Oxford Tells Staff Not to Use Common Phrases Like “Learn the Ropes” for Fear of Confusing Foreign Students

Oxford University has told staff not to use common phrases such as “learn the ropes” or “find your feet” over fears they confuse foreign students, sparking concern from free speech campaigners at the new scheme of language policing. The Sun has the story.

The seat of learning’s official style guide also warns against using the term “blindspots”.

And it suggests words such as “spokesman”, “chairwoman” and “mankind” should be swapped for gender-neutral alternatives including “spokesperson”, “chair” and “humankind”.

The guide, which plays a role in advising Oxford’s academics on inclusive language choices, warns that common sayings “may not be familiar to international readers or may use stereotypes”.

The updated advice adds that “deprived” students should be described as “lower income” or having experienced “socio­economic disadvantage”.

It says “learn the ropes” could be “learn how to do that”, “blindspots” could be “gaps in knowledge”, and someone “finding their feet” could be “getting used to their new environment”.

Staff should also use “they/them” rather than alternating between “he” and “she”.

Lord Young, of the Free Speech Union, said: “Surely, one of the reasons international students come to Oxford is so that they can immerse themselves in our culture and master colloquial English.

“What’s next? Is Oxford going to insist all lectures have to be in Esperanto?”

Worth reading in full.