Right-hand man, gentleman’s agreement and whiter than white are the latest phrases to fall foul of the political correctness lobby.
Government quangos have issued fresh lists of phrases they are seeking to ban to avoid causing offence.
Staff at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have been advised to use ‘miserable day’ instead of ‘black day’. The Commission claims that certain words carry a ‘hierarchical valuation of skin colour’.
It also cautions that the term ethnic minority can imply ‘something smaller and less important’ and should be used with care.
The examples of political correctness emerged in answer to a series of Freedom of Information requests.
Some institutions have urged workers to watch out for gender bias or sexism in language.
The Learning and Skills Council wants staff to ‘perfect’ their brief rather than ‘master’ it while Newcastle University reckons ‘master bedroom’ can be problematic.
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