Re: The singular 'they'

Subject: Re: The singular 'they'
From: Joanna Sheldon <cjs10 -at- CORNELL -dot- EDU>
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 06:07:49 -0500

Paul T. wrote:

>Already widespread in the language (though still rejected as ungrammatica=
>l
>by some) , this use of THEY, THEIR, and THEM is increasing in all but the=

>most conservatively edited American English. This increased use is at lea=
>st
>partly impelled by the desire to avoid the sexist implications of HE as a=

>pronoun of general reference.



Thank you, Paul!

There is a reasonably thoughtful discussion of this and other such issues in
Steven Pinker's book, _The Language Instinct_.

Joanna
C. Joanna Sheldon, PhD
GRAPHTECH Consulting
documentation solutions # information design

PO Box 288, Lansing NY 14882, USA
cjs10 -at- cornell -dot- edu

voice: +1 607 533 8850
fax: +1 607 533 9092


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