expertisethey

Expertisethey is a term used in linguistics and professional writing to describe a framework that centers demonstrable expertise while employing gender-inclusive pronouns. The coinage combines “expertise” and the pronoun “they” to signal that authority is not tied to a specific gender and to promote inclusive language in expert discourse. The term has appeared in discussions about style guides, editing practices, and language policy debates in the 2020s.

Overview: The concept treats references to experts as flexible with regard to pronouns, often endorsing the singular they when the individual’s gender is unknown or when gender disclosure is not relevant to the claim of expertise. It may be applied to pronoun use, title selection, and how credentials are described in professional writing, enabling writers to avoid gendered assumptions.

Practice: In writing labeled as expertisethey, sentences may use they or their to refer to individuals who hold expertise, while still clearly attributing statements and maintaining professional tone. The approach aligns with broader inclusive-language guidelines and is compatible with most modern style guides that accept singular they.

Reception: Opinions are mixed. Proponents argue that expertisethey reduces bias and broadens accessibility. Critics warn that it may introduce ambiguity or reduce formality in some contexts and that style adoption varies by field and audience.

See also: inclusive language, gender-neutral pronouns, singular they, style guides, gender and language.