It’s very much a
“work-around,” but I’ve been known to use “he” in one sentence, and “she” in the
next – thus removing the sexist implications of gendered pronoun trouble
altogether. This way we’re not using “their” as a singular, and we’re
still respecting the “inherent sexism of the English language” argument.
Not a perfect solution, but the one I can best live with, right
now…
-patty
From:
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 5:48
AM
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Any member can give their
opinion
I find it acceptable
in conversation (sometimes), but not in formal writing. My students (high
school) have a very hard time with my "conservative" attitude about it. I
don't find it easy to read "their," et al, as singular
pronouns.
Paul
D.
"If this were play'd
upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction" (_Twelfth Night_
3.4.127-128).
From: DD Farms
<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 10:33:14
PM
Subject: Any member can give
their opinion
At 06:15 PM 4/8/2009, O'Sullivan,
Brian P wrote:
> 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).
DD: HORROR!
I demur. Keep those agreeable agreements amongst the components of the
utterance.
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