Usage and Grammar

Q. Is it appropriate to delete man or woman from chair when presenting someone’s official job title? For example, would you recommend saying “Joe Schmo, chair of company A” even if that person’s title is listed as chairman on the company’s website?

A. The term chair is useful when gender-neutral language is needed, but if the chairman himself (or his organization) chose the title chairman, it would be overstepping to change it.