Pronouns in Email Signatures

Some members of staff at Age UK Bolton include their pronouns in their email signature.

What are pronouns?

Pronouns are the words we use in place of a noun. For example, this could be to refer to people when we’re not talking directly to them: ‘she/her’, ‘he/him’, ‘they/them’.

We may feel familiar with using he/him and she/her when referring to people, but might be unfamiliar with using they/them for a single person. However, we regularly use they/them for individual people. If someone cuts us off in the car and we don’t know who they are: “I can’t believe they cut me off like that!”

When we can’t see a person, we automatically use they/them pronouns. Some people might prefer for us to continue using they/them pronouns, regardless of whether we can see them. Using they/them pronouns for people as standard before we know their gender or pronouns can be a useful way to avoid using the wrong pronouns by mistake.

Some people may prefer ‘she/they’, ‘they/his’, or other combinations. It is ultimately what we are comfortable with.

Why include pronouns in our email signatures?

As we communicate with people by email, we can’t see them either. We may be communicating with someone we haven’t spoken to before, and they are unsure how to address us. By adding pronouns to our signatures, we can clarify for others our preferred terms.

It also normalises discussions about gender. Showing your pronouns tells everyone you come across, ‘I won't assume your gender’. It’s an effective way of creating an inclusive environment for transgender and non-binary people, both in our workplace and with the people and groups we work with. And by adding our pronouns to our signatures, we can show people we communicate with that we’re committed to equality and lead by example in normalising the practice.

Adding your pronouns to your signature is a simple, quick and powerful move. It’s a little change that can have a big impact.