![]() >Read More: How Grammarly Supports Inclusive Language for the LGBTQIA+ Community Pronoun d efinitions For example, it will flag zirs in the sentence Kaley changed zirs name on the daily paper and suggest changing it to the correct possessive form, zir. ![]() In some cases, it can even offer suggestions when the wrong form of a pronoun is used in your writing. Grammarly’s product can recognize the use of the singular they, as well as several other pronouns (sometimes called neopronouns more on those below). Using pronouns while writing with Grammarly If you make a mistake and use the wrong pronoun for someone, don’t dwell on it or make excuses-just apologize, restate what you said using the correct pronoun, and carry on. Avoid asking someone about their “preferred” pronouns-it implies that their gender is a choice rather than simply a part of who they are. You might say, “What are your pronouns?” or “What pronouns should I use to refer to you?” It’s also a good idea to provide your own pronouns when you introduce yourself. In cases where you’re going to have an ongoing interaction with someone, you can ask which pronouns to use. For example, you might hear, “Hi, I’m Wren and my pronouns are they/them.” In that case, you should use the pronouns they, them, their, etc. Sometimes when you meet a new person, they’ll simply tell you which pronouns you should use for them. People have also been coining new English pronouns for decades, including ze, xie, yo, and many others. The pronoun you was once only a plural pronoun, but nobody worries about that one.) (If you’ve ever heard arguments that the singular they is an error, you should know that nobody thought it was a problem until a handful of eighteenth-century grammarians decided to make a fuss about it. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first record of the so-called “singular they” dates to 1375, where it appeared in a work called William and the Werewolf. Since it can be used for objects or animals but not people, English speakers started using they as a gender-neutral way of referring to an individual person centuries ago. English speakers have always needed a way to refer to people in cases where the subject’s gender was unknown, irrelevant, or not reflected by he or she. To some, the idea of using pronouns besides she and he to talk about individuals is new, but in fact, it has a long and well-documented history. Regardless of what you might have learned about subject-verb agreement, the singular they, or other areas of grammar, the most important consideration should be using the pronoun you have been asked to use. When you’re deciding how to use someone else’s pronouns in a sentence, especially if they’re pronouns you’re not too familiar with, remember this: Treating someone with respect is never a grammatical mistake. Affirming a person’s pronouns demonstrates respect, reduces depression, increases self-esteem, and supports positive regard.” It can also be a matter of safety-using incorrect pronouns for someone may create problems for them as they try to go about their lives.Īccording to Kelsey Pacha, LGBTQIA+ inclusion trainer and workplace policy consultant, using an individual’s pronouns correctly “is an identity-affirming behavior. It shows respect for that person and who they are. Using the correct pronouns for someone is important, just like pronouncing their name correctly is important. ![]() ![]() But there is one fairly simple rule when it comes to pronoun usage: The right pronoun to use for another person is whichever pronoun (or pronouns) that person wants you to use. Gender identity is complex, which means that pronoun usage can also be complex. The most well-known of these more inclusive, nonbinary pronouns is the singular they /them there are many others in use. Pronouns have evolved to represent people’s identities beyond the gender binary of masculine (he/him) and feminine (she/her). And there are some who use no pronouns at all, and instead use their name in all cases. Some use different sets of pronouns in different contexts. Some people use the pronoun they instead of she or he, and some use other pronouns like ze or ey. The most common third-person pronouns for individuals are she and he. In English, when you’re talking about an individual person, you’ll most often be using a third-person pronoun. Pronouns are words that you can substitute for another noun (or a name) when the context has already made it clear whom or what you’re talking about. Verbs, for example, tell you what someone is doing. Pronouns are a part of speech in English, and, like all parts of speech, they serve a purpose. Grammarly helps you write the way you intend Write with Grammarly What are pronouns?
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