Knowing and using a person’s correct pronouns fosters inclusion, makes people feel respected and valued, and affirms their gender identity.
At UKAS, we believe that gender pronouns play an important role in creating a welcoming environment and sense of belonging for members of all gender identities.
What are gender pronouns?
Gender pronouns are terms people choose to refer to themselves that reflect their gender identity. These might be he/him, she/her or gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them.
Why are gender pronouns important?
The correct use of pronouns is key to helping all employees feel included at work. It can reassure trans and gender non-conforming colleagues that they are welcome and included in the organisation.
The use of gender pronouns can also be a way of showing allyship i.e. actively supporting others through your own actions and behaviours.
Guidance on how to use pronouns
Below are commonly used pronouns
- She/Her
- He/Him
- They/Them
Here are some tips on the correct use of pronouns
- If you’re not sure what a colleague’s pronouns are, ask them or listen to what pronouns the employee uses. You can also use gender neutral pronouns to refer to someone you’ve not had contact with yet, or simply refer to them by their name.
- Use a colleague’s correct pronouns or form of address once you’re aware of them. It may feel simpler to refer to everyone with gender neutral pronouns (e.g. they/them), but you could accidentally misgender someone by doing so.
- If you make a mistake when referring to a colleague, apologise, correct yourself and move on. Avoid apologising too much, as this can draw further attention to your mistake and make your colleague uncomfortable.
Not using pronouns
For some people, the correct way to refer to them is by using their name only. If you’re unsure of someone’s pronouns, you can also refer to them by name instead.
