In a March
24, 2017 op-ed in Texas Center for Community, Poynter Institute writer Kristin
Hare peed herself over the AP Stylebook change allowing the use of “they” as a
singular pronoun. Here is part of her rant:
“So AP plans
to approve a singular ‘they.’ Why stop there? Let's do away with the difference
between its and it's. And plurals and possessives. And equally outdated rules
outlawing misspellings and comma splices.”
Godgod,
Kristin! Why not do away with running your incomplete sentences together!
I knew about
the AP Stylebook change a year ago, but apparently Hare just stumbled across it
or lost an argument with a co-worker.
The “singular
they,” as it is called, is using the word to describe one unknown person or one
unnamed person, not knowing if it is a man or a woman. The argument is “they”
is plural and the subject is singular. Here is an example:
“No teacher
wants this to happen, but they don’t consider the consequence.” “No teacher” is
singular and “they” is plural.
Most of us
use singular they often and with no discomfort or bitter aftertaste.
AP style rightfully
banned the use of “he/she” and “his/her” long ago because it sounds and looks
annoying, such as, “The winning cook must show his/her original submission to
the judges.” The correct line would be, "The winning cook must show their original submission to the judges."
By the way,
in a op-ed published in the Texas Center for Community earlier this year a writer
used “s/he” in place of a singular they. I think s/he needs to have h/her head
examined.
People who
believe written language should not evolve with common usage should use words
like “thee,” “thine” and “thou,” and while their co-workers are avoiding them here
is something else to make them angry: If you were to use “he/she” to refer to
one person, well, “he” is one and “she” is another, and that makes two, which
is plural. Right?
Send me your comments at amosnews@yahoo.com
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