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“They” is historically understood to be plural. Some information fidelity is lost if “they” can mean multiple people and a person. Language is hard, so I under

“They” is historically understood to be plural. Some information fidelity is lost if “they” can mean multiple people and a person. Language is hard, so I understand the need for compromise. “Zee” could be used to avoid gender centric labeling while maintaining language clarity.

moron4hire 6y ago
That is not true. Singular they has been in use as long as plural they. It has always been understood to be usable in either situation.
- deleted 6y ago
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- jeffreyrogers 6y ago
  I'm sure there are examples, but in common use it is understood to be plural and has been used that way in all writing for a long time.
  - moron4hire 6y ago
    That is not correct https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they#Usage https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they#Usage > They with a singular antecedent goes back to the Middle English of the 14th century... and has remained in common use for centuries...
    - jeffreyrogers 6y ago
      > in common use it is understood to be plural What I said is correct. Prior to about 4-5 years ago you did not find people using they in the singular, hence "in common use".
  - dragonwriter 6y ago
    > I’m sure there are examples, but in common use it is understood to be plural and has been used that way in all writing for a long time. It is grammatically plural, but it has been accepted for semantically singular use since long before the Victorian effort to impose Latin-inspired rules on English usage which failed to eradicate it despite intense effort. (Victorian prescriptivism did have some good effects — regularized spelling FTW — but trying to eradicate clear and useful usages like singular “they” was one of its less-well-considered, but fortunately also less-successful, efforts.)
    - jeffreyrogers 6y ago
      > in common use it is understood to be plural Nothing in what you wrote contradicts what I stated. The man on the street thinks they is plural, and nearly all writing treats it that way. Historical examples excepted.
pwinnski 6y ago
Historically understood to be plural by you. Actual-historically, from 1375, not so much. https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they/ https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they...

moron4hire 6y ago

That is not true. Singular they has been in use as long as plural they. It has always been understood to be usable in either situation.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
jeffreyrogers 6y ago
I'm sure there are examples, but in common use it is understood to be plural and has been used that way in all writing for a long time.
- moron4hire 6y ago
  That is not correct https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they#Usage https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they#Usage > They with a singular antecedent goes back to the Middle English of the 14th century... and has remained in common use for centuries...
  - jeffreyrogers 6y ago
    > in common use it is understood to be plural What I said is correct. Prior to about 4-5 years ago you did not find people using they in the singular, hence "in common use".
- dragonwriter 6y ago
  > I’m sure there are examples, but in common use it is understood to be plural and has been used that way in all writing for a long time. It is grammatically plural, but it has been accepted for semantically singular use since long before the Victorian effort to impose Latin-inspired rules on English usage which failed to eradicate it despite intense effort. (Victorian prescriptivism did have some good effects — regularized spelling FTW — but trying to eradicate clear and useful usages like singular “they” was one of its less-well-considered, but fortunately also less-successful, efforts.)
  - jeffreyrogers 6y ago
    > in common use it is understood to be plural Nothing in what you wrote contradicts what I stated. The man on the street thinks they is plural, and nearly all writing treats it that way. Historical examples excepted.

pwinnski 6y ago

Historically understood to be plural by you. Actual-historically, from 1375, not so much. https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they/ https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they...