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When addressing students, I often use the collective second-person pronoun, ‘y’all.’ Recently, I was challengedÌý on that word, saying it made me sound uneducated. Those words hurt my feelings, so I set out to see if this rudimentary part of my speech pattern sends the wrong message.

I began by researching gender-inclusive language on several , where I found helpful lists of pronouns, none that included y’all, but none that excluded it. But as , y’all fits the bill for what it means to be gender inclusive. “You” is a gender-neutral pronoun in English, as our language is not gendered, and “all” is gender-neutral, too, implying, by definition, that one, more or many genders may be present in the group.

Feeling good about my use of y’all, I summoned the courage to ask my students what they thought of my consistent reference to the classroom as a collective y’all.Ìý

Across several sections of graduate and undergraduate composition, literature, and philosophy courses, not one student had anything but positive feelings about using the gender-neutral contraction ‘y’all.’

Perhaps what we can learn is that the use of the word y’all – or any regional expression of greeting for a group – should be read amid the tone, context, and intent. My experience and the research it inspired me to share serves as a reminder: if we are honest and curious as teachers, we can live in a state of continuous improvement, as our accreditors and administrators want us to do.ÌýÌý

If y’all is not natural or appropriate for your setting, now is still the moment to ask: am I addressing my peers in gender-neutral ways that reflect both sincerity and a welcoming tone? When we greet our peers with tolerant curiosity, we set the tone, and that tone cascades to those around us, elevating us all.

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In an ever-evolving landscape of identity and expression, the need for inclusive language has never been more apparent. , observed annually on the third Wednesday of October, is a crucial reminder that gender is not binary and everyone deserves to have their identities acknowledged and respected through appropriate pronouns.ÌýDr. Stone Meredith, an instructor of composition, literature, and philosophy at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Global, has taught students of all ages and backgrounds for over two decades. She abides by a simple formula: be honest and speak to students like she would her closest friends. In doing so, Dr. Meredith often uses the collective second-person pronoun, ‘y’all.’