“Freshman” and “freshmen” are two of the most easily interchangeable words — and the most misused. Grammatically, they’re difficult to distinguish, but “freshman” refers to a single freshman, and “freshmen” is the plural form. It’s also difficult to determine which form to use when the word functions as an adjective. The answer is that the singular form should be used — the adjective “freshman” is always singular. This grammatical formatting has been widely accepted in common language, and plenty of people use the terms without a second thought.

However, many see the need to include forms of “freshwoman” in grammar in order to promote inclusivity in language. In light of the #MeToo movement and the nationwide Women’s March, it’s important for women and girls to have agency in what they are called. Additionally, for many, being referred to implicitly as a man may trigger harmful gender dysphoria. 

Personally, it feels like a bit of an overcorrection. I wouldn’t be offended by being called a freshman, but it’s important to be receptive of those that may feel disempowered by a seemingly gendered term. However, even absent “freshwoman,” there are gender-neutral terms in American English that can be used. For instance, it’s common to use “frosh” as an abbreviation for “freshman,” which is gender neutral and grammatically acceptable in an informal setting.

It’s common for other traditionally “-man”–ending words to be changed to “-woman.” Plenty of us see “businesswoman,” “newswoman,” and “policewoman” on a daily basis. These are grammatically correct — as is freshwoman. The suffix “-man” can be substituted for “-woman” every time it’s used; it’s only a question of what the person being referred to prefers.

Despite common knowledge, the term “man” originated as a gender-neutral term referring to any person. In Old English, the term “man” meant “person,” but when the term “woman” was introduced in Middle English, “man” evolved to refer to a male adult. The suffix “-man” was assumed to be gendered in professions that were predominantly male, although that was not the linguistic intention.

In the end, there’s absolutely no harm in preferring to be called a freshwoman. Our world is becoming more sensitive to people’s personal needs — and that’s a good thing. It’s time for that concern to spill over into our language. Although some may see the correction as unnecessary, personal preferences are always important to keep in mind.