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Speech bubbles show a conversation between someone who says words can't hurt and someone who knows they do The Power of Everyday Language to Cause Harm - Words matter. Find out how everyday language causes harm by making certain folks seem less than human, abnormal, or nonexistent.
What's in a word: "Queer" What’s in a Word: Queer - "Queer" is an incredibly fraught and misunderstood word. Learn the history of the evolution of "queer" and the radical copyeditor's dos and don'ts for how to use the word today.
Word bubbles containing different terms used to describe everyone who's not cisgender and explanatory text Ask a Radical Copyeditor: What’s the Best Way to Refer to Everyone Who Isn’t Cis? - A dive into various umbrella terms, why "trans" isn't usually adequate, and how to be radically inclusive with your language.
What's in a word: "Patron" Want More Radical Copyeditor in Your Life? - An opportunity to support your friendly neighborhood radical copyeditor and also get access to more fabulous content!
Two collections of speech bubbles, sharing negative synonyms and phrases related to darkness and positive ones related to lightness Dark and Light: Practicing Balance—and Countering Racism—in Metaphors - Metaphors have deep power, and the widespread use of darkness/blackness to mean negative concepts has inestimable effects.
Sex vs. gender? Speech bubbles contrast between the approach of the hard-liner vs. the radical copyeditor Update to Transgender Style Guide: “Sex Versus Gender,” Intersex Considerations, Talking About Transition, and More! - The fourth major update to the Radical Copyeditor's Style Guide for Writing About Trans People
Speech bubbles containing phrases that perpetuate oppression against Indigenous Peoples Thirty Everyday Phrases that Perpetuate the Oppression of Indigenous Peoples - Language is a vessel of cultural stories, values, and norms—and in the U.S., everyday language perpetuates the oppression of Indigenous Peoples. Learn 30 terms worth questioning in terms of their origins and impact.
Dear JK Rowling and the world, Please stop employing the "cross-dressing killer" archetype. Your fictional representations are killing real-life trans women. Sincerely, Radical Copyeditor It’s Time to Reject the “Cross-Dressing Killer” Archetype: An Open Letter to JK Rowling and the World - The "cross-dressing killer" is a fictional archetype that has caused immense harm to trans communities. It's time to stop telling these stories.
Summary of the top points from this blog post What’s in a Word: Mx. - Mx. is a non-binary or gender-neutral title of courtesy, equivalent to Ms., Mrs., and Mr. Learn where it came from and the controversy over how it should be used.
The phrase "All Lives Matter," edited with red proofreading marks “All Lives Matter”? Not Until Black Ones Do - Be a radical copyeditor. When someone says "all lives matter," engage with them (particularly if you are a white person, like me), and help them understand why saying this makes things worse, not better.