Bad grammar... arg!

[conuly]

Congratulations go to Tymide the Eyrie, they have just won the new Pet Spotlight award.

Am I the only one noticing this? Okay, I know that on neopets you might wanna use gender neutral words, pets can change quickly using the lab ray, but...

Is it *so* hard to say "who has just won" instead of "they have just won"? You're talking about ONE pet, you need to use a SINGULAR pronoun. DUH.

Minor, as rants go, but irksome nonetheless.

Comments

[heychief.livejournal.com]

you like languages? me too.
not that i study them much or anything, but i have a general interest.
i've read a bunch, and twice i sort of made up my own with a friend.

(ps: 'they' can be singular aswell)

[conuly]

No, it can't. Not unless the alternative is more awkward, which, in this case, it isn't.

[heychief.livejournal.com]

they (pron)
2. Used to refer to the one previously mentioned or implied, especially as a substitute for generic he

[conuly]

Which this sentance doesn't take. It *should* use a gender specific pronoun as we know the sex of the pet in question.

Furthermore, stylisticly, "they" is wrong merely because it is awkward. My alternative "who has just won" is more coherant and flows better. Therefore, it is almost as correct as using a gender specific pronoun.

[conuly]

*sentence, sorry.

[heychief.livejournal.com]

but at first, you basically said that using 'they' was incorrect, and now you're saying it isn't neccessary. i'm not trying to turn this into some big fight though, as far as i can see it's a matter of preference. i just wanted to point out that awkward doesn't equal wrong ;p

[conuly]

Yes, awkward *does* equal wrong. Especially when it is both awkward and illogical.

It is incorrect. It's not a matter of preference, unless your preference is to increase confusion and sound stupid. If that's the case, sure, do that. But in this case, there is no good reason to chose they over 1. "he" or "she" (not "he or she", but whichever one applies... in fact, that would be the best option) or, barring that 2. who. In fact, there are numerous *good* reasons for choosing one of those over they, starting with the fact that a sexed animal should be refered to with the appropriate pronoun.

Unless you have something new to say which may possibly change my mind, please go away. I don't have time for this.

If it irritates you so much, rant about me in your own journal. This is my journal, I can hold whichever opinions I like, even if you happen to (wrongly, IMHO) disagree.

Current Mood: irritated

[mhari.livejournal.com]

Indeed. *pokes them*

[heychief.livejournal.com]

you like languages? me too.
not that i study them much or anything, but i have a general interest.
i've read a bunch, and twice i sort of made up my own with a friend.

(ps: 'they' can be singular aswell)

[conuly]

No, it can't. Not unless the alternative is more awkward, which, in this case, it isn't.

[heychief.livejournal.com]

they (pron)
2. Used to refer to the one previously mentioned or implied, especially as a substitute for generic he

[conuly]

Which this sentance doesn't take. It *should* use a gender specific pronoun as we know the sex of the pet in question.

Furthermore, stylisticly, "they" is wrong merely because it is awkward. My alternative "who has just won" is more coherant and flows better. Therefore, it is almost as correct as using a gender specific pronoun.

[conuly]

*sentence, sorry.

[heychief.livejournal.com]

but at first, you basically said that using 'they' was incorrect, and now you're saying it isn't neccessary. i'm not trying to turn this into some big fight though, as far as i can see it's a matter of preference. i just wanted to point out that awkward doesn't equal wrong ;p

[conuly]

Yes, awkward *does* equal wrong. Especially when it is both awkward and illogical.

It is incorrect. It's not a matter of preference, unless your preference is to increase confusion and sound stupid. If that's the case, sure, do that. But in this case, there is no good reason to chose they over 1. "he" or "she" (not "he or she", but whichever one applies... in fact, that would be the best option) or, barring that 2. who. In fact, there are numerous *good* reasons for choosing one of those over they, starting with the fact that a sexed animal should be refered to with the appropriate pronoun.

Unless you have something new to say which may possibly change my mind, please go away. I don't have time for this.

If it irritates you so much, rant about me in your own journal. This is my journal, I can hold whichever opinions I like, even if you happen to (wrongly, IMHO) disagree.

Current Mood: irritated

[mhari.livejournal.com]

Indeed. *pokes them*