Members of the European Parliament should aim to use gender-inclusive language, which - according to a new guidebook - means words such as "mankind" should be replaced by "humankind."

Officials and MEPs have been advised by a new rulebook to pay attention to the choice of words and avoid the "generic use of man" when they speak.

"Gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language is more than a matter of political correctness. Language powerfully reflects and influences attitudes, behaviour and perceptions," the guidebook said.

The advice is to replace "political leaders" should be preferred to "statesmen" and the phrase "man-made" should be replaced with "artificial" or "synthetic."

MEP's should also opt to say "businessperson" rather than "businessman or businesswoman, according to the guidelines. "Chair" should be used instead of "chairwoman" or even "chairperson" due to "the tendency of its use only when referring to women."

Some reacted to the introduced guidelines, calling them "absolute bollocks."

Officials and MEPs in the European Parliament have been sent a guidebook on using gender-neutral language in communications including avoiding the "generic use of man". Such as ‘man made' ‘mankind ‘ absolute bollocks. — Jonathan Cairns (@kipling2016) December 27, 2018​

🤣 — Theodora Dickinson (@TheaDickinson) December 27, 2018​

I'm very pleased that I have lived most of my life in the age I have. I don't like what is being proposed by these people. The sooner we leave the EU the better. — Graham Warner (@grahamwrnr) December 27, 2018

It's called work for idle hands… — Peter Godman (@PeteGodman) December 27, 2018​​

The secretariat of the European Parliament suggested the purpose of the guidelines is to promote a non-sexist, inclusive and fair language.

The guidebook "aims to avoid phrasings that could be seen as conveying prejudice, discrimination, degrading remarks or implying that a certain gender or social gender represents the norm," according to the EU body.