Inclusive Language Course
Using bias-free language that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the health sciences
Language is powerful. How we use language to talk to people—and about people—has the power to influence how they are perceived and treated.
Inclusive language has the power to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in research, health care, and every aspect of society. Yet, inclusive language may not come naturally to you. Or you may not be aware that the words and phrases you use contribute to stigma, bias, and discrimination.
The Inclusive Language Course will help to raise your awareness of inclusive language and teach you best practices for using inclusive language in your research, clinical practice, and daily lives.
The Inclusive Language Course is for you if you’re ready to:
Become aware of your language and how it influences stigma and bias.
Be more intentional about your language to support diversity, convey respect, build trust, and promote equitability.
Create an inclusive environment where people feel seen, respected, and valued.
Cultivate belonging and trust with and among your patients, colleagues, and community.
Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of your life.
The Inclusive Language Course will give you valuable guidance on language that acknowledges diversity, shows respect, honors identities, promotes equitability, and cultivates belonging.
Inclusive language has the power to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
I loved this course. It was full of examples and easy to apply.
In fact, about an hour after finishing the course, I noticed where "suffering from" could be rewritten as "diagnosed with" in a document. Simple changes can greatly impact how someone feels about their condition.
I want to spread the word about this course because inclusive language in medical writing helps everyone.
– Tess Van Ee, Freelance Medical Writer
“This course provides great examples and great resources on inclusive language. The information is clearly presented and easily applied to multiple areas of medical writing and medical education in general. Thank you Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS and Redwood Ink for making this freely available and supporting others in their efforts to embrace cultural humility.”
–Julianna Merten, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, Freelance Medical Writer, Chimeric Medical Communications, LLC.
In social contexts, we may hear all kinds of terms of identity being used. This course is a good outline of how writing using terms of identity is complex and carries significant weight. Ultimately this course provides precise guidance and how to think about identity when writing about people.
– Craig Stevens, Freelance Writer
The Inclusive Language Course was insightful, one that helps writers become mindful of word choice. It is a course that allows advanced writing skills. I appreciate the way the course comes in digestible sections.
– Lola Ravid, RN, Nomadic Pluma
“I enjoyed the course and found the examples and quiz questions helpful. Overall I would recommend this as a well-organized and easy-to-follow introduction to inclusive language.”
– Blaine Bisel
By the End of This Course, You'll Have Mastered:
How to communicate with bias-free language related to:
Race and ethnicity
Diseases, disorders, and disabilities
Sex and gender
Sexual orientation
Age
Socioeconomic status
Other stigmatizing factors
And more…
How to write about personal characteristics in:
Manuscripts
Grant proposals
Textbooks
Medical records
Patient education materials
And more…
How to discuss personal characteristics in:
Case presentations
Lectures
Grand rounds
Interactions with colleagues
Discussions with patients
And more…
Who would benefit from this course?
Anyone who wants to learn about inclusive and bias-free language.
This course also includes content that will specifically benefit:
Physicians, nurses, fellows, and residents
Faculty at science and medical institutions
Postdoctoral fellows and graduate students
Biotech and Pharma employees
Government researchers and staff
Answers to Common Questions
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This course includes pre-recorded video lessons totaling about 90 minutes. After you watch the entire series of videos, you can jump around the videos to rewatch any lesson as many times as you want.
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Yes. We designed this course to include short video lessons that you can watch (and rewatch) as you have time available.
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You will have access to the course materials for life. That’s right! You can retake the course and revisit the videos as many times as you want for as long as the course exists.
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We will continually update the course material as new guidelines are developed. We encourage you to check back every few months to see if the course has been updated.
The most recent update was completed in January 2023.
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For any course-related questions, please send an email to courses@redwoodink.com. We will answer your question ASAP.
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Send them to courses@redwoodink.com. We’ll get back to you ASAP.
Scavenger Hunt Code: Hunt2023
Who is the instructor?
Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS
Crystal is an editor, educator, and coach who helps scientists and clinicians communicate with clear, concise, and compelling writing. Her distinctive style transforms conventional complex language into modern writing that engages, informs, and persuades readers.
Crystal is an international speaker and educator. She leads webinars, workshops, and courses to empower researchers with the principles, resources, and systems to write clearly and efficiently.
Crystal is a BELS-certified Editor in the Life Sciences. She has more than a decade of experience as an editor and nearly two decades of experience as an educator. Before pursuing her passion for words, she completed her PhD in biomedical science and collaborated on diverse projects in clinical research.
For more professional details about Crystal, visit her profile on LinkedIn.
Here’s what you’ll get:
90-minute training to complete at your own pace
11 video lessons, including continual updates
Hundreds of examples to help you learn
Unlimited access for as long as the course exists
Certificate of completion