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HMFindlay Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Guys, someone is coming... (he/she vs he vs they)

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00He, She, or They?02h3

00People are increasingly using the plural pronoun 01i00they02i00 to refer to 05100 person if they do not know whether that person is male or female. Until quite recently, 01i00he02i00 was generally used to refer to a person of either sex, as in 'Every child needs to know that he is loved', but nowadays many people feel that such a use is sexist.02br
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01b00He or she02b00 is possible, but is rather awkward. 01i00They02i00 is generally accepted in sentences using words such as 01i00someone02i00 or 01i00anyone02i00, e.g. 'Anyone can join if they are a resident'. More people object to 01i00they02i00 being used after a 05200 noun, as in 'Ask a friend if they can help'.02br
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00Interestingly, use of 01i00they02i00 in this way is not a modern 05300: it was first recorded in the 16th century.02br
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00- taken from AskOxford02br
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00Is it ok to say : Someone must know their own responsibility02br
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00and: A person must know their responsibility02br
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00Or must we use HE as neuter pronoun?02br
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00I used to use HE OR SHE and HIS OR HER and HIS OR HERS but gradually I started to use THEY/THEIR/THEIRS and sometime HE/HIS as neuter pronoun. But which one is the most used or accurate? 050010id7241hrefhttp://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/classicerrors/grammartips/hesheorthey?view=uk#cone02csingle03cinvention
  

Top answer

0Hi,02br 02br 00Generally speaking, I feel comfortable using 'they/their' in this way. It's widely accepted. At the same time, I think it's still often acceptable to use only the male pronoun.

— Clive

  • 0Hi,02br 02br 00Generally speaking, I feel comfortable using 'they/their' in this way.
  • It's widely accepted.
  • At the same time, I think it's still often acceptable to use only the male pronoun.
  • eg 01i 00'He or she who hesitates is lost02i 00 seems needlessly punctilious.
  • 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-
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5 Answers
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0Hi,02br
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00Generally speaking, I feel comfortable using 'they/their' in this way. It's widely accepted. At the same time, I think it's still often acceptable to use only the male pronoun. eg 01i00'He or she who hesitates is lost02i00 seems needlessly punctilious. The need for 'he or she', in my opinion, depends on whether the context would otherwis
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0 So it is absulutely correct to use THEY and also HE instead of traditional and awkward HE/SHE thing? 0-
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0Hi,02br
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00'01font00they'02font00 Simply put, it's OK. Michael Swan, in his Practical English Usage, says 01i00'they' . . . is often used in this way . . . especially in a conversational style.02i00 00He doesn't feel the need to talk in terms of absolutes, and that's my advice to you, too.02br
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0 Which one your prefer to use? Or use most of the time. 0-
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0Hi,02br
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00In conversation, I often say 'they'. In writing, usually 'he'. Or 'she', if talking about a woman.02br
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00Clive0-
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