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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
A problem with It Vs Them
In this part of my story, a baby is riding a river current in a basket through miles of woodland. I am not sure if I ought to use 'it' when referring to the baby, or 'them'. This sounds like a philosophical debate!
The baby in the basket stares in wonderment at the canvas of art all around as it travels downstream through miles of enchanted woodland where food magically falls into its hands, as if a watcher were weaving the threads of fate to look after it. From the eyes of the baby, the sky is knotted with dense tree canopies under which fireflies appear like stars on a clear night.
The baby in the basket stares in wonderment at the canvas of art all around as it travels downstream through miles of enchanted woodland where food magically falls into its hands, as if a watcher were weaving the threads of fate to look after it. From the eyes of the baby, the sky is knotted with dense tree canopies under which fireflies appear like stars on a clear night.
Top answer
"it" here does not refer to the baby, but to the basket that the baby travels in.
- "it" here does not refer to the baby, but to the basket that the baby travels in.
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6 Answers
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"it" here does not refer to the baby, but to the basket that the baby travels in.
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Right, but if I had to refer to the baby, should refer to it using it or them?
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There is only one baby, and you have not specified its gender. For babies, we can use "it," but if I were writing such a story, I would avoid the problem altogether and identify the baby as a boy or a girl using the singular pronouns.
For adults, we use the plural pronouns to be politically correct in terms of gender neutrality.
For adults, we use the plural pronouns to be politically correct in terms of gender neutrality.
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Thanks for the explanation. Here is the corrected paragraph I hope is now error free.
The baby in the basket stares in wonderment at the canvas of art all around him as he travels downstream through miles of enchanted woodland where food magically falls into his hands, as if a watcher were weaving the threads of fate to ensure no harm comes to him. From his eyes, the sky is knotted with d
The baby in the basket stares in wonderment at the canvas of art all around him as he travels downstream through miles of enchanted woodland where food magically falls into his hands, as if a watcher were weaving the threads of fate to ensure no harm comes to him. From his eyes, the sky is knotted with d
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The only thing I would change is "from his eyes"
He sees a sky ...
He sees a sky ...
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This is a movie script synopsis, and I wrote 'from his eyes' to move the camera angle to the baby's first person perspective.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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