People-first language

Not to be confused with first-person language.

People-first language or person-first language is the practice of distancing a person from a trait or condition they have by preferring phrases such as "a person with diabetes", "people experiencing homelessness", and "people with substance use disorders" as opposed to identity-first language like "diabetic people", "homeless people", and "substance abusers".

As a form of disability etiquette, the practice is intended to avoid unconsciously stigmatizing or dehumanizing people with chronic illnesses or disabilities, by treating them as a secondary characteristics to their personhood rather than an essential or subsuming component of their identity.

Some organizations have adopted style guidelines preferring or requiring person-first language when writing about disability, though some communities including Deaf people, blind people, and some autism advocates have rejected its usage. APA style recommends using either identity-first or person-first language as appropriate for the community or individual being discussed. Phrases like "disabled person", "Deaf person", and "blind person" are generally accepted and often preferred.

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