A Progressive’s Style Guide

A Progressive’s Style Guide is a language resource created by SumOfUs, led by Hanna Thomas and with contributions from Anna Hirsch. The guide focuses on how language shapes communication and social interactions and offers recommendations for more inclusive and precise wording. It critiques traditional grammar and style guides for not fully representing diverse communities and provides alternative approaches centered on clarity, respect, and self-identification. Key principles include using people-first language, acknowledging individuals over labels, and ensuring that language reflects evolving social conversations.

The guide covers multiple topics, including race, gender, disability, and immigration, offering specific recommendations for each. It advises against outdated or potentially harmful terms and encourages an approach that evolves with social and cultural shifts. Rather than prescribing fixed rules, the guide is positioned as a flexible resource that adapts over time. It invites feedback and discussion, recognizing that language is always changing.