faultypidgeon@programming.dev to Asklemmy@lemmy.mlEnglish · 30 days agoIt's your first date and she/he asks what type of music you like. What's the guilty pleasure you won't tell her/him about?message-squaremessage-square120fedilinkarrow-up181arrow-down12
arrow-up179arrow-down1message-squareIt's your first date and she/he asks what type of music you like. What's the guilty pleasure you won't tell her/him about?faultypidgeon@programming.dev to Asklemmy@lemmy.mlEnglish · 30 days agomessage-square120fedilink
minus-squareGeometrinen_Gepardi@sopuli.xyzlinkfedilinkarrow-up7arrow-down35·30 days agoBecause “they” refers to multiple people?
minus-squareAlinor@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up40·30 days agoIt doesn’t though. They has been used for singular without knowing the gender for a long time.
minus-squareZahille7@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up15·30 days agoLike at least since English has been a language.
minus-squareEvkob@lemmy.calinkfedilinkarrow-up28arrow-down2·30 days agoSingular “they” actually predates singular “you”.
minus-squareFondots@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up20·30 days agoMy friend forgot their umbrella at the office. They nervously answered the phone. They’re a lazy motherfucker. I gave my friend a hug and wished them a speedy recovery. Any of those sound unusual, or like they’re referring to more than one person?
minus-squarehenfredemars@infosec.publinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up1·29 days agoI was taught this very aggressively in school, but it turns out that it’s just not true and there’s a long history of singular they.
Because “they” refers to multiple people?
It doesn’t though. They has been used for singular without knowing the gender for a long time.
Like at least since English has been a language.
Singular “they” actually predates singular “you”.
My friend forgot their umbrella at the office.
They nervously answered the phone.
They’re a lazy motherfucker.
I gave my friend a hug and wished them a speedy recovery.
Any of those sound unusual, or like they’re referring to more than one person?
I was taught this very aggressively in school, but it turns out that it’s just not true and there’s a long history of singular they.