Idioms, Colloquialisms, and Cultural References Avoid idioms, colloquialisms, and cultural references as these can confuse learners, especially those for whom English is not a first language. Instead, use clear, literal language. Instead of: “Think outside the box.” “In a nutshell…” “A moonshot project…” Use: “Be creative. Try a new approach.” “In summary…” “An ambitious and risky project…” If an idiom or cultural reference is particularly useful for illustrating a concept, provide a brief explanation so that all learners can understand it. Example: “You might feel like Sisyphus, endlessly pushing a boulder uphill. (In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill forever, only for it to roll back down each time.)” Example: “The manager encouraged the team to take the low-hanging fruit first—those tasks that were easiest to complete and could deliver quick wins before tackling more complex challenges.” PreviousAnti-Bias and Inclusive languageNext Textbook References