tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375681131276548542.post7806958042144419291..comments2024-02-27T10:53:04.581+01:00Comments on paperpools: the pleasures and sorrows of singular theyHelen DeWitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07619602559096610012noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375681131276548542.post-25267173844573952022009-07-09T01:38:21.692+01:002009-07-09T01:38:21.692+01:00Or: "Are you an excellent primary teacher? Do...Or: "Are you an excellent primary teacher? Do you pride yourself . . ."<br /><br />Or: "Are you an excellent primary teacher, and do you pride yourself . . "<br /><br />As opposed to the <i>excellent</i> primary teachers who <i>don't</i> pride themselves?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375681131276548542.post-25682001472315973352009-07-08T13:37:36.058+01:002009-07-08T13:37:36.058+01:00Was it not correct to write: "Are you an exce...Was it not correct to write: "Are you an excellent primary teacher who pride yourself in your method of delivery of the national curriculum?" or "Are you (one) of those excellent primary teachers who pride themselves in their method of delivery of the national curriculum?"Menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375681131276548542.post-83794562651300934502009-07-08T03:13:57.981+01:002009-07-08T03:13:57.981+01:00The only thing vulgar about the sentence in questi...The only thing vulgar about the sentence in question is that the noun case is wrong. It should be "themself" rather than "themselves", as the post is obviously advertised towards people who are singular beings, not plural entities. (People with multiple personalities just had their hopes dashed.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375681131276548542.post-7110878283526243612009-07-08T03:03:30.826+01:002009-07-08T03:03:30.826+01:00The use of "they" as a singular pronoun ...The use of "they" as a singular pronoun has been in common usage for hundreds of years. (Check your local Oxford English Dictionary if you don't believe me.)<br /><br />I find it hilarious that some people are so adamant about not using "they" as a singular pronoun, as if it is the only inconsistency that exists in the English language; the English language is rampant with inconsistencies. <br /><br />It's interesting that some people are so strongly against "they" as a singular pronoun, while at the same time they are perfectly fine with "you" as a singular pronoun. "You" was plural long before it started being used as singular. "They" has simply followed the same tradition. It is more consistent to use both "you" and "they" as both singular and plural than to allow one while the use of the other is cause to be burned at the stake.<br /><br />In other words: get a fucking clue.Will S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375681131276548542.post-55306704015514573362009-07-07T22:59:27.757+01:002009-07-07T22:59:27.757+01:00I assume this is a protest against the plural used...I assume this is a protest against the plural used as a way of avoiding a pronoun with a gender. If so, I agree wholeheartedly. This has got to stop!<br /><br />But it won't.Cecilio Moraleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283375962527765787noreply@blogger.com