Editorial: Words matter; language matters

For decades, many authors have suggested that the language and terminology we use in practice makes a difference to the experience, perceptions and outcomes for childbearing women [[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]]. More than 20 years ago, Nicky Leap wrote a paper called The Power of Words which has been one of our go-to pieces of writing for practice, teaching and research [6]. She updated the paper in 2012 [7] but essentially the same issue remains – language matters. These papers clearly highlight the importance of language. In reading, doing, writing and talking about midwifery research and practice, especially in this journal, it seems evident that language also matters.