Languages often use two kinds of gender: natural gender, referring to living things of different sexes; and grammatical gender, relating to inanimate objects and concepts which are categorised as feminine, masculine or even neuter. English only uses natural gender, and often makes no distinction between male and female where other languages would (for example, in most professional categories). Nonetheless, avoiding gender can be a complex issue that requires care, particularly in the use of they or he or she, professional categories which do distinguish gender, married women’s names, titles and problematic words. Note that various European, Spanish and regional guidelines, directives and acts require public authorities and their employees to support gender equality and use non-sexist language.

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