Writing about abortion is a good reminder of why language matters. In fact, the terms “pro-choice” and “pro-life” are so well known that they scarcely need explanation. But the reason you know the terms so well is precisely the point: They are the preferred terms of advocates, who choose their words carefully to frame the issue in a way that advances their arguments.

With the 2024 election on the horizon, we’re devoting some issues of this newsletter to writing about election-related topics. It’s all part of our efforts to help newsrooms prepare for this unprecedented election season. We told you a few weeks ago how we’re expanding our style guide to include research-backed advice on everything from writing about polls to responding to conspiracy theories.

You can access it all by signing up for Stylebot or by applying for free access through the Knight Election Hub.

You can also stay tuned in this newsletter for advice on writing about issues that will be top of mind this election season. We asked you a few weeks ago which topic you wanted to learn more about first, and most of you who weighed in chose abortion. So that’s what we’re tackling this week.

And it turns out it’s much more than just a campaign policy position or talking point this year. At least eight states will have abortion-related ballot measures in November.

Even though “pro-choice” and “pro-life” are highly recognizable, they’re not the go-to terms in news stories because they’re inherently political and aren’t particularly accurate. Instead, use pro-abortion rights or antiabortion.

Another key thing to remember is to default to the word “people” instead of “women” when writing about both abortion and pregnancy. Some people who get pregnant and seek abortions are transgender or nonbinary, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now defaults to gender-neutral language for pregnancy. That doesn’t mean you can never use “pregnant women,” though.

Want to be prepared for other potential election-writing pitfalls? Take our quiz to test your knowledge.

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