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Subject:Re: he or she? (fwd) From:Matt Hicks <matt -at- UNIDATA -dot- UCAR -dot- EDU> Date:Fri, 2 Sep 1994 13:28:56 -0600
Seen on the copyediting list. Found this particular tidbit interesting.
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Matt Hicks, Tech. Writer, Unidata * I may not agree with what you
Boulder, CO, (303)497-8676, ******* say, but I'll defend to the
matt -at- unidata -dot- ucar -dot- edu ************* death my right to mock you.
This problem just won't go away. You are right about the relative recency of
the requirement that a "singular" pronoun be used with a singular verb; at
the same time, that kind of requirement does appeal to most copyeditors. The
Association of American University Presses, however, has recently urged that
we revert to the older practice of using "they," "them," and so on, so as to
avoid gender exclusive language.
