Oxford dons told not to use phrase 'learn the ropes' in 'mad' drive to avoid confusing international students

Oxford University has told staff not to use the phrases 'learn the ropes' and 'find your feet' – in case international students find them confusing.

Its official style guide contains a section on 'inclusive communication', which also tells dons to avoid the phrase 'blindspots'.

It says 'plain English' must be used instead of 'jargon and unexplained acronyms', and lecturers should keep to 'common words, short sentences and familiar constructions'.

'Be mindful of idioms that may not be familiar to international readers or that may use stereotypes,' the guide says.

International students make up 46 per cent of the university's total population, including 23 per cent of undergraduates and 65 per cent of graduate students. 

However, the Free Speech Union (FSU) called it 'mad' and said it amounted to 'language policing'.

Lord Young of Acton, FSU General Secretary, said: 'Surely, one of the reasons international students come to Oxford is so that they can immerse themselves in our culture and master colloquial English.

'What's next? Is Oxford going to insist all lectures have to be in Esperanto?'

The guide, last updated in May this year, also tells staff to avoid 'gendered terms' such as 'chairwoman', 'mankind' or 'spokesman'.

It advises staff to use 'current and respectful terms', including 'gay' rather than 'homosexual', except in legal or medical contexts, and 'older people' rather than 'the elderly'.

And it says language should be altered to avoid 'implying pity'.

This means using 'disabled students' rather than 'the disabled', and 'blind people' rather than 'the blind'.

It also says 'neurodiverse' shouldn't be used, but 'neurodiversity' and 'neurodivergent' are fine.

There are even rules on how staff should refer to ‘equality, diversity and inclusion’ (EDI).

The guide advises against the use of ‘DEI’ and ‘equity’ – the more commonly-used phrases in the United States – and also warns against the words ‘inclusivity’ and ‘inclusiveness’.

‘The university’s EDI strategic plan defines how these terms are defined at Oxford,’ it says.

‘It is recommended that those writing about EDI maintain a consistent use of the acronym and the specific words.’

The guide comes amid increasing financial pressure on universities to recruit international students, who pay much more than home students and often cross-subsidise their degrees.

Home students' annual fees for 2027 are capped at £10,050, while overseas students can pay anything between £39,620 and £66,580 a year at Oxford.

Oxford's website warns international postgraduate applicants: 'Oxford's graduate courses are demanding, and you will need to demonstrate that you have a high level of proficiency in English to take up a place here.'

An Oxford spokesman said: 'Like many large organisations, including newspapers, Oxford University has a style guide to help staff write clearly and consistently. As a global university with staff and students from around the world, we write for a wide international audience.

'The guide provides practical advice for written university communications, from punctuation to choosing language that readers will readily understand. Its writing guidance is advisory and supports staff in exercising their own judgement about the language they use and the audience they are writing for.'