A round up of items as we descend
into the hell of finals.
First, please read this web exhibit on inclusive/bias sensitive language. I want to call attention to a special case in science:
male/female v. men and women
(study distancing? People v. animals; animal model v. clinical applications)
Here is another web guidance document, with a focus on gender particularly.
Why this discussion? In professional settings, we follow the norms tacitly agreed to, with some reference to language experts, including cognitive linguists. This work is a kind of audience sensitivity.
Now, THEIR. Is this a singular or plural pronoun? Guess what: this usage is changing rapidly, in response to spoken speech as well as gendered pronoun awkwardness
What is your take on using Their in the singular in formal writing (instead of his or her)?
I let one get into The Post a few weeks ago! I can't remember the construction, but there was just no way around it.
But a news brief about a robbery in Seat Pleasant or something isn't really formal writing, is it? My cop-out answer continues to be that I'm rooting for the singular their but I don't think it's quite there yet.
It will be, someday. Logic and history and common usage are on its side. For now, though, you risk red marks and purists' scorn, and you're better off trying to write around it.
Please consider affect and effect. Read this web guide on choosing the best word for this common connumdrum in science. for Friday. Consider also the problem of impact and impacted.
We need to go back to consider audiences. I believe we missed talking about this saliva case set of examples.
Marybeth Shea
Post a Comment
Reader Comments