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Diversity in Diction - Equality in Action

A Guide to the Appropriate Use of Language

7. Age and Language

The old and the young often have different perceptions and values, but we are all members of the same society and have the right to be treated professionally.

The media sometimes portrays young people as beautiful, glamorous and capable, and at others as rebellious, unreliable, dissolute and perhaps even criminal, while older people are more often portrayed as conservative, crotchety, helpless and vulnerable. These stereotypes inevitably affect attitudes and expectations of both young and old.

Age Neutral Terminology

Being old in British society carries connotations of being worn out and of little further use. It is even used as a term of abuse.

For example the following terms may offend some people:

Clearly we should not make assumptions about the value of people based on their age. Where it is necessary to make reference to age, it is better to use neutral terms such as 'older people' when referring to people.

For example:

Just as language evolves so too do social formalities. Addressing older people, particularly women, by their forename before being invited to do so may run counter to the social norms with which they grew up and so should be avoided.

Equally 'youth' has connotations of inexperience, impetuosity, and unreliability or even dishonesty and addressing someone as 'boy' or 'girl' or referring to the 'new boy / girl' may cause offence. Again if it is necessary to make reference to a person's age it is better to use the neutral 'young people' rather than terms such as:

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