Author Topic: Grammar Gripe (Read 8030 times)

Annie Subjunctive · « **on:** March 23, 2007, 02:14:19 PM »

It's in the forum software and it bugs me. When you send a PM, it says "Thank you for sending a message to Friend's Name. They will be notified when they receive it."

I know that we use they because we don't want to be bigots and use he, but they is plural. I only have one friend!

Jonathon · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:17:58 PM »

You was also originally plural, but we have no problem using it as a singular.

Also, shouldn't this go on the other side?

Porter · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:18:28 PM »

Neither does them.

Jonathon · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:26:44 PM »

Neither does them what?

Porter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:37:43 PM »

Mind using "you" as a singular pronoun.

Them doesn't.

I'm practicing using "them" as a singular pronoun.

Brinestone · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:39:23 PM »

But they is the nominative form, which means you should say, "they doesn't."

Jonathon · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:39:25 PM »

As the subject form, no less.

Edit: Beaten to the punch!

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:45:26 PM »

I'd've put it on the other side, but no one would go there and read it.

Jonathon · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:48:32 PM »

I would've.

Porter · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2007, 02:51:13 PM »

Look at that side as much as I look at this side.

But that's just because I have turned it into gigantic virtual forum by only looking at the "Search for active topics" page.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2007, 03:18:55 PM »

I'm always looking at the other side.

rivka · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2007, 04:26:14 PM »

Quote

You was also originally plural, but we have no problem using it as a singular.

While you were away, Annie, he even convinced me .

Also, I check the other side first.

Megan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2007, 04:27:13 PM »

Break on through to the other side.

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2007, 08:16:55 PM »

OK, I check the other side too.

Jonathon · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2007, 08:37:44 PM »

Quote

While you were away, Annie, he even convinced me .

And I'm so darn proud.

Icarus · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2007, 09:40:18 PM »

You'll never win me over to your "anything goes" brand of lawlessness!

Jonathon · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2007, 09:44:57 PM »

But words gots to be FREE, yo.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2007, 10:00:54 PM »

Quote

It's in the forum software and it bugs me. When you send a PM, it says "Thank you for sending a message to Friend's Name. They will be notified when they receive it."

I know that we use they because we don't want to be bigots and use he, but they is plural. I only have one friend!

What's the alternative to using "they" while still gender-neutral?

Jonathon · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2007, 10:10:01 PM »

"He or she," which I'd argue doesn't even make sense in that context.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2007, 10:50:15 PM »

But those aren't gender-neutral.

Jonathon · « **Reply #20 on:** March 23, 2007, 11:02:45 PM »

"Gender-neutral" in reality sometimes means "not specific to one gender."

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #21 on:** March 23, 2007, 11:50:57 PM »

Oops. I didn't realize that you had quotation marks around the phrase and not the individual words.

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2007, 07:07:31 AM »

I'm perfectly fine using just "he."

Porter · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2007, 07:24:40 AM »

The only thing keeping "he" from being gender-neutral in such contexts is that people refuse to let it be gender neutral.

It certainly is gender-neutral in other languages.

Megan · « **Reply #24 on:** March 24, 2007, 07:27:00 AM »

I prefer the French "on." That one actually is gender neutral, as there's a "she" (elle) and a "he" (il).