Bias in CV language can limit candidate pools and cause unconscious discrimination. You need a quick way to spot biased or gendered wording before you send a CV or job advert out.
TL;DR: This free bias language checker scans your CV or job text instantly in your browser. No sign-up or upload needed. It highlights problematic words and suggests neutral alternatives. Nothing leaves your device, keeping data private. Use it to catch bias early, then upgrade to Distill's full workflow for large-scale formatting and anonymising.
Use the tool (above)
Paste your CV text or job description in the box above. The checker highlights words linked to gender, ethnicity, or age bias. It also flags overly aggressive or passive language that could put off candidates.
You'll see:
- Colour-coded highlights showing biased terms
- Suggestions for neutral or inclusive alternatives
- A summary of how many potential issues were found
The tool works instantly and doesn't store your text anywhere. Refresh the page to clear the input.
How it works
The checker uses a curated dictionary of terms flagged by research and industry best practice. It compares your text against this list to find:
- Gender-coded words (e.g. "ninja", "rockstar" lean male; "supportive", "understanding" lean female)
- Ethnic or cultural assumptions (e.g. "native English speaker" can exclude some candidates)
- Age indicators (e.g. "recent graduate" may deter older applicants)
- Aggressive or passive adjectives that affect tone
The algorithm scans your text and marks each flagged word with a colour to indicate the type of bias. It then offers alternatives to replace or remove the word without changing your meaning.
This isn't perfect language policing — some flagged words are context-dependent. For example, "strong" is often neutral but can be read as masculine in some roles. Use your judgement.
Privacy: nothing leaves your browser
Your CV text stays on your device. The bias checker runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. We don't upload, save, or share your data.
This is important because:
- CVs and job descriptions often contain sensitive personal information
- GDPR and other privacy laws require careful handling of candidate data
- You avoid risk of exposure through cloud processing or third-party servers
If you want full control over privacy while checking bias, this tool is safe to use. For larger operations requiring anonymising and formatting before submission, Distill's secure platform offers encrypted processing with audit trails.
When to upgrade to the full Distill workflow
The free checker is ideal for spot checks or occasional use. But if you:
- Send 20+ CVs a week to Bullhorn, SmartRecruiters, or other ATS clients
- Need automated anonymising to remove names, emails, phone numbers, and photos
- Want consistent formatting to reduce parsing errors and manual fixes
- Must comply with GDPR and equality regulations under pressure
Distill automates these tasks in one workflow, saving time and reducing risk. It strips personal data from CVs before submission and outputs clean Word or PDF files formatted to client ATS specs.
Try Distill if you want bias checking combined with anonymising and formatting in one step.
FAQ
Q: Does the tool check for all types of bias? It covers the most common gender, ethnicity, and age biases found in recruitment language. It doesn't detect everything, such as disability or religious bias, or subtle cultural references.
Q: Can I use this on job adverts as well as CVs? Yes, the tool works on any recruitment-related text. It's useful for spotting biased language in job descriptions that might deter diverse applicants.
Q: Is the tool suitable for GDPR compliance? Yes. Since it runs locally in your browser and doesn't transmit data, it minimises GDPR risk. Always assess your own compliance requirements.
Q: Why doesn't it automatically rewrite my CV? Bias checking requires context and nuance. The tool highlights issues and suggests alternatives, but you decide which changes to make.
Q: Can I save or export the results? No. The tool is designed for quick, private checks. Copy your corrected text manually if needed.
Q: What if I want a full anonymising and formatting tool? Distill's full product removes names, emails, phone numbers, photos, and graduation years before submission. It also reformats CVs to ATS specifications and keeps audit logs for compliance.
Use the tool above to catch biased language before you submit. For bulk CV processing with anonymising and formatting, try Distill free.