grammar! "they" vs. "he or she"

[thirtythree]

I've generally been taught that it's incorrect to use they as a singular pronoun, but m-w.com says:

The use of they, their, them, and themselves as pronouns of indefinite gender and indefinite number is well established in speech and writing, even in literary and formal contexts. This gives you the option of using the plural pronouns where you think they sound best, and of using the singular pronouns (as he, she, he or she, and their inflected forms) where you think they sound best.

does that mean it's all right? do magazines, newspapers, etc. ever use it in that way? it's such a pain to say "he or she" every time or try to reword the whole sentence so you don't have to.

 

[hytek369]

you use "they" to refer to more than one person, "he or "she" for one individual. just because morons can't distinguish that, does not mean it is correct.

 

[konichiwa]

It is NOT correct:

kuro5hin

 

[Ikonomi]

It isn't correct to use "they" to refer to a single person. 🙂 Merriam Webster makes a great dictionary, but their usage rules are way, way too loose for my tastes. Use "he or she" if you like, or you can even use just "he", especially if you're writing. I find "he or she" to be cumbersome, personally, so I just go for the "he".

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: hytek369
you use "they" to refer to more than one person, "he or "she" for one individual. just because morons can't distinguish that, does not mean it is correct.

and every one to rest themselves betake -- Shakespeare
I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly -- Jane Austen
it is too hideous for anyone in their senses to buy -- W. H. Auden
'tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear the speech -- Shakespeare
a person can't help their birth -- W. M. Thackeray
no man goes to battle to be killed. -- But they do get killed -- G. B. Shaw

all morons?

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: thirtythree

Originally posted by: hytek369
you use "they" to refer to more than one person, "he or "she" for one individual. just because morons can't distinguish that, does not mean it is correct.

and every one to rest themselves betake -- Shakespeare
I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly -- Jane Austen
it is too hideous for anyone in their senses to buy -- W. H. Auden
'tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear the speech -- Shakespeare
a person can't help their birth -- W. M. Thackeray
no man goes to battle to be killed. -- But they do get killed -- G. B. Shaw

all morons?

All HACKS! 😛

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: thirtythree

Originally posted by: hytek369
you use "they" to refer to more than one person, "he or "she" for one individual. just because morons can't distinguish that, does not mean it is correct.

and every one to rest themselves betake -- Shakespeare
I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly -- Jane Austen
it is too hideous for anyone in their senses to buy -- W. H. Auden
'tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear the speech -- Shakespeare
a person can't help their birth -- W. M. Thackeray
no man goes to battle to be killed. -- But they do get killed -- G. B. Shaw

all morons?

"Themselves" comes from the "every" in that case. Correct, and better than saying "every one to rest himself betake".

"They" for "everybody". Again, correct.

"Anyone" and "their"... Hmm. I think that's incorrect.

"Them" is referring to mothers. Correct.

"A person" and "their" is incorrect.

"They" is a reference to soldiers or men in the broader sense, not necessarily to the phrase directly preceding. Correct, like Shakespeare's mothers up there.