Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I thought 'they' is always plural? I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they.


> I thought 'they' is always plural?

You see someone two blocks away doing something unusual and say, "what are they doing?"


Only if you can't determine gender. Otherwise, you'd be "what is she/he doing?"

It's usually clear from context. How often do you look two blocks away and see a group of unrelated individuals doing different things to the point "what are they doing" is unclear? Can't say I've ever run into that in my 48 years.


> Only if you can't determine gender

Sure, that's why I said 2 blocks away. The point is "they" is not exclusively used for plural, which was the claim I was replying to.


They also refers to the abstract "one."


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they

You might just not notice it.


Oh, I know singular they is used/exists. I'm only pointing out that there is more precise language available most of the time, should it be needed - either she/he or adding details elsewhere in the conversation.


They can refer to a single person.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: