referring to software products, try to use a more precise term with a clear meaning. For example, use "built-in" to describe a feature that's part of a product. Avoid using native to refer to people.	Native Cloud-native	Built-in Cloud first

Other problematic words and phrases

The following sections are organized according to the different use cases for each type of expression. Although some terms might belong to more than one category, each term is listed only once.

Corporate culture

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Exotic, foreign These terms imply that non-Western ideas and people are unusual and exclude them from the norm. Remember that what is "foreign" or "exotic" to you is familiar to someone else."	Exotic Foreign concept	Fancy New concept
Kabuki This term refers to a traditional type of Japanese theater. Instead, use "political theater."	Kabuki	Political theater
Mantra This term refers to a spiritual practice in Buddhist and Hindu religion. Instead, use "motto," "North Star," or "mission statement."	Mantra	Motto North Star Mission statement
Open the kimono This expression originates from harmful stereotypes against Asian women. Instead, use "corporate transparency."	Open the kimono	Corporate transparency
Tipping point This term is associated with White families moving out of an area when a certain percentage of the neighborhood is composed of Black families. Instead, use an expression like "point of no return."	Tipping point	Point of no return Breaking point Milestone
Totem pole, bottom of the totem pole These expressions are cultural appropriation and desecrate First Nations and indigenous tradition. Instead, use "hierarchy."	Totem pole Bottom of the totem pole	Hierarchy Bottom of the hierarchy
Tribe, tribal These terms have negative historical connotations for First Nations and African communities. Instead, use a less figurative term to indicate knowledge held by a group of people.	Tribal knowledge Tribal wisdom	Institutional knowledge Institutional memory Collective wisdom

Meetings

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Brown bag Although brown paper bags were often used to carry lunch, this term also alludes to a skin color test traditionally used by African-American sororities and fraternities. Instead of "brown bag lunch" or "brown bag session," use "lunch and learn," "tech talks," or "bring your own lunch."	Brown bag lunch Brown bag session	Tech talks Lunch and learn
Dojo This term refers to a place for immersive learning, experiential learning, or meditation in Japanese culture. Instead, use a precise term that is accurate for the context, such as "training" or "workshop."	Dojo	Training Workshop
Powwow, pow-wow This term refers to a significant celebration by many Indigenous communities. Instead, use "meeting," "gathering," or "get together."	Powwow	Meeting Gathering Get together

Quality descriptors for products, code, or tasks

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Black and white This expression presents black and white as opposites. Instead, use a more precise term such as "clear" or "straightforward."	Black and white	Clear Straightforward
Cakewalk, takes the cake These expressions originate from a dance contest where enslaved Black people competed for cake. In general, avoid describing tasks as easy, simple, or quick, because not all users have the same skills or experience.	Cakewalk Takes the cake	Easy, simple Wins
Ghetto This term refers to a poor urban area occupied primarily by a minority group or groups. When referring to code that isn't production-ready, instead use more precise terms like "clumsy," "workaround," or "inelegant."	Ghetto	Clumsy Workaround Inelegant
Jerry-rigged This expression is a derogatory reference to Germans during World War II. Instead, use an expression like "poorly designed," "improvised," or "crude."	Jerry-rigged	Poorly designed Improvised Crude
Low-hanging fruit This expression has a symbolic connection to the lynching of Black people and might be triggering for some people. In conversation, consider alternatives such as "quick wins" or "easily accomplished work." In technical writing, use a more precise description of the task.	Low-hanging fruit	Quick wins Easy rewards Easily accomplished work
Primitive This term has negative historical connotations for dehumanizing First Nations and Indigenous communities. Use with caution. Don't use "primitive" in a disparaging sense.	Primitive	Basic Unsophisticated
Voodoo This term is a Western misspelling of Vodou, an African diasporic religion. Don't use. Instead, use a term like "mysterious," "complicated," or "nondeterministic."	Voodoo	Mysterious Complicated Nondeterministic

Individuals and groups

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Guru This term is an appropriation from Hindu and Buddhist religions that refers to a highly-respected spiritual leader. Depending on the context, use a more precise term like "expert" or "teacher."	Guru	Expert Teacher
Gypsy These term is derogatory to the Romani people. Instead, use the appropriate name for the group you're referring to (Romani, Roma, or Traveller).	Gypsy	Romani Roma Traveller
Ninja This term is an appropriation from Japanese culture that refers to a highly-skilled martial artist. Don't use when referring to a person who is an expert in their field. Instead, use "expert." You can use this term when referring to companies, tools, or software packages that use the term in their names.	Ninja	Expert Specialist Ace
Peanut gallery This term refers to the upper balconies in segregated theaters where African-Americans had to sit. Instead, use a literal term like "observers" or "the cheap seats," depending on the context.	Peanut gallery	Observers Critics Upper balcony The cheap seats
Sherpa This term refers to an ethnic group in a poor region who perform extremely dangerous work to make a living. Don't use when referring to a person who is a guide or expert in their field. Instead, use a more precise term like "guide."	Sherpa	Guide Expert

Behaviors and personal qualities

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Gung-ho This expression is a misunderstood reference to industrial cooperatives in 1930s China. Instead, use an expression like "too enthusiastic" or "overly zealous."	Gung-ho	Too enthusiastic Overly zealous
Off the reservation This expression is a derogatory reference to indigenous and First Nations peoples. Instead, use "out of bounds" or "outside the norm."	Off the reservation	Out of bounds Outside the norm Gone rogue
On the warpath This expression originates from negative stereotypes of indigenous and First Nations people perpetuated by early colonial settlers. Instead, use "aggressive" or "eager to fight."	On the warpath	Aggressive Eager to fight
Uppity This term refers to slavery. Instead, use "arrogant" or "conceited."	Uppity	Arrogant Conceited

Actions

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Call a spade a spade This expression has derogatory connotations for Black people. Instead, use "tell it like it is."	Call a spade a spade	Tell it like it is
Circle the wagons This expression refers to a defensive technique used by early settlers against possible attack by indigenous peoples. Instead, use an expression like "protect ourselves" or "stay united."	Circle the wagons	Protect ourselves Stay united Protect ourselves Resist together
Ghettoizing, ghettoization This term refers to a poor urban area occupied primarily by a minority group or groups. Instead, use more precise terms like "isolating" or "restricting."	Ghettoizing Ghettoization	Isolating Restricting
Going Dutch This term is a negative stereotype that portrays the Dutch as cheap. Instead, use "split the bill" or "share the cost."	Going Dutch	Split the bill Share the cost
Gyp, gip Gypped, gipped These terms are derogatory to the Romani people. Instead of figurative uses, use a more precise phrase like "defraud" or "ripped off."	Gyp, gip To get gypped	Defraud, steal, scam, cheat To get ripped off, to be swindled
Hold down the fort This expression refers to defending early colonial settlements against indigenous peoples. Instead, use "keep things moving" or "watch over things."	Hold down the fort	Keep things moving Watch over things
Lower the bar This expression refers to the negative idea that a company has to relax hiring standards to recruit people from different racial, ethnic, or gender backgrounds. When referring to product quality, use "lower our standards" or "compromise." When referring to hiring, use an expression that refers to accessibility, inclusion, or diversity.	Lower the bar	Lower our standards (on quality) Compromise Be more inclusive (for hiring) Promote diversity
No can do This expression originates from imitation of Chinese Pidgin English in the late nineteenth century. Instead, use "not possible," "not feasible," or "I can't do it."	No can do	Not possible Not feasible I can't do it
Redline This term is associated with discriminatory practices and policies that denied loans to certain neighborhoods based on ethnicity. When referring to text or code, use a more literal term such as "delete," "cancel," "drop," or "edit." When referring to a document, use "edited with changes tracked."	Redline Redlined	Delete Cancel Drop Edit Edited with changes tracked
Sold down the river This term refers to slavery. Instead, use "betrayed," or "put in a difficult situation."	Sold down the river	Betrayed Put in a difficult situation

Other colloquialisms

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Long time, no see This expression originates from mockery of indigenous and First Nations people. Instead, use "It's been a while" or similar.	Long time, no see	It's been a while
Mumbo jumbo, mumbo-jumbo This term was historically used to dismiss the spiritual beliefs and rituals of colonized peoples. Instead, use "nonsense" or "gibberish."	Mumbo jumbo	Nonsense Gibberish
Paddy wagon This term is associated with anti-Irish discrimination. Instead, use "patrol car" or "police van."	Paddy wagon	Patrol car Police van
Spirit animal This term refers to the spiritual traditions of many Indigenous groups. Don't use when referring to a similarity with or love for something. Instead, use a more precise expression, or a fictional term like "patronus."	Spirit animal	Favourite animal Kindred spirit