Gender-Specific Pronoun Combinations

This rule identifies and flags specific gender-specific pronoun combinations that should be avoided in professional documentation. The rule enforces inclusive language practices by preventing the use of binary gender constructions like "he/she" and "s/he". This is important because modern technical writing should strive to be inclusive and avoid assumptions about gender, making content more welcoming and accessible to all readers.

Examples:

  • ❌ "The user should enter his/her password"
    • ✅ Better: "Users should enter their passwords"
  • ❌ "S/he must complete the form"
    • ✅ Better: "They must complete the form"

The rule will flag:

  • he/she
  • s/he

When these combinations appear in text, regardless of capitalization (due to ignorecase: true).

Rule Source

This rule comes from: https://github.com/mesosphere/dcos-docs-site

Rule Definition

extends: existence
message: "Don't use '%s'."
link: https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/microsoft-style-guide/blob/master/styleguide/grammar/nouns-pronouns.md#pronouns-and-gender
level: error
ignorecase: true
tokens:
  - he/she
  - s/he