Clear, precise language creates a better experience for everyone. Everyone interacting with Orbit should feel welcome and included.
Writing principles
Start by involving different perspectives, and limit assumptions or biases by testing content with a diverse audience. Let those with lived experiences guide the way.
- When talking to people, use language that considers others’ perspectives and lived experiences.
- When talking about people, be descriptive only when necessary, and use language preferred by the group being described.
- When talking about things, be clear and accurate, avoiding metaphors and idioms.
Disability
Design for all levels of ability. Center content around people, not their disabilities, and avoid metaphors, euphemisms, and idioms.
- Don’t label actions using “disable/disabled” where an alternative works — prefer “turn off”, “inactive”, or “deactivated”. (“Disabled” remains valid when describing an HTML element state.)
- Don’t use words tied to disabilities to describe things as extreme (“insane”, “crazy”) — use “intense”, “extreme”, or “unbelievable”.
- Only use terms like “blind” or “deaf” to refer to actual conditions, never as metaphors.
Don’t assume tasks are easy
When writing instructional content, avoid calling the task itself easy or quick. Implying something is easy for everyone can discourage those who might struggle.
Do
Complete these 3 steps to register for the auction.
Don’t
Take a second to breeze through this easy registration.
Do
Enter the equipment’s make, model, and serial number.
Don’t
Just add a few details to list your equipment.
Race, gender, and identity
Even if unintentional, language can exclude or harm people who have been historically marginalized. Be intentional about using language that is free of bias, be descriptive about people only when it’s relevant to the context, and use the terms groups use for themselves.