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kbal@fedia.io ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

I don't really have a preference myself, but Richard Stallman's continued insistence that "per" is the right answer is the example that comes to mind.

As he puts it, "most languages have genderless singular third-person pronouns which are distinct from the plural pronouns. English deserves to have them too."

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then_three_more@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Always say “they”. This violates the grammar of English so deeply that it feels terribly wrong. It also results frequently in confusing expressions in which the referent of “they” is unclear.

I totally disagree with this. Singular they has been in use since the 14th century or so. It’s so deeply ingrained in the language that is perfectly simple to understand. In fact I’d say that people who claim to not understand it are doing so intentionally.

Perhaps a new word will develop naturally as you say. But personally I don’t see a need for it.

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