Microsoft Word is censoring you by altering your politically incorrect language

May 1, 2022 by Jill

by Patrick Sawer, Telegraph:

A document editing tool launched by computer giant Microsoft has been criticised for advising writers to type “assigned female at birth”, rather than “biologically female”.

Critics say it amounts to censorship of an individual’s writing and makes a mockery of language, flying in the face of the biological and linguistic meaning of the word “woman” or “female”.

It comes after The Telegraph reported that Google has also started telling users not to use particular words because they are not inclusive enough.

The online giant is rolling out an “inclusive language” function that prompts authors to avoid using certain words and suggests more acceptable replacements.

Microsoft Word has introduced a similar tool, prompting users of the editing function to avoid certain words. Users can opt in or out of the function.

As well as advising people to steer clear of the term “biologically female”, it urges them to change phrases such as Postman Pat to “Postal Worker Pat”, as the former “may imply gender bias”.

It also recommends amending Mrs to Ms, including changing “Mrs Thatcher” to “Ms Thatcher”. In addition, it proposes that users change the word “mankind” in Neil Armstrong’s famous phrase “one giant leap for mankind” to “humankind” or “humanity”.

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