I just love reading a random blog and seeing, in the comments, someone roundly and smugly criticize someone else for using singular 'they'. I especially love it when that comment is followed up by a person basically saying how it's the result of how uneducated modern people are.
Look, you may not like it, but a) it's been in use a long, long time, b) it's accepted professionally by some editors and style guides, c) IMO, it's a lot less clunky than saying 'he or she', and d) (also IMO) it's a lot less bother than rewording your sentences entirely to avoid it.
If you're going to bitch about it, at least show some awareness that it's a matter of opinion.
Next up: I will tackle the myth of the double negative in my essay, "Why conversation is not mathematics."
Thursday, December 3, 2009
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