
Thu Feb 10, 2005, 06:39pm
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Official Forum Member
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 14,565
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Re: AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!
Quote:
Originally posted by Dakota
I see the PC police have totally occupied ASA HQ.
"They" is not a gender-neutral singular pronoun!!!!
There. I feel better.
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Seems Merriam-Webster recognizes this, but demonstrates no problem with the usage as such.
2 : PEOPLE 2 -- used in a generic sense
usage They used as an indefinite subject (sense 2) is sometimes objected to on the grounds that it does not have an antecedent. Not every pronoun requires an antecedent, however. The indefinite they is used in all varieties of contexts and is standard.
usage They, their, them, themselves: English lacks a common-gender third person singular pronoun that can be used to refer to indefinite pronouns (as everyone, anyone, someone). Writers and speakers have supplied this lack by using the plural pronouns . The plural pronouns have also been put to use as pronouns of indefinite number to refer to singular nouns that stand for many persons <'tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear the speech -- Shakespeare> . The use of they, their, them, and themselves as pronouns of indefinite gender and indefinite number is well established in speech and writing, even in literary and formal contexts. This gives you the option of using the plural pronouns where you think they sound best, and of using the singular pronouns (as he, she, he or she, and their inflected forms) where you think they sound best.
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The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
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