Statement on language for publication on The OE

The OE endeavors to use language that is precise, accessible, and engaging, and we encourage authors to write entries that reflect their unique voices and experiences. OE entries must be accurate and articulate and use language that is respectful, thoughtful, and in current professional usage–including historical and scientific terminology, personal characterizations, and cultural and political practices and conditions.

Words reflect how worldviews transform over time. The definitions and connotations of language change with new information and insights, and our acknowledgment of those changes makes the history we publish more inclusive, equitable, and accurate.

The words we choose to use on The OE describing such concepts as gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and disability reflect our intentions to be historically accurate and aware of the effect specific terms have on the people and communities they describe. Few words are fixed forever in meaning, but over time are adapted, expanded on, or discarded completely.