One of the more common mistakes I come across while editing is improper use of the singular they. People use it all the time informally, so it often creeps up in more formal writing and authors don’t even know it’s incorrect. Sometimes it’s easy to rewrite the sentence as plural, but other times it’s a real struggle. That’s why I was excited about the recent trend toward allowing it in certain cases. Both the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style updated their policies earlier this year to include a few exceptions when rewriting the sentence as plural would be awkward or unclear.
The AP Stylebook now includes 3 examples of when singular they can be used:
- A singular they might be used when an anonymous source’s gender must be shielded and other wording is overly awkward.
- When an indefinite pronoun (anyone, everyone, someone) or unspecified/unknown gender (a person, the victim, the winner) is used.
- In stories about people who identify as neither male nor female or ask not to be referred to as he/she/him/her.
The 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style now includes 2 ways in which they can have a singular meaning.
- When referring to someone whose gender is unknown or unspecified. This use of the singular is acceptable in speech and informal writing, but for formal writing, Chicago still recommends avoiding it, offering various other ways to achieve bias-free language.
- When a specific, known person does not identify with a gender-specific pronoun such as he or she. This usage is still not widespread either in speech or in writing, but Chicago accepts it even in formal writing.
The AMA Manual of Style will follow suit with the next edition, allowing the use of plural pronouns with singular indefinite antecedents (eg, Everyone allocates their time) in an effort to avoid sex-specific pronouns and awkward sentence structure.
Even though there’s more flexibility with the singular they than before, in most cases rewording usually is possible and still always preferable, especially in formal writing.—Tracy Frey
It is sad that ‘they’ has officially become a singular pronoun. But I guess there was no alternative once the pronoun he could not be used (it’s cumbersome to use ‘he or she’). It kills my ear when I hear it. Thank you for sharing the new rules.
What’s sad is that we were all perfectly content with just using “he” or “man” such that no truly neutral singular pronoun ever had a chance to come about. I recall reading the exact same consternation over “you” taking the place of “thou” back in ye olde days. I’m happy that it’s more formally correct now.
I’m sorry to hear that AMA (and CMS) are going this route. We already have a difficult time making the argument that rewording whenever possible is preferable. Now that CMS and AMA are allowing limited us of the “singular they,” it will simply be considered acceptable, and I think editors will in most cases be ignored when they attempt to discourage its use.
“limited use” — I should have proofread my comment more carefully!
Is the reflexive form of the singular they “themselves” or “themself?”
Good question! Oxford prefers “themselves.” https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/themselves-or-themself I can anticipate “themself” becoming preferred someday, though.
These are all examples of taking things to the extreme. Although the cliche “language, especially English, changes” is a truism, should we go into overdrive, trying to change things artificially?
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