Microsoft Word's inclusivity feature resurfaces following Black Lives Matter protests

It also suggests edits for culturally insensitive or ableist language

Attendees walk past the logo of US multinational technology company Microsoft during the Web Summit in Lisbon on November 6, 2019 (PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)

A feature in Microsoft Office which will suggest edits that are politically correct has resurfaced.

The feature changes words such as “manpower” to “workforce, staff, [or] personnel,” and “man” and “mankind” to “humanity, people, humankind,” Microsoft says.

As well as gendered suggestions, Word also recommends changes for racial and ableist language.

These include encouraging users to be inclusive of job roles, using culturally sensitive terms, and not to use words that imply pity, such as “stricken with” or “suffering from” when talking about disabled people.

Culturally sensitive language could include changing the phrase “master/slave” to “master/subordinate” and “demilitarized zone (DMZ)”, which is sometimes used as a computing term, to “perimeter network.”

Although announced in 2019, it has gained attention recently because of the conversation around inclusivity and racial inequality, following the protests over the death of George Floyd.

In order to enable the tool, users need to go to File, then Options, and in the Proofing menu, click Writing Style.

You can then tick the boxes for the types of language you would like Word to encourage changes about.