gender inclusive language

[ctivnan]

GENDER INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

The English language has no sex-indefinite, third person pronoun that can be used to describe persons of unspecified gender, so until recently it was considered grammatically correct to use the pronoun, he, his, and him when referring to singular antecedents of unspecified gender.

e.g. Every student is encouraged to limit his formal outline to two pages.

To avoid this non-inclusive pronoun, let's use "their" instead.

e.g. Every student is encouraged to limit their formal outline to two pages.

Here are some more suggestions:

1. Eliminate personal pronouns.
e.g.
Instead of: Every student is required to submit his formal outline.
Use: Every student is required to submit a formal outline.

2. Use she or he / he or she
e.g.
Instead of: A caretaker should give good service if he wants to have more clients.
Use: A caretaker should give good service if he or she wants to have more clients.

3. Use "one"
e.g.
Instead of: A chairperson should listen to all the necessary reports before he makes a decision.
Use: As a chairperson, one should listen to all the necessary reports before a decision is made.

Source: PIFS Gender Inclusive Language Guide, March 2005

:COOL0020: :group: :COOL0020: :group:

[aiepro]

Some English language fanatics still disagree with the use of "their" since it is referring to "every student". I personally like to use suggestions one, two, and three above.

[teddy_alterado]

hello everybody!

[allen1109]

always used his/her or he/she.

no one seems to mind.

[ctivnan]

always used his/her or he/she.

no one seems to mind.

It's also right, but it can be tiring when it's being read out loud. :animal-bear:

[sbenosa]

You're right about that (tiring), Cath. I would not use he/she if I can help it. But more often than not, I find myself using it.

Whenever I can, I try to phrase my sentences using suggestions 1 and 3 above.

"Their" can be marked ungrammatical, so I don't use it.

[glassedeyes]

2. Use she or he / he or she
e.g.
Instead of: A caretaker should give good service is he wants to have more clients.
Use: A caretaker should give good service is he or she wants to have more clients.
I think you have a lil typo there. Instead of "is" I think you meant "if". =D

On topic: What about the use of "man"? In sentences like: "Man ruled the earth."

[ctivnan]

:thankyou:

It's "if" not "is." I'll go and edit, glassedeyes. :BU:

[aiepro]

[/b]I think you have a lil typo there. Instead of "is" I think you meant "if". =D

On topic: What about the use of "man"? In sentences like: "Man ruled the earth."
[/color]

Using "man" in a sentence instead of "people" or "persons" can anger feminist and gender-conscious "individuals." To avoid excluding members of a "group," most writers, speakers, and dreamers. Using "man" only is an archaic form of communication. Modern day thinkers, including "politically correct" advocates tend to be more inclusive. Up to now, I haven't used "he/she" in this post. Ooops. I just did.

:thatsit:

[Maria_maria]

their is actually ungrammatical only in MS Word. We actually accept it in academic circles, especially in the field of World Englishes (Englishes, also, is considered ungrammatical in MS Word.) It will take a while for other people to accept it, but there's certainly nothing wrong with using their.