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0 pointsjazzyjackson2y ago0 comments

'they' is a great pronoun for ambiguous cases of sex & plurality

0 comments

My native language doesn't have gendered pronouns, so I make an explicit point of using "they" for a pronoun every time I can.

huytersd2y ago

There is no ambiguity here.

danjc2y ago

It's a terrible pronoun since that usage is a retrofit of a word intended to be used as a plural.

zapzupnz2y ago

Singular they dates back to the 14th century. Isn't 600 years long enough to stop quibbling over it?

weego2y ago

Was here to say the same thing. OP ignoring history to double-down on gender bigotry is disappointing to find on HN.

huytersd2y ago

When the gender is unknown. Why apply it in every case?

zapzupnz2y ago

No, not just when the gender is unknown.

wodenokoto2y ago

Do you also avoid “you” when referring to just one person?

GaryNumanVevo2y ago

Retrofit? The singular they has been used in English literature as far back as the 13th century, not exactly recent

Merik2y ago

I know an individual who used to think like that; do you want to know why they changed their mind?

swexbe2y ago

So just like "you"? What's þi problem?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

theshrike792y ago

My native language doesn't have gendered pronouns, so I make an explicit point of using "they" for a pronoun every time I can.

huytersd2y ago

There is no ambiguity here.

danjc2y ago

It's a terrible pronoun since that usage is a retrofit of a word intended to be used as a plural.

zapzupnz2y ago

Singular they dates back to the 14th century. Isn't 600 years long enough to stop quibbling over it?

weego2y ago

Was here to say the same thing. OP ignoring history to double-down on gender bigotry is disappointing to find on HN.

huytersd2y ago

When the gender is unknown. Why apply it in every case?

zapzupnz2y ago

No, not just when the gender is unknown.

wodenokoto2y ago

Do you also avoid “you” when referring to just one person?

GaryNumanVevo2y ago

Retrofit? The singular they has been used in English literature as far back as the 13th century, not exactly recent

Merik2y ago

I know an individual who used to think like that; do you want to know why they changed their mind?

swexbe2y ago

So just like "you"? What's þi problem?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse