[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Bug#263084: Please change sexist language in debian (English) webpages



On Wed, 04 Aug 2004, Matt Kraai wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 04, 2004 at 07:26:29PM -0700, Don Armstrong wrote:
> > On Wed, 04 Aug 2004, Tobias Toedter wrote:
> > >    "This is to prevent the Project Secretary from missing a proposal
> > >    in the huge volumes of mail generated on some of our lists and to
> > >    prevent them from having to subscribe to each and every list
> > >    created by the Project."
> > > 
> > > The Project Secretary is just one person, not a group. Is it still
> > > correct to use "them"? I'm sorry to bother you with this, it's just
> > > that I've never seen or heard such sentences.
> > 
> > That's definetly suboptimal in this case.
> 
> Why?

Them (and to a lesser extent, they) tends to indicate the
singular. While they is becomming a more common replacement for a
class of people, when we're talking about a specific position, a
singular form is generally more appropriate... but I suppose you could
have grammarians arguing for millenia over this issue.

That's why I suggest punting and avoiding the issue entirely wherever
possible.

Anyway, it's just a suggestion. Do whatever you feel works best.


Don Armstrong

-- 
Of course Pacman didn't influence us as kids. If it did, we'd be
running around in darkened rooms, popping pills and listening to
repetitive music.

http://www.donarmstrong.com
http://rzlab.ucr.edu



Reply to: