They instead of He or She 2203 English Nouns ESL British Pronunciation

[Bregowald]

'They' instead of 'he' is substandard English and sounds stupid. Just say 'he' - it's gender neutral. No reason to say 'he or shy' or 'they'.

[iswearenglish]

@Bregowald

maybe such writers as Addison, Austen, Chesterfield, Fielding, Ruskin, Scott, and Shakespeare sound stupid when they use it as well.

[Bregowald]

@iswearenglish I've read most of most of those authors, and they used it only in dialogue. They used other illitericisms in dialogue as well, like double negatives etc.

[iswearenglish]

@Bregowald

and while we are at it

What about the royal we?

[iswearenglish]

@Bregowald

I would agree with you that is construction is only normally used when speaking

but that goes with it's informal nature.

[dobriyranok]

So, when we use "they" as a plural instead of "he" or "she", we don't add an "s" in the simple present? - Somebody on the phone, they want you (not -they wants you)? I just think that adding an "s" could make it clear that it's one person when we use "they" in this situation.

[iswearenglish]

@dobriyranok

no we do not add the s

we are using the 3rd person plural in substitution for

3rd person singular of indeterminate sex

Somebody is here to see you. They are standing in the hall.