4 ms·
In standard American English, masculine is the default gender when the subject is unknown. So using "him" is proper. Using "them" as a singular pronoun is jarr
by RightMillennial 8y ago
In standard American English, masculine is the default gender when the subject is unknown. So using "him" is proper. Using "them" as a singular pronoun is jarring to the ears.
- grzm 8y agoThird-person singular they has a long tradition in English. It may not be as familiar to you, but it's nothing new. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they
- danpalmer 8y agoI was not aware of this, I've mostly heard "they"/"them". I take "he" to be an awareness or assumption of the gender, and find it quite uncomfortable to hear with regards to an industry with such a strong gender imbalance.
- geekbird 8y agoNo. It's actually a fading usage. The current pronouns when not assuming gender are they/them.