Nottingham City Council has issued new guidance advising staff to avoid certain terms considered potentially offensive or stigmatizing. The eight-page document, produced by the council’s public health team, encourages the use of person-first language to emphasize that individuals are not defined solely by particular conditions or circumstances.

Among the specific recommendations, the council suggests replacing the word "alcoholic" with the phrase "a person who drinks alcohol problematically." Similarly, it advises staff to refer to "a person seeking asylum" rather than "asylum seeker," reflecting a preference for terminology that foregrounds the individual before the characteristic. The guide also recommends avoiding the term "sex change," advocating instead for "gender affirming/confirmation surgery" when discussing transgender individuals. Other discouraged words include "elderly" and "frail."

The guide explains that the language changes aim to acknowledge that these descriptors denote characteristics a person has rather than defining who they are. It promotes using language intended to reduce stigma and foster respectful communication.

The council’s approach has drawn criticism from some political figures. Conservative Member of Parliament Sir Alec Shelbrooke characterized the measures as symbolic gestures unlikely to address underlying issues, stating that altering language does not change public awareness of the situations concerned. He added that local authorities should focus on solving practical problems rather than revising terminology.

Nottingham City Council did not provide a comment on the language guide. Earlier in the year, the council attracted attention for cancelling a children's snail race, citing concerns about animal cruelty.

The guidance reflects a broader trend among public institutions to adopt inclusive and sensitive language, though it has provoked debate over the effectiveness and necessity of such measures.