Recommendations on the Use of Inclusive Language

Scientific and academic language must accurately and respectfully reflect human diversity. Its inclusive and non-sexist use is part of REMUS’s commitment to editorial ethics, gender equity, non-discrimination, and academic integrity.(1,2,3,4)

The objective is to establish editorial guidelines that ensure all REMUS publications [scientific articles, interviews, editorials, reviews, graphic materials, and institutional communications] use inclusive, clear, and non-sexist language.(5)

The policy applies to:

  • Original articles, reviews, case reports, and letters to the editor.

  • Interviews and outreach notes.

  • Covers, images, infographics, and graphic material.

  • Internal and external communications of the journal (calls for papers, social media, certificates, style manuals).

Guiding Principles

  • Academic rigor: clarity, precision, and grammatical correctness.(6)

  • Visibility: equitable representation of women and men in texts, images, and materials.(7)

  • Neutrality: use of collective and abstract nouns whenever possible.(1)

  • Respect for identity: referring to each person in accordance with their gender identity and name.(8)

  • Non-discrimination: exclusion of expressions that stigmatize or render invisible.(4,9)

Guidelines

  • Avoid the generic masculine. Prefer “the student community” instead of “students.”(1)

  • State professions and positions in both feminine and masculine forms (e.g., “physician,” “president/presidenta”).(7)

  • Use gendered doubling only in necessary contexts: “the authors, both women and men.”(3)

  • Use collective or neutral nouns in scientific articles: “the staff,” “the citizenry.”(3)

  • Do not use @, x, or e in academic texts.(3)

  • In clinical and biomedical research, refer with precision: “people with type 2 diabetes,” “people living with HIV,” “Afro-descendant population.”(9)

  • Ensure grammatical agreement in academic titles and appointments.(3)

  • In interviews, respect each person’s self-designation.(8)

Implementation

  • Inclusion of inclusive language in the REMUS Style Manual.(5)

  • Editorial review: each manuscript will also be evaluated for adherence to inclusive language.(6)

  • Ongoing training for the editorial committee, interview committee, and design committee.(5)

  • Adaptation of calls for papers, covers, and social media according to inclusive guidelines.(9)

The Editorial Committee will verify compliance through:

  • An editorial checklist with inclusive language criteria.(5)

  • Semiannual compliance indicators in published manuscripts.(6)

  • Feedback to authors when biases are detected.(5)

Institutional Commitment

REMUS is committed to being a university reference in inclusive communication, recognizing that language is a tool for cultural and scientific transformation, and that medical and social research must promote equality, equity, and human dignity.(2,4)