Are you worried about calling someone “low-income” in case it offends them?
You should know whether it’s politically correct before using it, but you should also get synonyms ready to help you explore different options.
That’s what we’re here to help you with!
This article will explain another way to say “low-income” in your writing.
Other Ways to Say “Low-Income”
- Economically disadvantaged
- Underprivileged
- Financially challenged
- Socioeconomically marginalized
- Financially vulnerable
- Less affluent
- Resource-limited
- Income-constrained
- Financially struggling
- Economically deprived
- Modest means
- Working-class
- Financially insecure
- Limited income
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Low-income” is not politically incorrect, so it works well in most forms of writing.
- You can use “economically disadvantaged” in formal or academic writing to show that someone is financially struggling.
- “Underprivileged” is a great one-word alternative that shows someone comes from a low-income family.
So, keep reading to learn a politically correct term for “low-income.” We’ll show you the best two alternatives to use in business settings or academic writing (depending on the context).
Also, you can read the final section to learn if it’s okay to say “low-income.” That way, you can check whether it’s appropriate before writing it yourself.
Economically Disadvantaged
You can use something like “economically disadvantaged” to help you mix things up in formal writing.
It’s great to use it in academic papers and essays. It’s an effective phrase that allows you to mix things up and keep your writing much more interesting for the reader.
After all, “low-income” can get quite repetitive quite fast. So, if you can switch it up with a phrase like this, you’ll have a much easier time convincing the reader to pay close attention.
The more words you can use to fill your essay, the better your writing will appear.
Also, “economically disadvantaged” is politically correct. It’s another great way to remind the reader that a group is not as well-off as it might seem.
Here are two examples showing you how to use “economically disadvantaged” in a sentence:
They are an economically disadvantaged family. Therefore, we must do what we can to assist them before moving forward.
We come from an economically disadvantaged background. However, we’re proud of the work we put in to get here.
Underprivileged
Sometimes, one-word alternatives are the best ones to use. Using one word instead of multiple ones (or a compound word like “low-income”) streamlines your essays.
Therefore, “underprivileged” is a great way to streamline your writing and use only one word.
This is even more effective if other writers use more words, as it helps your essay to be simpler and more readable.
Try using it to talk about low-income families. Basically, anyone who doesn’t earn a lot of money should be seen as “underprivileged.”
There’s nothing wrong with the word, either. It’s politically correct, and you won’t find yourself insulting underprivileged people or families when using it.
You should also review these examples:
I can see why they’re struggling, as they’re from underprivileged areas. We must do something to give back to their community.
They are underprivileged. That’s why they find it so hard to fit in with some of the more affluent families around here.
Is It Okay to Say “Low-Income”?
It is okay to say “low-income.” It is politically correct and shows that someone (or a group of people) does not make much money from their jobs.
Generally, “low-income” is a good way to discuss someone’s socioeconomic situation.
It’s a common phrase that allows you to explain whether a family earns a lot of money or, in this case, earns less than average.
You can also use the following extensions to mix things up:
- Low-income community
- Low-income families
- Low-income countries
- Low-income area
Notice how we include a hyphen with every extension above. That’s because “low-income” is a compound adjective.
You should group “low” and “income” to show they both modify the same noun.
So, don’t worry about using a simple word like “low-income.” It’s not insulting, and it is politically correct, making it a good choice to include in your writing.