4 ms·

This title is misleading. The actual PR is "docs: Use more appropriate language when referring to the user" and that's a fair description of these changes which

This title is misleading. The actual PR is "docs: Use more appropriate language when referring to the user" and that's a fair description of these changes which clearly improve readability.

pwdisswordfish8 5y ago
Especially since he/she is already gender-neutral. > clearly improve readability Not necessarily. Some people object to singular they on grammatical grounds, in that it may confuse the reader who associates the pronoun with plural meaning only into thinking it refers to some previously unmentioned group. Infamously, Monica Cellio’s dismissal was more or less over this. I happen to prefer singular they over he/she, but I acknowledge it’s not an obviously uncontroversial choice.
- oblio 5y ago
  You? :-)
- kreetx 5y ago
  I don't mind either way, but the he/she thing always felt clunky.
- ohhnoodont 5y ago
  There's absolutely no ambiguity introduced in the PR's changes. And I don't think any grammar guide would prefer "he/she" for these particular uses.
  - dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago
    They would advise to rewrite the sentence instead. The singular they appeared in the CMoS only in the 17th edition, and they approve this particular usage only in informal speech: http://cmosshoptalk.com/2017/04/03/chicago-style-for-the-singular-they/ http://cmosshoptalk.com/2017/04/03/chicago-style-for-the-sin...
- swiley 5y ago
  > singular they on grammatical grounds, It's in the APA style guide (it's been there for a while now.) IMO that's even more pedantic than the "begs the question" battle which was lost some time ago.
- szszrk 5y ago
  The "singular" they always confused me as a non-native speaker, and to be honest I don't know anyone non-native who actually knows this exists and is not a mistake.
- aceki 5y ago
  He/she is not gender neutral. It reinforces the gender binary by excluding non-binary individuals.
  - CodeGlitch 5y ago
    > non-binary individuals I would saw we are all "non-binary". We fall somewhere on the spectrum of gender. Some men are "alpha-males", whilst others are more "camp" [0], etc. Also see "tom-boys". I find the whole non-binary thing to be unhelpful and meaningless. [0] hopefully these aren't offensive terms.
    - pseudalopex 5y ago
      Non binary is about gender identity. You're talking about gender expression. They're related but not the same.
      - CodeGlitch 5y ago
        Sure ok...

This title is misleading. The actual PR is "docs: Use more appropriate language when referring to the user" and that's a fair description of these changes which clearly improve readability.

pwdisswordfish8 5y ago

Especially since he/she is already gender-neutral. > clearly improve readability Not necessarily. Some people object to singular they on grammatical grounds, in that it may confuse the reader who associates the pronoun with plural meaning only into thinking it refers to some previously unmentioned group. Infamously, Monica Cellio’s dismissal was more or less over this. I happen to prefer singular they over he/she, but I acknowledge it’s not an obviously uncontroversial choice.

oblio 5y ago
You? :-)
kreetx 5y ago
I don't mind either way, but the he/she thing always felt clunky.
ohhnoodont 5y ago
There's absolutely no ambiguity introduced in the PR's changes. And I don't think any grammar guide would prefer "he/she" for these particular uses.
- dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago
  They would advise to rewrite the sentence instead. The singular they appeared in the CMoS only in the 17th edition, and they approve this particular usage only in informal speech: http://cmosshoptalk.com/2017/04/03/chicago-style-for-the-singular-they/ http://cmosshoptalk.com/2017/04/03/chicago-style-for-the-sin...
swiley 5y ago
> singular they on grammatical grounds, It's in the APA style guide (it's been there for a while now.) IMO that's even more pedantic than the "begs the question" battle which was lost some time ago.
szszrk 5y ago
The "singular" they always confused me as a non-native speaker, and to be honest I don't know anyone non-native who actually knows this exists and is not a mistake.
aceki 5y ago
He/she is not gender neutral. It reinforces the gender binary by excluding non-binary individuals.
- CodeGlitch 5y ago
  > non-binary individuals I would saw we are all "non-binary". We fall somewhere on the spectrum of gender. Some men are "alpha-males", whilst others are more "camp" [0], etc. Also see "tom-boys". I find the whole non-binary thing to be unhelpful and meaningless. [0] hopefully these aren't offensive terms.
  - pseudalopex 5y ago
    Non binary is about gender identity. You're talking about gender expression. They're related but not the same.
    - CodeGlitch 5y ago
      Sure ok...