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From: hedden@atux01.UUCP (D. Hedden)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: "he or she" - a grammatical problem solved
Message-ID: <182@atux01.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 11:20:03 EST
Article-I.D.: atux01.182
Posted: Tue Mar 11 11:20:03 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Mar-86 04:21:42 EST
References: <2859@amdahl.UUCP> <830@cylixd.UUCP> <978@h-sc1.UUCP> <606@hoptoad.uucp>
Organization: CSEd, AT&T Communications, Piscataway, N.J.
Lines: 17
Summary: Some help with the problem

I deleted all the previous text, since this really doesn't need it
for clarity.

Frequently, but definitely not always, the entire problem can be
eliminated by saying only what is necessary. For example, "Each
person must decide for himself ..." raises the possibility of
"himself/herself" or "himself or herself".  But in the original
"for himself" is superfluous, "Each person must decide ..." means
exactly the same thing.

I will add to the debate, however, by casting my vote on the side
of having some kind of gender neutral pronoun in the language.  The
problem is how to get it into use.

   "The moving hand writes ..."

    Don