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From: lje@mtfmp.UUCP (L.ELSER)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Grammar and Spelling on the Net and Elsewhere
Message-ID: <568@mtfmp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 28-Feb-86 09:26:14 EST
Article-I.D.: mtfmp.568
Posted: Fri Feb 28 09:26:14 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 16:24:30 EST
References: <235@pttesac.UUCP> <33100034@ISM780.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 21

Diane Holt writes

>If a person can't take the time to learn their own language...
                                          ^^^^^
The mixing of singlular and plural here bothers me, but I
find it infinitely less offensive than the use of a masculine
pronoun where no gender need be specified, OR the use of a form
which attracts attention to itself, like his/her.

If sexist language is ever going to fall away, what comes after 
must not look like a poor compromise.  It is important for writers
to avoid his/her for less obvious solutions.

I would have recast the sentence as:
"If people can't take the time to learn their own language..."

When in doubt, try throwing the whole sentence into the plural.
It oftem works.

Lisa