Pronouns best practices

What are pronouns?

Pronouns are the words we use to replace someone's name in a sentence, such as “he,” “she,” or “they” in English.

Examples:  

Notes:

Whether or not to share or publicly display pronouns is always up to an individual. Pronouns should never be assigned by one person to another person. It should be up to the person using them to decide when, where, and which pronouns are used – including whether to use this feature. Knowing someone’s pronouns does not always equate to knowing their gender identity. Importantly, choosing to leverage the pronouns feature as an individual user should be optional, not mandatory.
It's important to consider that for transgender and non-binary people, covering demands in the workplace, at school, or in other contexts, may make it more comfortable not to share their pronouns. Please be aware of any applicable local laws, regulations, and cultural norms that may pose additional risks to transgender or non-binary people before choosing to leverage the pronouns feature.

Here are some easy ways to make sure we use the right pronouns in the workplace and beyond:

When introducing ourselves in meetings or during presentations, we can include our pronouns as a way to model this behavior for others who may want to do the same.
Don’t only mention pronouns to people we believe to be transgender or non-binary. Gender identity is not something that can be assumed by our initial observations or even by knowing someone’s pronouns. It’s also important for those of us who are not transgender or non-binary to introduce ourselves with our pronouns because it creates a more inclusive environment for those of us who are trans and non-binary.

Important: It should always be up to an individual if they want to share their pronouns. Pronouns should never be assigned by someone else to another. It should be up to the person using them to decide when, where, and which pronouns are used.
In addition to utilizing the pronoun feature, adding pronouns to your email signature is another way to show you value being inclusive and mindful in your communication, or to simply let others know which pronouns you use.