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From: gdh@calmasd.Prime.COM (Gerald Hall)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc
Subject: Re: The nature of wizards
Keywords: they
Message-ID: <1882@calmasd.Prime.COM>
Date: 16 Oct 90 15:32:46 GMT
References: <270B296A.17D3@tct.uucp> <3975@viper.Lynx.MN.Org> <2719D550.51BE@tct.uucp>
Organization: Calma - A Division of Prime Computers
Lines: 19

In article <2719D550.51BE@tct.uucp> chip@tct.uucp (Chip Salzenberg) writes:
>According to dave@viper.Lynx.MN.Org (David Messer):
>>"To avoid confusing the reader by using a gender-specific pronoun where
>>proper English usage is to use a gender-unspecified pronoun, namely 'he.'"
>proper English usage may change to the optional
>use of "she" or "he" according to the whim of the writer.
>
Like it or not, the proper gender-unspecified singular pronoun is "they".
Various 'grammar fascists' have tried to suppress this usage over the
years by insisting that it is plural, however, the usage by native
speakers is the proper definition of 'correct' grammar and there are
pervasive examples in English literature where "they" is used as the
singular "he or she" equivalent.  Just think of "they" as number-
unspecified (possibly or specifically singular from context) as well
as gender-unspecified.
-- 
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  /	Jerry		CalmaSD UNIX SysAdmin		+1 619 587-3065
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