"Tim Cook" <z99### [at] gmailcom> wrote in message 
news:4913a793@news.povray.org...
> http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2008/10/sex-symbols.html
>

I remember learning the "When in doubt, use 'he'" concept in school.  It 
always bothered me, because no one (that I knew) actually spoke that way, 
and most people to this day do not speak or write that way.  Nevertheless, 
it was considered grammatically correct.

As a result, most of us still refuse to do that, and to avoid saying "they" 
when it's not grammatically correct, we might say something like "he/she" 
or, in computer manuals, "the user".  Once in awhile, you might hear someone 
say "one" (as the French do), but it's not very common.  I didn't know this 
whole story, but I find it interesting.

A good child should wash his hands.
A good child should wash their hands.
A good child should wash his or her hands.

A good boy or girl should wash his hands.
A good boy or girl should wash their hands.
A good boy or girl should wash his or her hands.

Interesting...  I have to say that I'd prefer the second choice, except to 
avoid sounding grammatically incorrect.  Stupid linguists....  ;-)

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