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A university has banned phrases that it considers sexist and out-of-date including “best man for the job” and “gentleman’s agreement”.

In its Code of Practice on using Inclusive Language Cardiff Metropolitan University outlines the need to “promote an atmosphere in which all students and staff feel valued”.

The document includes a checklist of terms that staff and students should be wary of using.

These are the terms which should be avoided and their suggested synonyms

Best man for the job – Best person for the job

Man-hour – Work-hour, labour time

Forefathers – Ancestors, forebears

Fireman – Fire-fighter

Gentleman’s agreement – Unwritten agreement, agreement based on trust

Girls (for adults) – women

Housewife – Shopper, consumer, homemaker (depends on context)

Layman – Lay person

Manpower – Human resources, labour force, staff, personnel, workers, workforce

Man or mankind – Humanity, humankind, human race, people

Man-made – Artificial, manufactured, synthetic

Man in the street, common man – Average/ordinary/typical citizen/person

Right-hand man – Chief assistant

Sportsmanship – Fairness, good humour, sense of fair play

Workmanlike – Efficient/proficient/skilful/thorough

poll loading Is it right not to use these terms? 0+ VOTES SO FAR YES NO

This is what a university spokesman said about the decision

“Academic freedom within the law is at the heart of vibrant debate and scholarly discourse at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

“It is embedded within the Articles of Government, explicit within the current Strategic Plan 2012-2017, and has been a key value that has influenced the preparation of the new Strategic Plan 2017-2022 that will be launched later this year.

“The University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech is also quite clear that free and open discussion is essential to help students develop lively, enquiring minds and the ability to question and argue rationally.

“Through its Strategic Equality Plan 2016-20, Cardiff Met makes an unequivocal commitment to ‘providing an environment where everyone is valued as an individual, and where students and staff can work, learn, flourish and develop their skills and knowledge in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.’

“To support the delivery of this commitment, the university has a joined-up approach to providing a positive working environment, free from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

“As part of this approach, the University has a Code of Practice on Using Inclusive Language, which sets out to promote fairness and equality by raising awareness about the effects of potentially discriminatory vocabulary.

“It makes suggestions for the avoidance of inappropriate generalisations and provides some illustrative examples of gender-laden vocabulary with some neutral alternatives.

“Complaints about the excesses of so-called ‘political correctness’ and their impact on organisational cultures are not new.

“For Cardiff Met, though, academic freedom and the celebration of diversity are cornerstones of university life – and are entirely compatible with each other.”