poet, poetess

Avoid the suffix ess in occupational titles such as poetess, actress, laundress, manageress, stewardess, sculptress and waitress. Instead, use gender-neutral terms like poet, actor, laundry worker, manager, flight attendant, sculptor and server.

• There is a resurgence of interest in the work of First Nations poet Pauline Johnson.

However, in historical texts, it may be fitting to choose gender-specific titles.

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