Introducing the second edition of APA’s Inclusive Language Guide

APA has released the second edition of its Inclusive Language Guide (ILG).

APA published the first edition in 2021 in “an effort to build a common vocabulary” (Akbar, 2022). The ILG is a tool created for those interested in championing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in oral and written communications. The ILG is meant to be used in conjunction with, not in place of, the bias-free language guidelines in Chapter 5 of the seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. The second edition of the ILG is rooted in the most recent research and psychological science and reflects the perspectives of individual lived experiences. Here are some key points you need to know about the updated ILG:

Language holds immense power—it shapes people’s perceptions, interactions, and ability to bridge differences to create a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment for all. With the release of the second edition of the ILG, APA continues to dismantle destructive hierarchies that deny marginalized people equitable representation and participation in society.

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• A new section on body size and weight stigma addresses how bias and discrimination against a person’s size and weight can lead to psychological distress and emotional suffering. The pervasiveness of stigma and discrimination based on an individual’s weight prompted a considerable number of requests for this addition.
• Inclusive terminology on pregnancy has been added, expanding our content on parenting. This new section addresses how gender intersects with the medical condition of pregnancy. Our guidance is to choose terms people identify with according to the audience and context, to avoid overly medicalized terminology, and to acknowledge how people’s experiences are shaped by living in a gendered world.
• Neurodiversity now has its own section apart from disability. We elaborate on the terminology that distinguishes between neurodiversity and neurodivergence. We expanded neurodiversity’s definition to emphasize the diverse ways that people think, learn, and behave.
• New psychological research on racism has been included to better address the mental health impacts of structural and systemic racism.
• New material addressing casual ableism was a priority in this updated edition. We focused our attention on ableist terms in everyday language.

Throughout the guide, we continue to emphasize that we should call people what they call themselves. Language continues to evolve, and we should all try to remain vigilant by using relevant, contemporary, and inclusive language.

Our updated, second edition of the Inclusive Language Guide is here to help you improve your communication regardless of the setting you are in. Don’t miss out.

Akbar, M. (2022). Three key things you should know about APA’s new inclusive language guidelines. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/inclusive-language-guidelines