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this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2024
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No Stupid Questions
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What would you say are better? I find singular they much more elegant than a lot of the new words that were made up. The fact that to apply it to a known individual, rather than an unknown individual seems like a natural extension of the usage that has existed for centuries.
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."
Perhaps in a hundred years, once the old way of making the distinction is long forgotten, a new one will arise.
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.
Not all of the complaints are motivated just by deliberate obstinance. I'm old enough that it was genuinely confusing for me at first in some situations, but young enough that I got used to it after some years. There are still plenty of people out there who haven't done enough conversing with those who habitually default to "they" to get used to it. Not all of them are as old and cranky as Mr. Stallman.