Honest discussions of money and social standing and the myriad factors that determine them are often complicated, and the language of US news coverage tends to reflect that. People may rely on established euphemisms or coded terms when more specific language would be more illuminating.
This section of the Language, Please style guidance aims to help journalists recognize language that’s weighed down in subtext and navigate subjects of socioeconomic status and social standing in a nuanced way.
This resource was informed by questions and discussions from our own newsrooms. It is a living document that will update and expand over time. It is not meant to be comprehensive or the definitive arbiter of language “rules” but instead aims to give context and inform thoughtful decision-making. Have a suggestion for an update, change, or addition? Please get in touch.
How to use: Browse the whole section or search for the term you need guidance on; click into any term for in-depth context, additional resources, and related terms.
Additional resources:
“woke”
The term “woke” was first used by Black Americans to describe the idea of waking up to systemic injustices and prejudices, and staying alert to how they manifest in everyday life. Use of the term dates back to as early as the 1930s, but by many accounts it was popularized via Erykah Badu’s 2008 song “Master Teacher Medley” and then spread into wider awareness via the #staywoke Twitter hashtag in the mid-2010s following the killings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. If using the term “woke,” it’s important to keep in mind both its origins in African American vernacular and its current popular use largely on the political right as a derogatory catch-all term pushing back against movements for racial justice and other civil rights efforts.
apartheid
Apartheid refers to a system of institutionalized racial segregation and oppression designed to establish and maintain domination by one racial group over another. It is characterized by laws, policies, and practices that intentionally deny equal rights and freedoms to targeted populations. It is important to note that apartheid has a specific legal definition under international law. While many forms of discrimination or systemic bias exist worldwide, not all meet the legal threshold for apartheid. Consulting credible research, human rights documentation, and legal experts can help ensure accurate use of the term.
at-risk youth
At-risk youth is a term used to describe children in vulnerable situations that threaten their transition into adulthood. Because the term “at risk” has no single definition and involves so many societal factors, being specific about how the term is being used (X is considered at risk of academic failure) is more informative to audiences. Avoiding phrasing that can be read as blaming or stigmatizing the individual with language like “delinquent” or “dropout” also takes those societal factors into account. For example: “The lack of tutoring options in X’s school due to underfunding has contributed to them being at risk of academic failure.”
birthright citizenship
Birthright citizenship grants citizenship to a person at birth, either by being born in that country or, in some cases, being born abroad to citizen parents. Nearly three dozen countries, mostly in the Americas, offer unrestricted birthright citizenship. The 1868 ratification of the 14th Amendment made it a constitutional right in the US. During his second term, President Donald Trump moved to end automatic birthright citizenship with Executive Order 14160, which directed federal agencies not to recognize the citizenship of children born in the US without at least one parent who is a US citizen or has permanent lawful residency. The order was challenged in court and temporarily stopped from going into effect. Journalists can refer to the American Immigration Council and American Immigration Lawyers Association for timely and reliable information to inform their reporting.
blue-collar / pink-collar
Blue-collar refers to a working-class job or occupation that typically focuses on manual labor. Some consider these terms outdated because of past stereotypes associated with manual labor. Phrases such as “industrial worker,” “industrial artisan,” or “factory worker,” or specifying the profession, may be clearer. Pink-collar refers to labor associated with domestic and care-oriented careers and largely associated with women. If using these terms, it’s helpful to clarify how they’re being defined — if explaining a study, you might include a description of the metrics used to categorize people, for instance.
caste / casteism
Caste is an artificial hierarchical social system in which things like social status, perception of beauty or intelligence, access to resources, and accepted social or romantic interactions are determined by the social group someone is born into. Casteism refers to the systemic marginalization — segregation, stigmatization, and more — that arises from the hierarchies set in place by the caste system, determined by racist, colorist, and classist criteria. Some civil rights activists have used the term casteism to describe the race-based hierarchy present in the US. Because this use of the term may not be familiar to all audiences, explaining the arguments in favor of its application in this context is useful for clarity.
class / social class
Social class refers to categories or hierarchies used to describe an individual’s economic placement within broader society, often broken down as lower, middle, and upper. Terms like lower, middle, and upper class offer different connotations to different people, and class can be defined in myriad ways (education, income, occupation, family size, etc.). Using terms like low-, middle-, and high-income and explaining how those brackets are being defined may be helpful for clarity.
climate grief
Climate grief refers to the grief stemming from loss or anticipated losses of ecosystems, species, and landscapes across the globe, due to the effects of environmental destruction and climate change. Anyone can experience climate grief, though some experts say Indigenous peoples may experience it more acutely. When reporting on climate change, accurately identifying even small signs of progress can ensure that your coverage does not unnecessarily stoke climate anxiety or grief.
climate justice, environmental justice
Climate justice refers to the idea that safe environments are a civil rights issue, recognizing that rich, privileged nations and populations have disproportionately contributed to climate change, while people of color and those living in poverty are disproportionately harmed by it. Environmental justice, which can include climate justice, has historically encompassed a broader effort to address the disproportionate impact of exposure to pollution on communities facing systemic discrimination. Defining the terms being used, including statistics on impact disparities, and centering the communities most affected by climate change and environmental threats can add vital clarity and help inform effective moves toward solutions.
culture war
“Culture war” is a recurring term in political discourse that refers to arguments over a broad range of topics, for instance racial and gender equity, secularism, substance use, and freedom of expression. The term “culture war” is nonspecific and may largely serve to confuse or gloss over issues if it’s used without context. Consider carefully whether the term serves your reporting, and whether divisions over an issue are as profound as some sources may make them out to be. Keep in mind that issues like abortion, immigration, and affirmative action aren’t simply “cultural”; they have direct short-and long-term political and socioeconomic impacts on many people.
Featured term: incarcerated person
An incarcerated person is someone confined to a prison, mental hospital, or similar institution. In general, person-first language, or phrasing such as “X individual, who was convicted of a felony,” puts the focus on the individual rather than one aspect of their circumstances, especially contrasted with terms such as ex-con, felon, convict, and criminal, which risk defining someone solely by their experience with the criminal legal system. In headlines or in shorthand, the term “prisoner” may be more straightforward and humanizing than a term like “felon” or “convict,” since not all individuals housed in jails and prisons are convicted of crimes, and such terms often imply a sense of guilt to the general public.
Jail and prison are not interchangeable: Generally, jail is for those who have just been arrested or are awaiting trial or sentencing, though some serving shorter sentences will do so in jail. Prison is generally for those serving longer sentences.
Featured term: homelessness/houselessness
Homelessness and houselessness are terms for the state of individuals currently lacking a regular nighttime residence. Person-first language such as “people without housing,” “people without homes,” or “person experiencing homelessness (or houselessness)” may read as less stigmatizing than a phrase like “the homeless,” as it reinforces that houselessness is one aspect of someone’s identity that doesn’t define them. “Houseless” or “unhoused” also decouples the concept from the more positive connotation of “home,” and encompasses more than “homeless,” as this could also refer to, for example, living in one’s vehicle.
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