Oxford University has issued new guidance advising staff to avoid certain idiomatic expressions and gendered terms in written communications, aiming to make language clearer for its diverse international community. The recommendations appear in an updated style guide intended to assist staff in crafting messages accessible to the university’s global audience.
The guide specifically cautions against using idioms such as “learn the ropes,” “find your feet,” and “blind spots,” which may be confusing to non-native English speakers. Instead, it encourages the use of plain English, common words, short sentences and familiar constructions. Writers are also urged to avoid jargon and unexplained acronyms to enhance clarity.
Additionally, the guide advises against gendered language, recommending the replacement of terms like “chairwoman” and “spokesman” with more neutral alternatives. It also emphasizes the use of current and respectful terminology, suggesting, for example, the use of “gay” rather than “homosexual” outside of legal or medical contexts, and “older people” instead of “the elderly.”
Oxford’s student body includes a significant proportion of international students, with approximately one-third of all students and one-fifth of undergraduates coming from outside the United Kingdom. The guide highlights the university’s expectation that applicants demonstrate a high level of English language proficiency to succeed, referencing the UK government’s requirement that international students at undergraduate level hold at least a B2 language proficiency—approximately equivalent to an A*, A, or B grade at A-level.
A university spokesman described the style guide as a practical tool designed to accommodate the diverse backgrounds of staff and students. “As a global university with staff and students from around the world, we write for a wide international audience,” the spokesman said. He added that the inclusive writing guidance serves an advisory role, supporting staff in exercising their own judgment rather than mandating strict rules.
The updated recommendations form part of broader efforts within higher education institutions to foster inclusivity and effective communication amid expanding international enrollments.