• @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    589 months ago

    It’s not though. Singular they goes back to middle English (14th century) it was just grammar Nazis in the 18th century that tried to stamp it out.

    • gregorum
      link
      fedilink
      English
      29 months ago

      i didn’t know that. i genuinely thought it was a new/contemporaneous usage.

      TIL

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        99 months ago

        It was more for an unknown individual than a known one, but extending it the way it has been is a very natural progression

        So an example where you don’t know the individual would be

        Somebody left their umbrella in the office. Could you please let them know where they can get it?

        The more modern extended usage that people seem so up in arms about would be

        Kate left their umbrella in the office. Could you please let them know where they can get it?

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          19 months ago

          Well done. I do occasionally find the singular “they” confusing, but not always, and I wasn’t quite sure why. Now I know. Thanks!