Forms of they with singular noun phrase antecedents: Evidence from current educated English usage

• Miriam Watkins Meyers ^[1]
  1. [1] Metropolitan State University

     Metropolitan State University

     City of Saint Paul, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Word: Journal of the International Linguistic Association, ISSN-e 2373-5112, ISSN 0043-7956, Vol. 44, Nº 2, 1993, págs. 181-192
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • A number of twentieth century English usage scholars and grammarians have examined use of the usually plural pronoun they with singular antecedents, particularly with indefinite pronouns. Though recent treatments have observed its use with singular noun phrases headed by sex-neutral nouns as well and have judged it acceptable, resistance to the form remains strong. This paper offers current evidence of this use of they in the speech and writing of cultured English speakers and writers and comments on its properties.