Is there a single neutral word......

[rwsmith]

Is there a single neutral word for he/she in the English language? You could just say, 'they' but that is plural when you are writing about an either/or situation.

You language, Etymology, grammar experts help me out here.

It seems to me that the old words thee and thou cover a lot of ground but I'm not sure it's the best.

ex. If a man or woman is qualified, then XXX must fill out a a form.

Is 'they' accepted to work in this situation?

I don't mind using he or she once or twice in a report, but dang, there must be a better way.

Help, please

 

[chaparrito]

Try using other descriptives. Like "the applicant", or "the accused" or whatever. English used to default to the male, but not any more. In an article or a report it's also fine to switch back and forth from he to she or his to her. You see that all the time these days. 'They' is also acceptable following grammar guidelines.

 

[k22fan]

[...] ex. If a man or woman is qualified, then XXX must fill out a a form.

Is 'they' accepted to work in this situation? [...]

They is not necessarily plural therefor it is not only acceptable, it is correct.

Quoting my 1979 unabridged Webster's "2. people (or a person) generally or indefinitely; as, they say it's so."

 

[2ffat]

With all the confusion with the sexes, I would say "it" would be acceptable.

 

[ExcitableBoy]

Sex descriptives are almost a hanging offense, nowadays. No longer is it "alderman" or "alderwoman", for example. It is now "alderperson", or just plain "alder". It drives me nuts; I always thought an alder was a tree.

In these times of PC gender-neutrality, it is oft best to use someone's workplace title, such as Dept. XXX Supervisor, for fear of offending the snowflakes. There are elementary schools where teachers are not allowed to call children "boys" or "girls"...

Maybe just assign everyone a badge, or a UPC tattoo inventory number, and refer to them as Worker Drone XXXX?

I'd fit right in, as I still have my dog-tags laying around somewhere.

"I feel like a number..." --- Bob Seger

 

[Tom S.]

How about "you'uns"?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

In journalistic endeavors one acceptable alternative is to use the person's last name after he or she has previously been identified. It offers at least a reprieve from PC and boring.

I agree with k22fan; "they" is not incorrect.

Quite sure I'd not run with "it."

I'd suggest asking those for whom you're writing the report. Perhaps "they" have a preference since they'll be reading it.

 

[Muss Muggins]

"Ze."

I am not making this up . . .

 

[Rustyt1953]

I also believe 'they' works.

So does 'Pat'.

 

[CCHGN]

Is there a single neutral word for he/she in the English language? You could just say, 'they' but that is plural when you are writing about an either/or situation.

Yes, the word you're looking for is "you".

If he/she are qualified( which ever one, AND THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE), YOU must fill out the required paperwork.

 

[Erich]

While "he" is still the proper neutral gender word, "s/he" has been acceptable for the quarter century I've been practicing law. I am deeply troubled by the "they" that I see used by young people - I don't know whether they're using it because they're ignorant or because they are snowflakes who were taught by idiots, but neither choice makes me happy.



Thank God I don't have kids.

 

[k22fan]

Where Bellevue College's students were formerly asked to check male or female they are now given a list of modern choices including "undecided." By the time we were 18 we had looked down.

Here's a grammar question that does not involve modern ideas of what's acceptable.

Example: Yesterday a member posted a rumor that the owner of Registered Magnum #1, who's condition is unknown, turned down $250,000.

What word replaces who's for an inanimate object?

 

[Texas Star]

I suppose that one could refer to them as "one." Or as the suspect, etc.

This PC stuff is getting totally excessive.

 

[mtgianni]

Carbon based unit.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I almost tripped over a skewed personhole cover a few days ago...

Good grief.

John

 

[427mach1]

I almost tripped over a skewed personhole cover a few days ago...

Good grief.

John

And I was nearly stung by a Portuguese Person of War at the beach the other day....

 

[federali]

Best not to speak

At least our language is gender-neutral. French and Italian would be a bit easier to learn if everything didn't need to be preceded by a masculine or feminine descriptive term.

I recently saw a TV show where a failure to use the correct descriptive term preferred by the person being addressed could be considered sexual harassment, especially in the workplace.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

 

[Alpo]

Where Bellevue College's students were formerly asked to check male or female they are now given a list of modern choices including "undecided." By the time we were 18 we had looked down.

Here's a grammar question that does not involve modern ideas of what's acceptable.

Example: Yesterday a member posted a rumor that the owner of Registered Magnum #1, who's condition is unknown, turned down $250,000.

What word replaces who's for an inanimate object?

There is no WORD.

The correct phrasing would be, "...Registered Magnum #1, THE CONDITION OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN, turned down..."

 

[eveled]

Interesting to me that some trades are gender based and some are not. Fire man, police man, as opposed to plumber or blacksmith or president.

Back to the OPs question, I was taught if you weren't sure of the gender of the person, to use he/she, or him/her, and that they was incorrect, in that non plural usage.