![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Here's a new one.
Mar. 28th, 2013 10:18 amFirst, an interesting post from Language Log on singular they when the gender in question isn't.
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4475
The only issue I have with singular they is that it overlaps with plural they, but of course nobody complains that plural -s overlaps with possessive 's, and it's the same sort of thing, isn't it? At least, it is if unproofread signs are any indication!
But lots of people don't like singular they, and they don't have to use it. Others might be just fine with it, but rephrase specific sentences to sound more formal and/or less awkward.
Which might explain how an aftercare program came up with the sentence "On days when students are not taking a class, he/she participates in games, art projects, or more." Well, mistakes happen.
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4475
The only issue I have with singular they is that it overlaps with plural they, but of course nobody complains that plural -s overlaps with possessive 's, and it's the same sort of thing, isn't it? At least, it is if unproofread signs are any indication!
But lots of people don't like singular they, and they don't have to use it. Others might be just fine with it, but rephrase specific sentences to sound more formal and/or less awkward.
Which might explain how an aftercare program came up with the sentence "On days when students are not taking a class, he/she participates in games, art projects, or more." Well, mistakes happen.
