Words to avoid
This table provides a list of deprecated terms that Kinsta avoids using, along with the recommended synonyms. These alternatives are chosen to promote inclusive and respectful language.
| Avoid | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| black hat | unethical |
| blacklist | blocklist |
| cakewalk | cinch, piece of cake |
| crazy, insane | absurd, outrageous, unbelievable |
| cripple | hamper |
| disable | deactivate, turn off |
| grandfathered | legacy |
| guys | everyone, you all |
| gypped/jipped | bilked, scammed |
| hysterical | wild, hilarious |
| Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) | Keep It Simple, Silly (KISS) |
| ladies and gentlemen | everyone |
| man hours | work hours |
| man-in-the-middle attack (MITM) | machine-in-the-middle attack (MITM) |
| mankind | humankind |
| man-made | artificial, synthetic, manufactured |
| master (branch) | main, primary |
| middleman | intermediary, go-between |
| sanity check | coherence check |
| sister tool | companion tool |
| slave (branch) | secondary |
| tipping point | boiling point, turning point |
| white hat | ethical |
| whitelist | allowlist |
If you’re not sure if a word is appropriate, or you can’t think of a good alternative, defer to the Conscious Style Guide.