How can you proofread your text to avoid bias and insensitive language?

What A may find offensive, B may not, and that is why you don't write for two different audiences the same way. You need to do your research to know what your audience like and what they don't so as to avoid offending or even worse, falling out of favour with them.

On this article’s introduction: A written piece could also encourage (unfair) prejudice or demonization and/or “pile on” to other such efforts. —Do you want a reader to think, “Wow! I hadn’t previously read or considered anything negative about that group or perspective. What a surprise to find that message in this otherwise-unrelated piece!” —Or, “Oh, great! More of that!” and relegate the piece to a collection of writings reflecting a certain perspective? —Conversely, do you want a reader to find a piece to be the proverbial “breath of fresh air” and consider its message without being affected by irrelevant or underlying political matters?

The language we use plays a critical role in shaping others’ perceptions of the people we write about. It's important for everyone who writes to make sure that the words we use are not only accurate and precise but also free from bias. This means respecting and representing diverse perspectives, identities and experiences by choosing our words and phrases carefully and deliberately. Biased language distracts readers and torpedoes the writer's credibility.

Ensure that the language used is respectful and inclusive, avoiding assumptions, generalizations, or stereotypes. Review for gender-neutral terms and choose inclusive alternatives to promote diversity and avoid unintentional biases. Regularly reassess your texts to align with evolving societal norms and language conventions, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and cultural awareness. Do not contribute to or reinforce already existing bias against minority and underrepresented groups.

Ensure your language is precise and avoids vagueness, exaggeration, or inflammatory expressions, as these can lead to confusion or offense among your readers. For instance: • Inflammatory - "This program is a complete mess. It's unbelievable how anyone thought this was a good idea." • Constructive Criticism - "While this program has its challenges, let's explore ways to address the issues and improve its effectiveness." Choose constructive and diplomatic phrasing, providing feedback, or expressing opinions in a way that promotes understanding and open dialogue.

When you finish writing always reread your content for words or phrases that try to impose some views on the readers. Try to share an experience or concept instead of forcing it or pushing onto the readers. Steer away from giving a sermon or hoping to change the world. Try to be as neutral and as positive as possible to make a good impact. Once I wrote an article about my joys of plunging into a writing gig which was different from my technical background but made a mistake my giving an unwanted advise to my readers to dive deep into careers that they were passionate about instead of following the rat race to get into lucrative jobs that did not give them the reason to get up every day. Some of my readers found that intriguing.

I advise my writers to remember the KISS acronym -- no, not the one that has "Stupid" in it -- but my version: Keep It Short and Simple. Depending on context and intent, active verbs are usually far better than passive ones, and as mentioned, double negatives can be tough to understand.

I've found that complex language is one of the ways to deliberately confuse and mislead people. (Think contracts with multiple loopholes.) If you intend to be a trusted source of information, you should always present messages in an easy-to-understand manner without being condescending, and insulting the intelligence of your readers.

My simple suggestions would be: - Don't forget to check your client's style guide, if they have one. If they don't, check out parallel texts on their website. - Note what spellings, terms, formatting, etc. you are using, especially if it's a long text that you can't proofread all at once. - NEVER click 'Change all' when doing a search and replace. The outcome can be disastrous. Look at each case individually. - If using 'Track changes', always read through again with the changes hidden. - Check formatting back to front - from the bottom to the top. It makes the eye look at things differently, avoiding the over-familiarity that skips over mistakes.

Ensure that terms, names, and pronouns remain uniform for consistent representation of entities or concepts. For instance: If Steven is a 23-year-old 'soccer' player, he shouldn't suddenly become; Tom, a 'football' player. There are British and American terms for a lot of objects, be sure to check for the appropriate word. This is where a style guide will save you. It's always right on hand to cross-check without having to scroll up. Consistent language usage contributes to overall logic and readability.

No matter how knowledgable you are, or how long you have been in this industry, getting feedback is never a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it can help you see things in a new perspective, which can be beneficial to the text in the end.

As an individual with biases, it is difficult to be fully aware of them. Having someone else read the text for you and giving their perspective is of great help for getting round this. It also gives you an idea of what things to look out for in the future and to become more self-aware.

We are only human and we are bound to make mistakes once in a while. Instead of being disappointed when mistakes happen, simply take the opportunity to learn from the experience and do your best to avoid making the same mistake again. This is how we grow.

Also, remember that proofreading without bias is essential as an essential core quality of the proofreader. As a proofreader, you are not trying to persuade someone to convert into a specific set of beliefs. Instead, you are trying to achieve grammatical correctness, look after the tone, maintain consistency, and others.

Cultural standards and the meanings and usages of words are always changing, and it can be difficult to know which words are currently acceptable. For guidance, academic writers and editors can look to style authorities such as the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Chicago Manual of Style, all of which provide comprehensive guidelines on writing about gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status to help writers and editors produce writing that is bias-free and inclusive.

In writing gender-neutral content, the pronoun 'they' plays an important role in erasing gender bias. By replacing 'he' or 'she' with 'they' as a singular pronoun, writers contribute to inclusivity and respect for different identities. Traditionally used as a plural pronoun, it has evolved to being used as a singular pronoun, especially in cases where the gender of the person is unknown. In an introductory speech for example: 'Introducing Morgan, our dedicated volunteer. ''Their' commitment to our cause is truly inspiring.' Encouraging the use of "they" empowers writers to communicate in a way that values and respects the diversity of gender identities, creating a more inclusive and welcoming tone in written communication.