PC use of "They"
PC use of "They"
(OP)
Many people now, including on this site, use "they" instead of a singular pronoun when they are unsure of the gender of a subject. Bugs me. I don't see what is wrong with using "he" as a gender neutral pronoun. I would even prefer "it".





RE: PC use of "They"
I am pretty certain I have done at some point in time. "It" is singular, and therefore more logical than the plural "they". On the other hand, "they" implies people, and "it" implies something inanimate.
You are offending somebody. All you can do is decide who.
RE: PC use of "They"
So what do you do? Usually you are trying to make a point that simply doesn't have a gender component. If you say "The operator will be expected to ... and in that condition he will ..." then you are providing technical instruction. If you change the "he" to "the operator" it gets awkward. Changing it to "they" almost keeps the brevity, but that offends you personnaly.
I think that people who get upset with this irrelevancy in language really should get a life. And they should all get together and give us guidance as to what we can say to make our real point with getting balled up in their semantic prejudices.
David
RE: PC use of "They"
By the way, I do not profess to be an expert in English.
Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com
RE: PC use of "They"
RE: PC use of "They"
Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com
RE: PC use of "They"
Gender non-specific, human in reference and non-offensive in nature.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: PC use of "They"
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: PC use of "They"
RE: PC use of "They"
h
There are many ways that "they" is misused as a pronoun. Most irritate me because it is a sign of unclear thinking on the part of the person using it. I've been in conversations where someone uses "they" in three or more successive sentences but in each case is referring to a different subject. I that case I usually reply "Who is they?"
RE: PC use of "They"
RE: PC use of "They"
-Kirby
Kirby Wilkerson
Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.
RE: PC use of "They"
Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: PC use of "They"
RE: PC use of "They"
I'm afraid I may have to side with zdas on this one.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: PC use of "They"
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/they
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: PC use of "They"
We don't have 'it' in our languages. Feminine gender is used instead.
RE: PC use of "They"
-Kirby
Kirby Wilkerson
Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.