In article <9301251910.AA16365 at net.bio.net> MCCAINKW at DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU (Kate) writes:
[...elided material....]
set of expectations. For the "strong constructionist" of the force of
>language and implications of word choice, the answer is usually the
>rhetorically clumsy "his/her, " "s/he" or maintaining the specific noun
>as referent rather than substituting the pronoun. All of these produce, as
It is much simpler to use "they" as 3rd personal singular. It has the
advantage of having been accepted usage at one time (the 19th
century). I use it all the time in conversation and no one ever
notices. People always notice things like "her/his", while "they" is
rarely notice so it puzzles me that "they" as a solution hardly ever
comes up.
In writing I make the sentences plural so I have no problem.
--
Ronald Schoenberg fax: 206-727-6521
University of Washington email: rons at u.washington.edu
