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  LiveWire / Teen Forums / The Intellectual Forum / Viewing Topic

'They' as the gender-neutral singular pronoun
Your thoughts
Replies: 48Last Post April 22, 2007 1:14pm by Babiilnc
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penguincube


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Currently, I consider using "they" as a singular pronoun incorrect in all instances, even gender-neutral.

It is going to happen in vernacular speech, and is accepted as are some other grammatical faux pas in that context, but that does not make it correct, nor acceptable in academic writing.

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7:53 pm on Sep. 28, 2006 | Joined: May 2003 | Days Active: 1,347
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Stormblazer


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It's grammatically incorrect actually, though it is used most of the time as a gender-neutral pronoun (even though technically it's not).

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Yummie Strawberries


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I personally think it's perfectly fine to use in speech (possibly because I do it all the time), but not in a formal essay or the like, as others have said. You hear it more in dialogue than you see it written down.

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Bizilbur


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'E' is better for writing.

'E said' instead of 'he/she' said

Or 'er thing' instead of 'his/her thing'

They is just weird. Better to invent something new than to bastardize something with an already existing function, especially if that function is almost opposite what we're trying to make it do.

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8:52 pm on Sep. 30, 2006 | Joined: July 2003 | Days Active: 574
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winters

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I tend to use "one" in most of the situations, but sometimes I use "they" (only informally, of course, I would never write it in any formal occassion), and I have noticed that the usage of "they" in English is widespread even in counties like mine, where English is not the primary spoken language.

Personally, I could not care less regarding the usage of "they". English is the language I love the least (except perhaps French) out of the ones I can speak, so I am not inclined to ponder much about such issues in it. I am fine both with "one" and with "they".
Language changes, that cannot be disputed, and some 'ungrammatical' things are slowly becoming the norm, whether we like it or not.
The only question in it is whether the language change is a progress or decay.

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SilverClover


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Harvard English classes would rip you apart for using that. Trust me.

For most of my classes, the gender neutral singular form is "ze". However, I go to a very progressive university which also has non gender specific bathrooms for our intersexed or transgendered students and are moving to gender neutral housing for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In general, the best way to phrase it is "he or she".

In colloquial English, they is fine but it still grates on my nerves as being blatently wrong.


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In the academic and business world you do not use they. Pick a gender and stick with it. Any ambiguity is one of the last things you want in instructions or managament procedures.

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12:58 pm on Oct. 7, 2006 | Joined: Sep. 2005 | Days Active: 946
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somethinorwatever


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I
You
He she it

we
you
they

i think that "they" can also be used as a singular non-gender-specific pronoun when used to describe a specific unknown person. if you are not talking about a specific person, then "one" should be used.

for example
"if the narrator says 'i am 17', they mean that they are 17 years old."

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mapleafan


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I do agree, you are right though, Language does change. 'Diss' is now in the dictionary.

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10:57 am on Oct. 17, 2006 | Joined: Jan. 2006 | Days Active: 672
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Quote: from mapleafan at 1:57 pm on Oct. 17, 2006

I do agree, you are right though, Language does change. 'Diss' is now in the dictionary.

And thou is never used.

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2:24 pm on Oct. 17, 2006 | Joined: Sep. 2005 | Days Active: 667
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Shady Ultima


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I think its fine

On a seperate note, is it possible to put 3 words together? Eh... that's unclear. For example

You Would Have been none the wiser
You'd've been none the wiser

I don't think its proper, but I think it sounds good. :\


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tamashii


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I use 'they' alot, because I'm not out to many people and if I wanna say i like someone I can't refer to her as 'she'.

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Caseofbaskets


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Quote: from Spasty at 12:40 am on Sep. 27, 2006

Quote: from porcelain at 12:35 am on Sep. 27, 2006

No.  

 It just doesn't sound right whne you use it as one.  

 gender-neutral plural pronoun.. yes. Not singular, though.  

  
 If I'm not understanding the point of your post, sorry.


I messed up the word.  

I mean the context of, "They have a book."
Instead of, "He/she has a book."


Strictly speaking, if "they" is a gender neutral singular pronoun, it would be "They has a book", not "They have a book" (which is gender-neutral plural).



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3:57 pm on Oct. 22, 2006 | Joined: Dec. 2004 | Days Active: 358
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Quote: from Caseofbaskets at 6:57 pm on Oct. 22, 2006

Quote: from Spasty at 12:40 am on Sep. 27, 2006

Quote: from porcelain at 12:35 am on Sep. 27, 2006

No.  

  It just doesn't sound right whne you use it as one.    

  gender-neutral plural pronoun.. yes. Not singular, though.  

     
  If I'm not understanding the point of your post, sorry.


 

 I messed up the word.  

 I mean the context of, "They have a book."  
 Instead of, "He/she has a book."  


Strictly speaking, if "they" is a gender neutral singular pronoun, it would be "They has a book", not "They have a book" (which is gender-neutral plural).


Not at all. Regardless of what it stands for, "to have" is conjugated as "have." Always. You can't change that.

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5:52 pm on Oct. 22, 2006 | Joined: Sep. 2005 | Days Active: 667
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beckster


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one is always good, they can work sometimes as long as you set up the rest of the sentance accordingly. If you are writing for a professor it often varies from prof to prof, so it doesn't hurt to ask

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