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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Is it OK to say "It" in reference to a child?
I wonder if these sentences are correct: "This is my child. It is its room" I'll be grateful for an explanation.
Top answer
This is my child . -- fine It is its room -- very odd; parents should know their child's ***. Much better would be This is his/her room .
- This is my child .
- -- fine It is its room -- very odd; parents should know their child's ***.
- Much better would be This is his/her room .
- PS: I now see that your question is in your subject line.
- Yes, a child can be referred to as it , for a brief time, before one is told its name.
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4 Answers
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This is my child. -- fine
It is its room -- very odd; parents should know their child's ***. Much better would be This is his/her room.
PS: I now see that your question is in your subject line. Yes, a child can be referred to as it, for a brief time, before one is told its name. Then it is best to call it him or her
It is its room -- very odd; parents should know their child's ***. Much better would be This is his/her room.
PS: I now see that your question is in your subject line. Yes, a child can be referred to as it, for a brief time, before one is told its name. Then it is best to call it him or her
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Yes it would be very very very strange if the parents do not know whether their baby is a boy or a girl.
However, as having been discussed in another tread it is perfectly alright to use the referent it in a few situations, as in this one;
Is it a boy or a girl? of course asked just after the mother has given birth.
Jay
However, as having been discussed in another tread it is perfectly alright to use the referent it in a few situations, as in this one;
Is it a boy or a girl? of course asked just after the mother has given birth.
Jay
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The rules are the same whether you are talking about a child or an adult. It is rude to call anyone it unless it is really impossible to know the gender - for example enquiring 'Is it a boy or a girl?' or 'Who was it?' when someone answered the phone and you don't know who they were talking to.
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Hi guys,
Wih regard to using 'it' for a baby, yes, there are considerations of politeness. There are also considerations of 'distance'.
A doctor, for example, might refer in his notes to the child as 'it', because he is being clinical and has no emotional attachment or investment. Or I might say 'There was a small child on the bus and it threw up on my suit'.
Best wishe
Wih regard to using 'it' for a baby, yes, there are considerations of politeness. There are also considerations of 'distance'.
A doctor, for example, might refer in his notes to the child as 'it', because he is being clinical and has no emotional attachment or investment. Or I might say 'There was a small child on the bus and it threw up on my suit'.
Best wishe
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