When Jewel sang, ‘I’m sensitive and I’d like to stay that way‘, I didn’t know this was every editor’s maxim. One of the most exciting aspects of language is how it is in a constant state of flux. This is why language matters.
Slang: proceed with caution
Nothing marks you out as being more desperate than when you use language that is the preserve of the young. As my fourteen-year-old would say, “Cringe!”
Am I offended?
The meaning of words develops and alters over time. What were once playground slurs, can look appallingly crass in hindsight. If I’m being honest, they probably didn’t look that great then either.
As our understanding of ourselves and each other grows, it is important to revise the language we use to refer to one another. Some argue we have become too sensitive, but it is when words are misused that we get into trouble. Most people agree that this is why language matters.
Copy editors
A good copy editor watches for these language bombs and finds a way to defuse them: tactfully.
Being different isn’t a problem; disrespecting difference is problematic
Many groups feel marginalised or misrepresented in society. For hundreds of years, power was in the hands of one dominant group: the wealthy, white, cisgender, male. They dictated everything in society from how women, the LGBTQ+ community, non-white, differently-abled, and the neurodivergent were described for as long as they held power. Some would say little has changed. This is why language matters.
Does it matter how we refer to others?
Well yes, it does. How people are described, feeds into how they are treated and helps shape their identity and sense of self-worth. There is an easy mantra to follow: if in doubt, check it out.
Archetypes are easy to use but lack nuance
This is good to bear in mind when editing anything. Always ask yourself, Who is the audience? How will this piece of copy be received? Words ascribed to people and how they are portrayed, especially in the media, favor archetypes. They act as a shorthand for the reader or viewer. That’s because it is easy to group people with aspects of their identity together in one, homogenous group, but it is lazy. It takes no effort to categorize groups in this way, but the impact felt is negative helping reinforce stereotypes.
We used to chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I didn’t believe it as a child, and I don’t believe it now. Words matter – they have the power to hurt and damage.
They’re a bit sensitive
Some in the LGBTQ+ community, have reclaimed the word queer, while others, especially some older members, still recoil at memories of homophobia. There is a word that the black community has reclaimed, but it must only be used by members of that community.
This is just a snapshot of words and their power but the sentiment should remain; it is important to be sensitive when referring to groups that are not part of your lived experience.
Authenticity matters
As Louise Harnby comments in The Editing Podcast with Nick Taylor on LGBTQ+ editing, “It is about authenticity rather than sensitivity; sensitivity can imply negativity and hurt…we’re actually looking for realism.” There are voices that you should ask to check over your copy to avoid clumsy stereotypes and tired cliches.
It is important to get pronouns right, and it is becoming easier with guides appearing online and through reputable organisations, such as the Ciep.
For an informative, lively discussion on sensitivity readers with Crystal Shelley, check out episode 62 of the above-mentioned podcast.
What does this mean for the writer?
The easiest solution is to reach out to someone from the community you are writing about and ask them to read through your copy before you publish. This is easier with a novel than with a newspaper feature that, by its nature, has a short lead time.
If you don’t know anyone, and you are concerned, for example, that referring to someone with ADHD as mentally ill might be offensive: hire a sensitivity/authenticity reader to avoid any obvious pitfalls.
What does this mean for an editor?
For a fiction or non-fiction editor, it would be a query raised with the author. A gentle nudge or suggestion pointing out that what they’ve written could cause offense. Sometimes, to be offensive is the point of the writing from the perspective of a character, but it can be when someone is relying on lazy tropes they get in trouble.
How can editors challenge language?
If we are editing a newsletter, which refers to ancient inhabitants of a home we might pause to consider if this is insulting. One idea is to practise compassion and empathy. What would I think if I saw that in print and I lived in a residential home? How would I feel seeing a parent or grandparent dismissed in those terms? Consider these questions, and then make suggestions to the writer based on them. If you are a sub-editor, you probably have the power to change the words yourself without the need for consultation.
When to leave copy alone
In some circumstances, leaving controversial language in a text makes sense. If it is a psychological or sociological study and you are reporting people’s use of profanity or slurs, then it should be okay. It would be important to make clear that these words could be offensive and are not the author’s words.
If you are reporting spoken words in a newspaper article, or the words of a provocative character in a novel that may be permitted. It is important to consider the context when choosing which words to use. You can also use euphemisms if you are really concerned.
Is that normal?
What if a writer refers to normal behaviour? Which infers anyone deviating from this is abnormal. Would I flinch to see someone whose brain works differently being described as weird, strange, or too much? Could I recognise that this is unhelpful and inaccurate? Some of the most neurodivergent people in the world are also some of the most creative and inspiring.
David Bowie and ADHD
David Bowie once said in an interview that if he’d been at school today, he would be labelled as having ADHD. Let’s face it, he did pretty well out of being different and following many ideas such as painting, acting, producing, and most successfully, performing and songwriting. Not all these activities succeeded, but I admire that he never limited himself and followed divergent passions.
If it’s good enough for a polymath like Bowie, perhaps we should all consider how we refer to those who differ from us and not other them.