3 ms·
Singular "they" isn't even new, it's been used since the 1300s at least: https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=they https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/
by lorenzhs 7y ago
Singular "they" isn't even new, it's been used since the 1300s at least: https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=they https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=they
That said, it used to be rather uncommon in more recent times, which is now changing again. Standardized tests currently consider its use a mistake, just as »[i]n the 1600s, some writers objected to the use of "singular you" (compare objections to the "singular they")« (wiktionary). Languages constantly evolve.
- ergocoder 7y agoThe language can change. I understand. What I have problems with is: 1. We publicly shame people for not use the new word. Calling them names like bigots. 2. Your authority thinks the new word is wrong. It just seems, at this point, you should scream at your authorities to support singular "they" officially. Here they are: https://www.ets.org/about/who/leadership/ https://www.ets.org/about/who/leadership/ Instead, we spend energy and effort publicly shaming random people.