4 ms·

It's been around for ages as a gender neutral pronoun: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002748.html http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelo

It's been around for ages as a gender neutral pronoun: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002748.html http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002748.h...

Symbiote 7y ago
(Native English speaker) I find it pretty easy to use "they" when the gender is unknown, which fits a lot of writing online. I find it much, much more difficult to remember to call my friend's partner, who looks in every way to me very feminine, and has an unambiguously feminine name, "they" rather than "she".
- reanimus 7y ago
  I don't really find it any harder than picking up someone going my Mrs. rather than Ms. or someone changing last name. There's usually an adjustment period, of course, but it's not that hard to pick up personally.
edflsafoiewq 7y ago
With an indefinite referent though (from you link: "a man", "a person", "every one"). Not with reference to specific definite person. "Jack got their jacket" does not usually parse as Jack getting his own jacket.
- munmaek 7y ago
  The point is that it's not an unknown, made up word that came from nowhere. It has been used in the English language for hundreds of years. It's not confusing to use because one can infer from context.
  - jfk13 7y ago
    Indeed, it has. But not universally; its use has primarily been limited to in certain contexts. To quote from the OED's definition of "they": "2. In anaphoric reference to a singular noun or pronoun of undetermined gender: he or she." OK, it certainly recognises a singular usage... "Especially in relation to a noun phrase involving one of the indefinite determiners or pronouns any, each, every, no, some, anybody, anyone, etc." Aha - so this usage is not (historically, at least) equally well established for all contexts. Indeed, the entry goes on to note that: "This use has sometimes been considered erroneous." So it's hardly surprising if some people feel a bit uncomfortable being told they should be embracing it more widely.
- Pfhreak 7y ago
  What? "Jack got their jacket before saying goodnight" scans totally reasonably to me as commonly used English? I suspect the degree to which this sounds fine is colloquial. But it's not that hard of a transition to make either. It might seem awkward for a bit, but it settles in pretty quickly.

It's been around for ages as a gender neutral pronoun: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002748.html http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002748.h...

Symbiote 7y ago

(Native English speaker) I find it pretty easy to use "they" when the gender is unknown, which fits a lot of writing online. I find it much, much more difficult to remember to call my friend's partner, who looks in every way to me very feminine, and has an unambiguously feminine name, "they" rather than "she".

reanimus 7y ago
I don't really find it any harder than picking up someone going my Mrs. rather than Ms. or someone changing last name. There's usually an adjustment period, of course, but it's not that hard to pick up personally.

edflsafoiewq 7y ago

With an indefinite referent though (from you link: "a man", "a person", "every one"). Not with reference to specific definite person. "Jack got their jacket" does not usually parse as Jack getting his own jacket.

munmaek 7y ago
The point is that it's not an unknown, made up word that came from nowhere. It has been used in the English language for hundreds of years. It's not confusing to use because one can infer from context.
- jfk13 7y ago
  Indeed, it has. But not universally; its use has primarily been limited to in certain contexts. To quote from the OED's definition of "they": "2. In anaphoric reference to a singular noun or pronoun of undetermined gender: he or she." OK, it certainly recognises a singular usage... "Especially in relation to a noun phrase involving one of the indefinite determiners or pronouns any, each, every, no, some, anybody, anyone, etc." Aha - so this usage is not (historically, at least) equally well established for all contexts. Indeed, the entry goes on to note that: "This use has sometimes been considered erroneous." So it's hardly surprising if some people feel a bit uncomfortable being told they should be embracing it more widely.
Pfhreak 7y ago
What? "Jack got their jacket before saying goodnight" scans totally reasonably to me as commonly used English? I suspect the degree to which this sounds fine is colloquial. But it's not that hard of a transition to make either. It might seem awkward for a bit, but it settles in pretty quickly.