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Re: "their" as a singular pronoun (was grammar gender)
Subject:Re: "their" as a singular pronoun (was grammar gender) From:Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- FS -dot- COM -dot- AU> Date:Tue, 27 Jun 1995 13:22:28 +0800
From Darcey Harding's message:
> USAGE English lacks a common-gender pronoun third person singular pronoun.
> . . The use of they, their, them, and themselves as pronouns of indefinite
> gender and indefinite number is well established in speech and writing, EVEN
> IN LITERARY AND FORMAL CONTEXTS. This gives you the option of using the
> plural pronouns where you think they sound best, and of using the singular
> pronouns where you think they sound best.
Yes! Many people responded to Richard's original example by rewriting
the sentence to avoid the problem. This is a good tactic, but it's not
suitable for every occasion. Sometimes the rewritten sentence is just
not as strong and clear as the original.
Mechanically substituting something bland and correct is not the answer
either. Endless repetition of 'he or she' or even 'their' and 'they' is
likely to have the same effect on the reader as those cats-eye lane
dividers have on long-distance truck drivers. Your reader suffers from a
form of highway hypnosis and all your strong clear writing goes to waste.
Be flexible. Rewrite where you can; use 'they' and 'their' where you
can't. Use 'he' or 'she' or both where it makes more sense.
Regards
---
Stuart Burnfield Strange National Anthems -
Voice: +61 9 328 8288
PO Box 192 Leederville "O Canada
Western Australia 6903 A Roman ate a flan"
