Inclusive Language Checker (MS Word)
Learn how to turn on the inclusive language checker in MS Word.
Open a Microsoft Word Document.
From the Home Tab, click on Editor > Settings (You can also access this menu by opening File > Options > Proofing > Settings)
This should take you to the Proofing Section. In the Spelling and Grammar section on the right, click on Settings.
Scroll down to the Inclusiveness section. Select all of the checkboxes that you want Word to check for in your documents. The following options are available:
- Age Bias
- Cultural Bias
- Ethnic Slurs
- Gender Bias
- Gender-Specific Language
- Racial Bias
- Sexual Orientation Bias
Click the OK button when you are done.
When you write anything in Word, the grammar checker will pick up on non-inclusive languages, such as “whitelist” and “blacklist,” and suggest alternatives. This checker may not flag all bias, but it will identify several terms.