Title

/ˈtaɪ.təl/ noun

Definition

The name of a book, movie, song, job, or other work. It can also mean a formal label showing rank, status, or legal ownership.

Etymology

From Old French 'title' and Latin 'titulus' meaning 'inscription, label, heading.' The original sense was a written label over something. Over time, it grew into the official names of works, positions, and property rights.

Kelly Says

Titles don’t just name things; they shape how we approach them—a book called 'The Secret' feels different from one called 'A Manual.' Job titles and property titles also quietly control respect and power. A short line of text can change how the world treats you or your work.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Certain titles historically encoded gender (e.g., 'chairman', 'fireman', 'stewardess', 'actress', 'Mrs./Miss' vs. 'Mr.') and often marked women by marital status or as deviations from a male default. Professional and academic titles were long restricted to men, with women either excluded or given diminutive or parallel forms.

Inclusive Usage

Use gender-neutral professional and role titles unless gender is specifically relevant. Avoid marking women’s titles differently (e.g., use 'Dr.', 'Professor', 'Chair', 'flight attendant').

Inclusive Alternatives

["chair","chairperson","firefighter","police officer","server","flight attendant","actor (for all genders)","doctor","professor"]

Empowerment Note

Women were central in normalizing gender-neutral titles in workplaces, academia, and public life, pushing institutions to adopt inclusive forms like 'chair' and 'firefighter' that better reflect everyone’s roles.

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