Essays will be marked down unless they use 'gender-sensitive language', students at a British university have been told.

Many universities are already advising students and staff not to use 'gender-offensive' terms such as 'he' or 'she' to describe people that could be either male or female.

And terms such as 'mankind', 'manpower' and 'manmade' are frowned upon by academics if used in essays.

But now the school of social science at the University of Hull has gone one step further by threatening to deduct marks from students for using such phrases.

The school of social science at the University of Hull has threatened to deduct marks from students for using 'gender-offensive' phrases

A document sent to students reads: 'Language is important and highly symbolic.

'In your essay I thus expect you to be aware of the powerful and symbolic nature of language and use gender-sensitive formations.

'Failure to use gender-sensitive language will impact on your mark.'

Critics have savaged the move as 'linguistic policing' which damages students' fluent expression and creativity.

Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at Kent University, told The Sunday Times: 'Usually such threats are implicit rather than spelt out as in the case of Hull.

This linguistic policing is used as a coercive tool to impose a conformist outlook

'This linguistic policing is used as a coercive tool to impose a conformist outlook. The alternative is to pay a penalty of being marked down.'

Just last week an American student was penalised for using the term 'mankind' in an essay.

Cailin Jeffers, an English student at Northern Arizona University, lost a mark for using the word as a synonym for 'humanity', according to the college news site Campus Reform.

Miss Jeffers' professor Dr Anne Scott said the choice of language 'mattered very much'.

Oxford University Students Union denies they are encouraging students to use the gender neutral pronoun 'ze' in place of the traditional 'she' and 'he'

In an email to Miss Jeffers she explained her decision: 'I would be negligent, as a professor who is running a class about the human condition and the assumptions we make about being 'human,' if I did not also raise this issue of gendered language and ask my students to respect the need for gender-neutral language.'

Dr Scott had already reportedly cautioned students against using words which are not gender neutral.

It comes as 'gender neutral' reforms sweep all aspects of life in Britain.

For example, transgender customers with HSBC can now choose from ten gender neutral titles.

Those who do not identify as a Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms will be able to choose from a range of options.

These include Mre, an abbreviation for mystery, Msr – a combination of Miss and Sir – and Ind, short for individual.