An American university has warned staff against using terms like 'straight' and 'male' because they may offend students.
Colorado State University's new 'inclusive language guide' provides employees with alternative words that they can use as replacements for supposedly toxic terms.
The school warned that the word 'straight' implied anyone in the LGBT community was 'crooked' or abnormal, with the authorities suggesting 'heterosexual' as a suitable alternative.
It also urged staff to avoid saying 'spirit animal', claiming the term could be seen as cultural appropriation and offend Native Americans.
An introduction to the guide states: "The guide is not about political-correctness or policing grammar, but rather helping communicators practice inclusive language and helping everyone on our campus feel welcomed, respected, and valued."
The document warns of the dangers of using 'male' and 'female' because the terms refer to biological sex and not gender.
It recommends using 'gender non-binary/gender non-conforming' terms as alternatives.
The guide also highlighted 'he' and 'she' as dangerous words as they imply that gender is binary and do not acknowledge the gender spectrum.
The university also advised against the word 'America' as it is tends to be used in reference to the US, belittling other countries in north and south America.
The guide came under fire online, with Twitter users comparing it to George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984.
One user wrote: "Sounds like Colorado State has taken George Orwell's 1984 as a how-to manual instead of as a warning. What's next? Campus thought crimes?"
Another added: "Colorado State University: avoid using the word “America” because it’s not inclusive - “The guide is not about political-correctness or policing grammar . . . " - Doublethink. Of course, that is exactly what it is. Our universities use "1984" as a user manual."
