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From: tainter@ihlpg.UUCP (Tainter)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Grammar and Spelling on the Net
Message-ID: <1739@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Mar-86 14:26:37 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1739
Posted: Thu Mar 27 14:26:37 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Mar-86 15:59:58 EST
References: <235@pttesac.UUCP> <33100034@ISM780.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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> In article <604@mmm.UUCP> mrgofor@mmm.UUCP (MKR) writes:
> >>>
> >>>	"Each person does as they think best."
> >>>
> >	But, but, but... You're saying that you don't care what the 
> >authoritative sources say (can we agree on the OED as an authoritative 
> >source?), *you* think it's wrong, so there! Hmmmm. I think the
> >point is that, according to the OED, the pronoun and the antecedent
> >*do indeed* agree.
> 
> Obviously, I care what authoritative sources state, or I wouldn't have 
> responded.  I have never used the OED as a source of correct grammar.  If
> the OED states that the pronoun and the antecedent in the above example
> do agree, I'd say that's good reason not to rely on the OED for correct
> grammar.  "Person" is singular as is "does."  "They" is plural as is
> "think."  It's obvious the pronoun and its antecedent do not agree.
> Lee
The problem is you seem to think the pronoun and antecedent HAVE TO agree
by some set of RULES made up by language theorists.  You are converting
generalizations into rules.  Natural languages do not have rules.  What is
proper is defined by what will be accepted by the audience.

The language exists first.  Language theorists create generalizations from
the language.  You turn these generalizations into rules.  Someone uses
proper english which clashes with the generalization.  You kark on him for
breaking a rule.  This creates a nice friendly atmosphere for conversation.

--j.a.tainter
Almost but not quite entirely unlike english.