TubeNet

LJV wrote:*I choose to use the generic "his" or "he." I know "he/she"s do exist and if you are a "he/she", please don't be offended. "His" and "he" make more sense to me. I also don't subscribe to the opinion that seemingly many children's book authors and self-help parenting book authors do that all children are "she."

Wouldn't it have been easier to use "their" instead of explaining why you used "his".

Tubaryan12 wrote:

LJV wrote:*I choose to use the generic "his" or "he." I know "he/she"s do exist and if you are a "he/she", please don't be offended. "His" and "he" make more sense to me. I also don't subscribe to the opinion that seemingly many children's book authors and self-help parenting book authors do that all children are "she."

Wouldn't it have been easier to use "their" instead of explaining why you used "his".

Lots of people do exactly that. The problem with it is that "their" is plural, not singular (possessive form of "they"), so -- unless you're referring to more than one person operating a single computer -- you wind up missing the mark. Again, though, many people do misuse it that way, so -- if you're so inclined -- have at it! "We understand" ...

Ah, yes one great failing of the English language: no non-gender specific second person pronoun.

iiipopes wrote:Ah, yes one great failing of the English language: no non-gender specific second person pronoun.

"Its" is about as close as we get.

Kevin Hendrick wrote: "Its" is about as close as we get.

But then you get into ex girlfriends who "it" could be a very accurate description.

Kevin Hendrick wrote:

Tubaryan12 wrote:

LJV wrote:*I choose to use the generic "his" or "he." I know "he/she"s do exist and if you are a "he/she", please don't be offended. "His" and "he" make more sense to me. I also don't subscribe to the opinion that seemingly many children's book authors and self-help parenting book authors do that all children are "she."

Wouldn't it have been easier to use "their" instead of explaining why you used "his".

Lots of people do exactly that. The problem with it is that "their" is plural, not singular (possessive form of "they"), so -- unless you're referring to more than one person operating a single computer -- you wind up missing the mark. Again, though, many people do misuse it that way, so -- if you're so inclined -- have at it! "We understand" ...

I am so inclined......and this is why I love this place.

....since I'm getting an English lesson today...would it be proper to use the word "the" instead?

Tubaryan12 wrote:....since I'm getting an English lesson today...would it be proper to use the word "the" instead?

Now there's a thought! Just went back and looked at the original post -- that would work.

Thanks to those for the correction. Sometimes trying to be a smart a$$ can actually make you smarter.

This is a great place, isn't it? (thank you, Sean!)