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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Ship it or she

I know that ships are called "she". For instance "Queen Mary sailed on her http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_voyage on 27 May 1936". But when I write about any ship in general can I use "she", or I should use "it" instead? For example "The water circulating pump should be switched on when her(its) full speed is gathered."
  

Top answer

You can always refer to a ship as female. The worst thing that could happen is that some people might think "I would have said 'its' in that context". Note that 'full speed' is reached, attained or achieved , not gathered .

— Rover_KE

  • You can always refer to a ship as female.
  • The worst thing that could happen is that some people might think "I would have said 'its' in that context".
  • Note that 'full speed' is reached, attained or achieved , not gathered .
  • Rover
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1 Answers
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You can always refer to a ship as female.

The worst thing that could happen is that some people might think "I would have said 'its' in that context".

Note that 'full speed' is reached, attained or achieved, not gathered.

Rover
0

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