Bias, according to Linda Gorman, is "a subtle a lack of neutrality you have towards a topic." It can come in many forms, including a bias toward sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or religion ("Examples of Biased Writing." ABLongman.com. 2005. http://wps.ablongman.com/long_hult_nch_3/0,9398,1483997-,00.html). The problem with bias is that it can offend readers. It also often contains stereotypes with negative connotations, thus making you seem unprofessional or unscholarly.

How to avoid bias in your writing (from Guidelines for Removing Racial/Ethnic Biases in Writing." APAStyle.org. 2003. http://www.apastyle.org/race.html.)

• If you must make generalizations in your writing, state the basis of them.
• Do not measure other people or other cultures against the standards of your own culture, ideals, or morals. Everyone is different and everyone thinks they are right!
• Recognize that differences arising from racial/ethnic comparisons do not imply deficits.
• Make sure that the adjectives you use do not communicate bias. For example, by writing "The responsible high school student," you may be implying that high school students are not typically responsible.
• Avoid slang and colorful expressions in professional writing.

Examples

1. Everyone knows that only Whites can be racist, and only men can be sexist." Revision: "Whites are the race most often assumed to be racist and that men are seen as sexist more often than women.
2. I do not think that the students do much of anything other than sit around and figure out new ways to be a menace to society. Revision: Avoid such gross overgeneralizations.