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What are alternative words for blacklist in email marketing?

13 Marketer opinions2 Expert opinions5 Technical articles5 Resources

Summary

Experts, marketers, and technical documentation sources suggest various alternatives for 'blacklist' in email marketing. Common suggestions include 'blocklist', 'suppression list', 'exclusion list', 'denylist', 'blocked list', 'blocked sender list', 'do-not-send list', and 'allow/deny' terminology. The choice of the most suitable alternative depends on the context, audience, intended meaning, and whether the communication is technical or marketing-focused.

Key findings

  • Blocklist Common: 'Blocklist' is a frequently used and widely accepted alternative across different sources.
  • Suppression List Accuracy: 'Suppression list' is favored for its clarity in representing recipients who should not receive emails.
  • Contextual Relevance: The appropriateness of any alternative highly depends on the specific context of its use.
  • Technical Denylist: RFC Editor and other technical documentation use 'denylist' as a standard term for lists of blocked senders.
  • Neutral Alternatives: Alternatives like 'exclusion list' and 'do-not-send list' aim for a more neutral and less negative connotation.

Key considerations

  • Target Audience: Consider whether the term is intended for a technical or general audience.
  • Connotation: Avoid terms that carry unwanted negative connotations.
  • Contextual Alignment: Ensure the chosen term accurately reflects the intended meaning in its specific context.
  • Industry Standards: Check whether there are any specific industry standards or conventions to adhere to.
  • Clarity: Prioritize terms that are easily understandable and leave little room for misinterpretation.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

Experts and marketers suggest several alternatives for 'blacklist' in email marketing, including 'blocklist,' 'suppression list,' 'exclusion list,' 'denylist,' 'do-not-send list,' 'blocked list,' and 'allow/deny' terminology. The choice depends on context, desired clarity, and neutrality, with 'suppression list' and 'blocklist' frequently recommended.

Key opinions

  • Blocklist Popularity: 'Blocklist' is widely used and suggested as a direct replacement for 'blacklist'.
  • Suppression List: 'Suppression list' is favored for its accurate representation of recipients who should not receive emails.
  • Neutral Alternatives: 'Exclusion list' and 'do-not-send list' are suggested for a more neutral tone.
  • Denylist Consideration: 'Denylist' is a suitable technical alternative, but may still carry negative connotations.
  • Allow/Deny Pair: 'Allow/Deny' terminology provides a balanced view when discussing both permitted and restricted recipients.

Key considerations

  • Context Matters: The best alternative depends on the specific context and audience.
  • Clarity and Accuracy: Prioritize clarity and accuracy in describing the list's purpose.
  • Negative Connotations: Avoid terms that carry negative connotations or might be confusing.
  • Industry Standards: Consider industry standards and commonly used terminology within your field.
  • Internal Communication: Align internal team communication to ensure consistency in terminology.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests 'do-not-send list' as a clearer alternative to blacklist.

July 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks notes that Spamhaus uses the 'blocklist' terminology and dotdigital has moved to 'Blocklist / Safe List'.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet recommends 'blocklist' and 'denylist' as suitable alternatives, emphasizing clarity and avoiding negative connotations.

October 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that 'Blocked list/blocklist' and 'allow/deny' terminology are commonly used alternatives.

July 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel suggests using 'blocklist' or 'suppression list' as alternatives to blacklist.

May 2023 - Neil Patel
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue suggests using 'suppression list' as a better alternative, which focuses on managing recipients who should not receive emails.

August 2023 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign recommends using 'suppression list' or 'exclusion list' instead of blacklist.

December 2024 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit recommends 'exclusion list' as a neutral alternative for blacklist on r/emailmarketing.

January 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus suggests the term 'blocklist' or 'suppression list' for a more neutral and accurate description.

September 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests to consider 'Blocklists' as 'the recommended-to-block email sender list'.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests 'Block list' and 'safe list' as good alternatives, clarifying that 'safelist' is the opposite of 'blacklist'.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that they have started using 'blocklist' and 'allowlist'.

December 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot suggests 'suppression list' as it accurately represents contacts who should not receive emails.

October 2024 - HubSpot

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Experts suggest considering 'block list' and 'suppression list' as potential alternatives to 'blacklist'. The emphasis is on understanding the context of use, highlighting that the appropriateness of a term depends on its specific application.

Key opinions

  • Contextual Relevance: The suitability of an alternative term is heavily dependent on the specific context in which it is used.
  • Common Alternatives: 'Block list' and 'suppression list' are frequently cited as viable alternatives to 'blacklist'.

Key considerations

  • Contextual Analysis: Carefully analyze the context to choose an alternative that accurately reflects the intended meaning.
  • Audience Understanding: Ensure the chosen term is easily understood by the intended audience.
  • Potential Misinterpretation: Consider potential misinterpretations or negative connotations associated with each alternative.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks asks about the context in which the word blacklist is used.

June 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise suggests 'block list' and 'suppression list' as common alternatives and emphasizes considering the specific context when choosing terminology.

November 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Technical documentation from various sources (RFC Editor, Microsoft, Spamhaus, Cisco, and Google) uses 'denylist', 'block list', 'blocked sender list', 'blocklist', and 'blocked addresses' as alternatives to 'blacklist'. This suggests a preference for 'block' or 'deny' based terminology in technical and formal contexts.

Key findings

  • Technical Usage: Technical documentation favors 'block' or 'deny' based alternatives.
  • Denylist Standard: RFC Editor (RFC 5321) uses 'denylist' in the context of SMTP communication.
  • Common 'Block' Variants: 'Block list', 'blocked sender list', 'blocklist', and 'blocked addresses' are commonly used by Microsoft, Spamhaus, Cisco, and Google.

Key considerations

  • Technical vs. Marketing Context: Choose terminology appropriate for technical or marketing communication.
  • Industry Standards: Align terminology with industry standards for technical documentation.
  • Clarity for End Users: Consider the clarity of the term for end users in help resources (e.g., 'blocked addresses' in Gmail).
Technical article

Documentation from Cisco uses the term 'blocked senders list' within its email security appliance documentation.

November 2023 - Cisco
Technical article

Documentation from Google uses 'blocked addresses' or 'blocked senders' within Gmail help resources.

September 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft uses 'block list' or 'blocked sender list' within its email server settings and documentation to describe blocked senders.

October 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus prefers the term 'blocklist' to describe their lists of IP addresses and domains known for sending spam.

September 2021 - Spamhaus
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor refers to lists of blocked or unwanted senders/IPs as 'denylists' in the context of SMTP communication and email handling.

January 2022 - RFC Editor

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5Resources

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