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Myriam Robin

BHP’s ‘inclusive language’ scolds strike again

Myriam RobinRear Window editor

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High costs smashed BHP's profit margins in the full-year. Not that the mining giant would want it put quite like that.

The latest “inclusive language” missive affecting Australian mine sites to land in our inbox indicates BHP’s strong preference for less vivid words, such as “challenging”. “Torture” is frowned upon in favour of “really difficult”. The non-pejorative version of smashed (as in, "you smashed it") is better replaced with "you did amazing". And you better believe workers shouldn’t say they “almost died” accomplishing something, though we hadn’t thought the dead could be offended.

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Myriam Robin is Rear Window editor based in the Melbourne newsroom. A Rear Window columnist since 2017, she previously reported on financial markets and media. Connect with Myriam on Twitter. Email Myriam at myriam.robin@afr.com

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/rear-window/bhp-s-inclusive-language-scolds-strike-again-20230824-p5dz6b