A-spec
The umbrella over the asexual and aromantic spectrums.
A-spec is the umbrella covering both the asexual and aromantic spectrums. It takes in asexual, demisexual, greysexual, aromantic, demiromantic, greyromantic and the narrower terms under each.
It exists because the two spectrums face the same arguments and often the same people, and because many a-spec people are on both. Writing about them together needed a word.
The a- comes from the same prefix in asexual and aromantic, meaning without, and spec is short for spectrum.
A-spec covers both spectrums, not just asexuality
It is regularly used as a synonym for asexual, which drops the aromantic half and the people who are only on that side.
The two spectrums are independent. Someone can be aromantic and allosexual, which is a-spec without being anywhere near asexual.
Saying it well
Say this
- I am a-spec.
- A-spec covers both spectrums.
- Aroace, which is a-spec twice over.
- The a-spec community.
Not this
- So you are asexual
- Which one are you?
- That is too broad to mean anything
- Another umbrella
Questions people actually ask
What does a-spec mean?
The umbrella covering both the asexual and aromantic spectrums.
Is a-spec the same as asexual?
No. It includes the aromantic spectrum, and some a-spec people are not asexual at all.
What does the a- stand for?
The same prefix as in asexual and aromantic, meaning without.