The Conscious Style Guide

An adaptable guide for anyone who wants to communicate with compassion in a rapidly changing environment.

Most of us want to choose inclusive, respectful, and empowering language when communicating with or about others. But language—and how we use it—continually evolves, along with cultural norms. When contradictory opinions muddle our purpose, how do we align our word choices with our beliefs? Who has the final say when people disagree? And why is it so hard to let go of certain words? Afraid of getting something wrong or offending, we too often treat words as dos or don'ts, regardless of context and nuance.

Thankfully, in The Conscious Style Guide, award-winning editor Karen Yin provides a roadmap for communicating with sensitivity and awareness—no matter how the world around us changes. Readers will learn:

• How to identify biased language
• How to implement the overarching principles that guide us toward conscious language
• How to adopt conscious language as a tool for self-awareness and empowerment
• How to alleviate the stress of experiencing exclusionary language
• How to create a style sheet and reference stack to help support your practice
• And much more

With practical advice and hundreds of relatable examples, The Conscious Style Guide invites us to weigh contradictions, examine the pitfalls of binary thinking, and explore truly effective communication—in all aspects of our lives.

'Karen Yin is no language cop, ready to arrest us for our word crimes. Instead, in The Conscious Style Guide, she is the beloved school crossing guard, protecting us, guiding us, reminding us to look both ways.'
-Roy Peter Clark, author of Tell It Like It Is

'An essential resource for writers and editors who want to get up to speed on writing with empathy and care.'
-Mignon Fogarty, host of the Grammar Girl podcast

'Karen Yin has crafted a generous, thoughtful toolkit for anyone seeking to communicate mindfully. Her insights offer a flexible pathway to practicing conscious language that avoids prescriptivism and instead invites deep reflection. A must-have reference for any bookshelf!'
-Emily Ladau, disability rights activist and author of Demystifying Disability