Generic "they" -- RSQUBF discussion forum

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Date Posted: 01:50:22 01/29/05 Sat
Author: Mike K.
Subject: Generic "they"
In reply to: Anonymous 's message, "This posting makes very little sense" on 18:29:13 01/28/05 Fri

(Apologies for using masculine pronouns in this paragraph.)

This is a general note in English language, but even some native speakers are unfamiliar with that, however:
If you choose to talk about a generic person and want to speak generically, i.e. without a gender notion, you use the 3rd person plural in a singular reference, that is "they".

So, you say for example "The typical UBF shepherd is unwittingly a victim of mind control. They are subjected to a onesided bible study which is aimed towards bringing the UBF ideology to the sheep instead of using the Bible as the ultimate measuring rod. They will see through the deception of UBF when their personal fellowship with God becomes closer than their relationship with their UBF shepherd, but until then, they will usually consider UBF to be a spiritually healthy environment."

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Replies:

Thanks Mike -- Anonymous, 18:41:06 01/29/05 Sat