I always default to "they," "them," "one," or "the __," with the blank filled by the classification of the actor. For example, were I am talking about an interaction in a video game, I would say "the player." I'm not really comfortable using "he" since "they" or "them" makes more sense to me, but I can accept if that's technically wrong. I'm also used to placing commas outside of the quotation marks, which I've been told is technically incorrect according to American English rules, but correct in British English rules.
Anyways, I wouldn't try using "ze/zhe" on a paper. If it's considered slang then it isn't accepted, and I imagine it would get the same reception as words like "ain't."
they/them. There are other terms that have been mentioned but those are either only accepted by a minority as real words or are considered insulting (shim, shemale, etc)
"Hen" is just gender-neutral bullshit by those who think gender is merely a social construct
Active WoW player Jan 2006 - Aug 2020
Occasional WoW Classic Andy since.
Nothing lasts forever, as they say.
But at least I can casually play Classic and remember when MMORPGs were good.
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Okay, let's regain at least a little composure, shall we? A few months ago before I took this Honors World Literature class, I would have seen the sentence "If a student doesn't study, they will fail." and see nothing wrong with it. But man, I can't even type that now without getting the heeby jeebies.
You can fix it by saying
1. "If students don't study, they will fail." or
2. "If a student doesn't study, he or she will fail."
They're both fine, but number two can be wordy. Just shorten it to he (some say it's sexist, but even my pro-woman teacher says just to say he).
Please don't use zhe or other stupid words like that. I usually try to be tolerant of others on these forums and avoid words like "stupid", but I won't hesitate in this place.
Also, don't use one. "If a student doesn't study, one will fail." That doesn't work. Don't use "it" either; it's not a very human word.
Finally, everyone on this thread is telling you to use "they". akjsdhfajksherlhakdjshkrhserjhasliuHrelkiawEslaahfslidhfadhlihrjfhsldhfajk
"They" is wrong. "They" is used for more than one person. However, people are silly and sooner or later "they" will become acceptable. I play LoL and WoW more than most people should, and I see this problem so many times. AGH.
So yeah, there isn't a word that you're looking for. I'm not sure why, English is funny. If you're writing something, remake the sentence. If you're talking, don't worry if you accidently slip in a "they", it's much less formal.
Last edited by lopk; 2013-01-08 at 10:25 PM.
"He or she" does sound better, but I don't see why "they" needs to remain strictly plural. I also agree that "it" should never be used when the subject is a person.
Do you think "the person" would also suffice?
It's gramatically wrong. There's absolutely no way that one can make an argument for it otherwise.
However, it's a mistake that is made so damn much that it's often overlooked, and most people (people unlike myself who aren't grammar freaks) just accept it. It isn't grammatically correct - but give it a good 100 years - it eventually will be.
Edit: Grokan- unless I read something terribly wrong, the definition only talks about plurals, not singulars.
Last edited by lopk; 2013-01-08 at 10:32 PM.
All this zhe/ze talk has "fire ze missiles" repeating in my head.