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this is a common misconception, but it isn't true, and it hasn't been true since the days of Shakespeare, who used they/them as a singular. Jane Austen did the
by tessierashpool 4y ago
this is a common misconception, but it isn't true, and it hasn't been true since the days of Shakespeare, who used they/them as a singular. Jane Austen did the same thing. I don't know who misinformed you on this topic, but I am willing to bet it was not a writer of that caliber. I think we can safely consider Shakespeare and Austen to be experts in the English language.
- sitharus 4y agoI wouldn't consider them experts on the language, since English is not a prescriptive language. However, they do provide good historical references on use of words to avoid the ridiculous 'you can't use that word like that' arguments. If we're going to be prescriptive about use of 'they' as a definite pronoun we may as well complain about how particular and peculiar swapped meanings in common vernacular.
- dotancohen 4y ago> English is not a prescriptive language Do you mean that there is no single body, like the French have, directing the usage of the language? I would consider "prescriptive / descriptive" to be properties of a dictionary, but not properties of the language itself. I'm not a subject matter expert so I'm not contradicting you, rather I'm asking.
- TheCoelacanth 4y agoIf people who are widely considered among the greatest English writers of all time aren't experts in English, then no one is. English is defined by use, and they are the best users of it.