Questions about the use of “they”, “them”, “their”, “themself”, or “themselves” to refer to a singular animate antecedent of unspecified gender.
87
votes
15answers
6k views
Is there a correct gender-neutral, singular pronoun (“his” versus “her” versus “their”)?
Is there a pronoun I can use as a gender-neutral pronoun?
Each student should save his questions until the end.
Each student should save her questions until the end.
26
votes
6answers
19k views
Is it correct to use “their” instead of “his or her”?
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
Anyone who loves the English language should have a copy of this book in their bookcase.
or should it be:
Anyone who loves the English language should ...
6
votes
3answers
812 views
Reason for the current trend to use «she» as the gender-neutral pronoun?
There are some questions on gender-neutral pronouns both here and on Writers.
User Christine Letts writes:
In academia, there is currently a
movement toward using the feminine
pronoun at all ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Is it appropriate to refer to a person of unknown sex by “it”?
I would like to treat a user as a non-gender noun and refer to it with the gender-neutral pronoun, it. E.g.,
The user defines two variables, x and y. It then multiplies each variable by a prime ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Is using “he” for a gender-neutral third-person correct?
I know there are different opinions on this issue. My question: Is using "he" for a general, gender-neutral third person still in common use for formal writing? By common use I mean, can I expect my ...
5
votes
4answers
5k views
Should I use “his/her” or “its”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Gender neutral pronoun
Is it correct to use “their” instead of “his or her”?
I am writing a software documentation. I have this issue: I am ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Why haven't we used “it” instead of “he or she”?
There is a related discussion on this forum.
My questions is different. I'm all for gender awareness, but why hasn't a properly defined pronoun "it" been used instead of "he/she" or "he or she", etc. ...
2
votes
3answers
335 views
Can the feminine pronouns be gender-neutral? [closed]
I know this sounds weird but I've been noticing a lot of texts on the Internet like this one:
"Any citizen is concerned with her well-being ...". The word in question is "her". To me it seems like in ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Gender neutral reflexive pronoun — equivalent to “himself” and “herself”
How would you refer to a gender neutral subject with a reflexive pronoun?
It is unbelievable how a perpetrator will cast oneself in the role of victim.
That does not seem right. Is there a ...
2
votes
4answers
685 views
Need to clarify use of “its” and “their”
I am having a debate at work regarding the correct choice:
No investor has ever lost its capital.
or
No investor has ever lost their capital.
It seems to sound awkward to say "its capital" ...
2
votes
3answers
603 views
Is the singular “they” acceptable in formal writing? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a correct gender-neutral, singular pronoun (“his” versus “her” versus “their”)?
I am linking to this post for reference.
...
2
votes
2answers
507 views
Speaking about someone of unknown gender [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Gender neutral pronoun
For example, user clicked the button. I don't know if the user is male or female, what gender should I use? Now I read a book, where the user is ...
2
votes
3answers
732 views
Can “his/her” be replaced by “his”?
Yesterday, I asked this question on Web Apps:
If a Facebook user dies, what happens
to the account?
Actually, I wanted to ask it this way:
If a Facebook user dies, what happens
to ...
2
votes
3answers
236 views
Use of they as singular [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it correct to use “their” instead of “his or her”?
I, and many people I have heard, occasionally use 'they' and 'their' in the singular when ...
2
votes
1answer
581 views
Using 'they' for person of unknown sex [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Gender neutral pronoun.
In everyday use, I often use the pronoun "they" to refer to a unknown person if I do not know their sex. As in:
Bob: Who was it that emailed ...
4
votes
5answers
400 views
Using “she” with gender-neutral nouns
The song “Frozen” from Madonna’s Ray of Light (1998) contains the lyrics:
Love is a bird, she needs to fly,
Let all the hurt inside of you die.
Does she refer to bird or love? And why is it ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Anyone: (“they” or “he/she”) why is it sometimes plural? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it correct to use “their” instead of “his or her”?
Plural versus singular:
Anyone can learn to dance if they want to.
Anyone can ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Addressing someone with no specified gender [duplicate]
How do you address someone whose gender is not specified, when you are writing something? Take this as an example:
The teacher said we should go, ____ said we are good pupils.
Would you insert ...
