At Imperial, we prefer that the term ‘ethnicity’ should be used instead of the term ‘race’ in most circumstances. Generally, language around ethnicity can be fluid, with terms used interchangeably, but it is important that we are specific, to achieve inclusive and clear communication.

Why use ethnicity?

In general, the term ethnicity:

• can be considered broader than race 
• can be considered as more inclusive of cultural and social experience 
• typically refers to long-shared cultural experiences, religious practices, traditions, ancestry, language, dialect or national origins

In comparison, race is:

• mainly based on physical attributes or traits 
• is now widely accepted as an unhelpful social construct 

Ethnicity can be seen as a more positive identity, with racial identity often constructed from shared negative experiences of racism.

In the UK, ethnicity is now more commonly used, for example when collecting demographic data on surveys. Many organisations, including the Office for National Statistics, recommend referring to ethnicity, to allow you to be more specific about the people you are writing about.

When is it okay to use race?

The Equality Act 2010 specifies race as a protected characteristic, saying that race includes:

1. colour; 
2. nationality; 
3. ethnic or national origins.

So, at times it may be more appropriate to use the term race, for example: 

• in context of the UK legal framework 
• when referring to specific titles or initiatives (such as the Race Equality Charter) 
• or when directly quoting someone (keep in mind that individuals and groups may prefer to use the term race, and someone’s racial identity may be especially important to them)