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Use no bias.  Avoid terminology that implies bias based on gender, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic group, religion, disability, or age.  Please note that it is unacceptable to refer to one group of people with a color word regarding their race and another group by their ethnicity – e.g., African-American, not Black; Caucasian, not White; Hispanic, not Brown.

No bias also means using people first language.  Instead of handicapped people, it would be people who are handicapped or people with a handicap.

The  APA Manual endorses the use of “they” as a singular pronoun. The manual advises writers to use “they” for a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant. For instance, rather than writing "I don't know who wrote this note, but he or she has good handwriting," you might write something like "I don't know who wrote this note, but they have good handwriting."

Use either present tense when describing the contents of the literature review in the introduction.  For example: This literature review begins with a discussion about police presence, followed by a presentation of…

 However, use past tense when discussing what others have done.  Like: “Smith (2006) and Jones (2010) concluded that the object was…” or “The conclusion was…”

The literature review is not a place for your personal opinion, therefore you should not be referred to, like: This writer thinks or I believe….  Additionally, do not talk to or include the reader.  For instance:        Don’t: We must all come to the understanding that…        Do: There is a need to come to the understanding that… Notice the difference, the first one includes the audience, the second does not.

Active voice is preferred unless focus is on an object or a recipient.         Active voice: The researchers concluded it was true.        Passive voice: It was concluded to be true by the researchers.

Be direct, but interesting.

Cite all assertions and assumptions.

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