14.07 Man, lady, girl, woman

Avoid using the generic man to refer to people in general and, where possible, as part of a compound:

• anybody, anyone not a man
• nobody, no one not no man
• average person not common man
• ordinary people not the man in the street
• writer not man of letters
• staff/operate/run a booth not man a booth
• labour force, personnel, staff, work force not manpower
• synthetic or manufactured not man-made
• humanity, people not mankind
• compatriot not countryman

Unless a minor is referred to or you wish to evoke refinement or high standing, use woman, not girl or lady:

• The men and women of the Administrative Support Division

not

• The men and girls of the Administrative Support Division

• Seventy percent of the delegates were women.

not

• Seventy percent of the delegates were ladies.

© Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus^®, el banco de datos terminológicos y lingüísticos del Gobierno de Canadá
Ayuda a la redacción – The Canadian Style
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