0
Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Using "she" as a pronoun for a country

Hi!
I looked up four dictionaries about using "she" as a pronoun for a country. The first one calls the usage "old-fashioned". The second one says it is mainly a literary usage. The third one doesn't include it. The fourth one includes it without comment.
I am confused. Which dictionary is right?
Thanks!
  

Top answer

Anonymous Which dictionary is right? Actually all of them are right. Dictionaries are for different purposes, and so the contents vary among them.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous Which dictionary is right?
  • Actually all of them are right.
  • Dictionaries are for different purposes, and so the contents vary among them.
  • ) Dictionary #3 focuses on modern word usage, and does not include entries on older forms.
  • Dictionary #4 does not mention time values of word usage.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
AnonymousWhich dictionary is right?
Actually all of them are right. Dictionaries are for different purposes, and so the contents vary among them.

Dictionary #1 uses old-fashioned as an alternate for "literary," (found in older works of literature.)
Dictionary #2 describes the usage as "literary," (mainly referring to older works of literature.)
0

Related Questions