"they/their/them" has been used with singular antecedents by good writers at least since Elizabethan English.  Whether anyone wishes to use it in that way or not depends on their perception of their audience.  There are audiences for whom using the plural/generic form probably isn't worth the grief.

Herb

-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of O'Sullivan, Brian P
Sent: 2009-04-08 19:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Any member can give their opinion

I was wondering whether list members find that it is now acceptable (or at least accepted in some circles) to use "they" or "their" as an alternative to constructions like "he or she" or "his or her"--that is, as a gender-neutral third-person pronoun (as in my subject line).

 
Brian 

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/