Person-First Language

Introduction

We are proud to support and officially endorse the People First Charter!

Language matters - the use of positive and inclusive language is a vital tool in tackling stigma and discrimination.

Person-first language simply puts people before their condition, recognizing that people are people, and are not defined by their condition.

In HIV care, we should avoid terms like 'HIV-infected people' and use 'people living with HIV'.

As a participant, faculty member, or abstract presenter at one of our programs, we encourage you to consult these guidelines as you prepare program-related materials.

Video Tutorial

As part of our participation, we would like to encourage you to view this tutorial video, featuring Dr. Laura Waters, and draw your attention to the following guidelines.

Format Rules for Person-First Language

Person
People
Individual(s)
Infant(s)
Adult(s)
Adolescent(s)
Children
Elderly people
Men
Women
etc

+

(living) with ____
who is ___
diagnosed with ___
who have ____
with a(n) ___
who use ___

Note: Avoid simplifications (example, use “people living with HIV” over PLWH)

Common Person-First Language Examples

USE	Do Not Use
Men who have sex with other men	Gay men
People who are symptomatic of _____
People with HIV/People living with HIV	HIV-Infected
People with AIDS
People who are sexually active
People who have condomless sex with PrEP, Condomless sex without PrEP	Unprotected sex
People who have sex without barriers	Unprotected sex
People who have died of AIDS-related illness/AIDS-related complications/end-stage HIV
People living with HIV	HIV Patients
People who have been exposed to HIV
People living within closed systems	Prisoners
People who use drugs
People who are in recovery from a substance disorder
Stage 3 HIV	Full-blown AIDS
Adherent	Compliant
Vertical transmission/perinatal transmission	Mother-to-child transmission
Blood containing HIV	Tainted/dirty needles
Underreported/Underrepresented/Understudied populations	Special populations
Transgender man/men
Transgender woman/women
People who have tested positive for COVID-19
People with COVID-19
People under investigation
People in isolation
Sex Workers

Additional Phrases/Examples

USE	Do Not Use
People who are blind/visually impaired	Blind people
People with a disability
People who are deaf/hearing impaired	Deaf people
People who has been diagnosed with ….	Contacted or acquired
People who have a ___ disorder
People who use a wheelchair	Wheelchair bound
People with a physical disability
People diagnosed with a mental health condition	Mental health patients
People who are food insecure
People who are undocumented	Illegal immigrants
People who have housing insecurity/unstable housing	Homeless people