What do you think of singular "they"?

1 Answer

Answer :

answer:It’s already pretty well embraced. I file formal documents with the Federal Government, they as a singular pronoun has been accepted for at least ten years, while the “proper grammar” use of he as a general singular pronoun always brings comment to add or she. My son also says it is acceptable to use they at his high school.

Related questions

Description : Is "anyone" in singular or plural?

Last Answer : answer:Anyone and Everyone have different meanings. Everyone is all inclusive: Everyone in the bar got drunk last night. If I worded it Anyone in the bar got drunk last night - it doesn't make ... from Does everyone want to play checkers? Anyone implies one or more, but not the whole group.

Description : English question about singular countable nouns and countable nouns?

Last Answer : answer:Uncountable abstract nouns can be used as countable nouns in the partitive, which is used to denote a subset of something. A knowledge of English is the partitive. It means a kind or ... is countable has nothing to do with whether you can measure it. It is just a grammatical property.

Description : What's the deal with plural verb tense applied to a singular corporate entity?

Last Answer : It’s a British English convention.

Description : Do you think we should stop teaching cursive writing?

Last Answer : My daughter was never taught it.

Description : Do you think it would be nice to have a punctuation mark that's more enthusiastic than a period but indicates less excitement than an exclamation point?

Last Answer : You make a very good and interesting point, @jca It reminds me of the many times that I used a period, and it seemed too flat. So I changed it to an exclamation point, and that seemed WAY too much. We ... symbol. Something like this ++ Or maybe, this >>> In any case, please consider me on board ..

Description : How to think about “is obtained from” and “ is obtained by”??

Last Answer : answer:The first usage seems to indicate some sort of extractive process, such as mining: coal is obtained from the earth, for example. The second indicates more of a process (even if it might be the same process, ... source of some kind, and by shows more of a how - at least to this reader.

Description : Do you think this sentence is perfect, if not, could you give me some suggestions?

Last Answer : answer:Not perfect and I'm not sure I can correct, because I'm not sure exactly what you want and need to say. Here is my best attempt: By streamlining the design Tom hopes people will pay ... solid form and the plastic form. The design is intended as a salute to the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Description : How many hidden (from me) mistakes do you think I made in the last question I asked?

Last Answer : PM/ Email it to some of the grammar-nazi’s here first, they’d probably love to critique you.

Description : To my fellow Fluther grammarians: do you think this deserves to be an official Fluther shirt?

Last Answer : answer:No. It is too busy, too ugly and too derivative. I still cherish the one that Andrew’s mom sent me years ago… I am the grammarian about whom your mother warned you.

Description : What do you think about politically correct signs for disabled?

Last Answer : answer:My county recently replaced Blind Driveway (that being, a driveway that is not visible from the road) with Hidden Driveway . It made me chuckle for a moment, but it does make sense. I remember ... occur with overuse of the terms. Once upon a time, moron and idiot were medical terms.

Description : What do you think about politically correct signs for disabled?

Last Answer : answer:My county recently replaced Blind Driveway (that being, a driveway that is not visible from the road) with Hidden Driveway . It made me chuckle for a moment, but it does make sense. I remember ... occur with overuse of the terms. Once upon a time, moron and idiot were medical terms.

Description : What do you think will happen to English in the next 30-40 years?

Last Answer : The way we communicate throughout the world already dooms us to the same language, English is sure to be the world language of the future. Unless aliens invade and decide to make us slaves and speak their language trough grunts and snarls.

Description : From which language do you think this was translated?

Last Answer : Pirate?

Description : Why do people always put YOUR when they mean YOU'RE? Is it that difficult?

Last Answer : (Lack of (good)) education, coupled with the fact that they, phonetically, practically sound the same?

Description : How often do people need to refer to someone whose name they don't know?

Last Answer : I refer to people by their job title UNTIL I learn their name & I then call them by their name because they are often MORE than just their job title & I consider them a friend!!!

Description : Do I use "who" or "whom" in "regardless of whom they work for"?

Last Answer : Substitute “he” or “him”. They work for him. Therefore use whom. They don’t work for he So don’t use who

Description : How do I write the statement, "I hope the new parts work as well as they look." correctly?

Last Answer : answer:You can't do it that way. Things work well, but look good. They can't agree perfectly. I would suggest that you say, The parts arrived and look beautiful. I hope they work as well! ... simply, The parts arrived and look beautiful. I look forward to trying them out! Or something similar.

Description : When people see two rainbows together, why do they often call them a "double rainbow" instead of "double rainbows"?

Last Answer : Possibly because one is a ghost of the other, less brilliant and more smoky. Probably just because it developed as part of the vernacular, like many deer, moose and fish but several coyotes, wolves and eels.

Description : Why do they never use apostrophes in road signs?

Last Answer : Because they’ve been overused (or in some cases used up entirely) at the grocery store, where they sell “Egg’s”.

Description : If you ask someone "do you smoke?" and they reply "cigarettes?" are they inadvertently telling you they smoke pot?

Last Answer : Sometimes. You have to look them in the face. You will get the pot head glint. Knowing it is all cool.

Description : Can both first person and third person be used in an autobiography?

Last Answer : It might be used effectively by a really skillful author but it sounds like your friend is a novice so I would steer her away from that idea. Generally it would not be used.

Description : Why is it upper bound and lower bound and not higher bound and lower bound?

Last Answer : My first search revealed this is a mathematical concept. So you should direct this question to whoever first coined the term. The definition is below. https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/upper-bound.html

Description : Please may you identify and resolve the problems in my online test taking?

Last Answer : I can't offer a diagnosis, but I can readily tell you your grammar is good. You rarely make errors in your writing on here, and we look for poor English. I think taking online tests is ... would not put great importance on the result. Perhaps you could view it lightheartedly. You could try anyway.

Description : What are some tricks to discover a bot?

Last Answer : RedDeerGuy1, could you please restate the question? I can’t tell whether you’re talking about here on Fluther or elsewhere, and if you’re thinking of texts or email or some other medium. And I don’t quite know what you mean by tricks. I assume you’re referring to spambots, but maybe not—?

Description : How far can I raise my test scores, from going on a low FODMAP diet for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)?

Last Answer : How are we supposed to be able to answer this? Keep up the good work and let us know how you are doing. You have nothing to lose and stand to gain in health and getting into a university. Are you still planning to go to a university? How many years has it been?

Description : Who is the instigator of the action in this combination?

Last Answer : I interpret it as I don’t like the fact he’s reading books. I don’t completely understand either of your interpretations.

Description : The use of the word "warrant"?

Last Answer : They aren't incorrect. They are a bit awkward. People don't use warranted in that manner in everyday speech, especially in the second example. Warranted implies ether a sort of authorization, ... reason or justification. Those sense would not be used in a conversation about someone seeking a job.

Description : What is the best spell checker website that doesn't require you to sign up?

Last Answer : I don’t know that a best spell checker is required. You just need something that checks spelling. GOOGLE “spell checker” for lists of free services.

Description : Should exclamation points and question marks be at the beginning of a sentence?

Last Answer : Perhaps. They do do that in Spanish.

Description : Famous with or among?

Last Answer : You could say either, preferably among of those two, but neither is a common preposition to sue with famous . Much more common (by a ratio of 9:1) is famous in , though that requires not ... in US teenage pop culture. See https://lingohelp.me/preposition-after-adjective/famous-for-in-of-by-as/

Description : What is the difference between these two sentences? (Have been/were)

Last Answer : There are two possibilities. She might start wondering before you arrive, in which case I would say, If you are late she will be wondering where you are. Alternatively, she might start wondering at the time ... in which case I would say, If you are late, she will be wondering where you had been.

Description : Is the use of "have eaten" correct in this sentence?

Last Answer : have not

Description : What is the difference between these two sentences?

Last Answer : Was is in the past.

Description : The use of articles?

Last Answer : No 1 is correct. No native English speaker would use 2 or 3.

Description : What periods of time are implied?

Last Answer : Can you illustrate when studying takes place in each of them. When? In all three sentences, the studying took place before the exam. How long before the actual exam? It is unclear. We can only ... exam. It suggests that the person put more effort rather than more time in studying for the exam.

Description : The combination of tenses?

Last Answer : I don’t know if “were” should be interpreted as past tense. It might be a subjunctive. When you say “We have thought”, it creates a hypothetical.

Description : What is the difference among "have been", "having been", and "have been doing"? What is the difference between "have been doing" and "have been here"?

Last Answer : I am drafting a response to your questions, but also want to know why you are being so analytical of this sort of thing: 1. To be able to explain this to your mom? 2. To strengthen ... the differences of the verb forms you are wanting to understand without having some basic knowledge of the above.

Description : What is the difference between "being" and "having been"?

Last Answer : This is why literacy is important. Being able to read the words helps to understand grammar and pronunciation. In fact, we can observe that dialects partly evolve from illiteracy, although to be clear ... it wrong again. There are exceptions in English since the spelling of so many words is unusual.

Description : Can "que" ever translate to "it" or does "que" only translate to "that"?

Last Answer : Que can translate to that, than, who , whom , which , what , or and in English. I don't see a way to make que mean it . See https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary ... com/questions/38119/what-is-the-meaning-of-que-fu%C3%B1enga Sounds like it is sort of like how crappy or something.

Description : Is it "Latinos para (Trump/Biden)" or "Latinos por (Trump/Biden)"?

Last Answer : Por Latinos por Biden.

Description : Why is it Tengo un libro para ti instead of Tengo un libro por ti? Isn't por used for exchanges? The sentence Tengo un libro por ti indicates that I will give you something and giving is exchanging, right? Please help.

Last Answer : Exchange means trade or swap: you give them something and they give you something back for it. It's not a gift, its one thing traded for another: I give you the book and you give me a scarf. So maybe ... a gift. I don't know the Spanish rules at all, but I can see that you're misusing exchange.

Description : What is this type of person called?

Last Answer : You could say they are recalcitrant.

Description : Grammar question: where is the line between the passive voice and (to be) as a linking verb?

Last Answer : Here is how I see it. For a word to be an adjective, it must be describing some object. If you say, The pot was watched , watched is not a property of the pot. There is an irony in ... would ordinarily be on the current state of the pot rather than acts of tarnishing that had been made on it.

Description : What's the difference in the meaning of the following sentences?

Last Answer : He was handsome, tall and a musician. The words after was describe he, the subject of the sentence. He was a handsome, tall musician. Handsome and tall describe musician, which is ... then sentence. Ultimately, the sentences are talking about the same thing using different ways of getting there.

Description : In the game show Wheel of Fortune has anyone ever bought an y?

Last Answer : No, you only have to pay for A, E, I, O and U. Y is always treated as a consonant

Description : Isn't the phrase "I'm sorry for your loss" grammatically incorrect?

Last Answer : I think it could mean: “I feel sorry for you, that you lost your brother”. It’s not not so much an apologetic sentence as it is an empathic one.

Description : How do you tell the difference between a backslash and a forwardslash?

Last Answer : Think of it this way: we read left to right. Which slash is leaning forward (left to right) and which is leaning back (right to left)? / = forward \ = back

Description : What is the verb form of daunting ?

Last Answer : Daunt

Description : Would you post good links that explain when to use who and whom?

Last Answer : Where would you find a “good” link? Maybe a book on grammar?

Description : Is the secret goal of Merv Griffins, Wheel of Fortune, to teach Americans not to use different dialects, or slang?

Last Answer : No. Why would that be a goal? What would be gained from that? And suppose it were a goal of the Merv Griffin production company. How effective would it be to spread their philosophy through one pissant game show?