@faultypidgeon@programming.dev to Asklemmy@lemmy.mlEnglish • 6 months 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-square102fedilinkarrow-up144arrow-down11
arrow-up143arrow-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 • 6 months agomessage-square102fedilink
minus-square@Geometrinen_Gepardi@sopuli.xyzlinkfedilink-13•6 months agoBecause “they” refers to multiple people?
minus-squareEvkob (they/them)linkfedilink17•6 months agoSingular “they” actually predates singular “you”.
minus-squareAlinorlinkfedilink13•6 months agoIt doesn’t though. They has been used for singular without knowing the gender for a long time.
minus-square@Zahille7@lemmy.worldlinkfedilink5•6 months agoLike at least since English has been a language.
minus-square@Fondots@lemmy.worldlinkfedilink9•6 months 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-square@henfredemars@infosec.publinkfedilinkEnglish1•5 months 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?
Singular “they” actually predates singular “you”.
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.
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.