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Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase List

This is a list of advertising words classified in three categories of words most frequently used in housing advertising.

Not acceptable means: Words that should not be used under any circumstances in housing advertising. Synonyms of these words should also not be used.

Use with Caution means: These words may or may not be acceptable. The context in which they are used will be the deciding factor.

Acceptable means: Words that may be used and are not discriminatory. It should be noted that probably any word used to try to discriminate because of the context in which it is placed, could be construed by someone to be discriminatory.

NOT ACCEPTABLE

 

able-bodied

adult living

adult community

adults only

African

agile

alcoholics, no

Asian

bachelor

bachelor pad

blacks, no

blind, no

board approval required

Catholic

Caucasian

Chicano

Chinese

children, no

church(es), near

colored couple

couple only

crippled, no

deaf, no

drinkers, no

employed, must be

empty nesters

(ethnic references)

exclusive

executive

handicapped, not for

healthy only

Hispanic

impaired, no

Indian

Irish

integrated

Jewish

landlord (description of)

Latino

married

mature couple

mature individual

mature person(s)

membership approval required

mentally handicapped, no

mentally ill, no

Mexican-American

Mormon Temple

must comply w/park rules

(nationality)

newly-weds

no play area

non-drinkers

non-smokers

(# of) children

older person(s)

one child

one person

Oriental

physically fit

Polish

Puerto Rican

quiet tenants

responsible

retarded, no

seasonal worker, no

shrine

singles only

single person

smoker(s), no

Soc. Sec. Inc. (SSI), no

stable

synagogue, near

temple, near

tenant (description of)

unemployed, no

white/white only

 

USE WITH CAUTION

 

active

close to

country club, near

desirable neighborhood

domestic's quarters

female(s) only

female roommate

fisherman's retreat

gays, no

(gender)

gentleman's farm

grandma's house

golden agers only

handyman's dream

lesbians, no

males(s) only

male roommate

man (men) only

mature

mother-in-law apartment

nanny's room

near

no student(s)

(# of) persons

prestigious

private

quality neighborhood

quiet neighborhood

restricted

retired

retirees

Section 8, no

secure

senior(s)

senior citizen(s)

senior housing

(sex or gender)

single woman, man

sophisticated

straight only

student(s)

two people

walking distance of, within

woman (women) only

ACCEPTABLE

credit check required

drinking, no

drugs, no

drug users, no

Equal Housing Opportunity

family, great for

fixer-upper

golf course, near

hobby farm

luxury townhouse

neighborhood name

nice

(# of) bedrooms

(# of) sleeping areas

nursery

nursing home

play area

private driveway

private entrance

private property

private setting

public transport (near)

quality construction

quiet

school district

school name

secluded

security provided

senior discount

smoking, no

(square feet)

townhouse

traditional style

tranquil setting

verifiable income

view, with

view of

Source: LCAOA Newsletter, April 1994