Derrick Stolee <stolee@xxxxxxxxx> writes: > Singular "they" works the same as singular "you". For example: > > ...means that _you are_ completely satisfied... > > Singular "you" had a similar backlash in the 1660s as singular "they" > is having in this thread, but singular "you" has lasted (and we use > "thou" only to signify someone using old-timey language). > > There is more of this in [1] and [2] > > [1] https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they/ > [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%E2%80%93V_distinction#English Thanks for references. [1] was an amusing and illuminating read. ... Anyone who said thou and thee was seen as a fool and an idiot, or a Quaker, or at least hopelessly out of date. Singular you has become normal and unremarkable. Also unremarkable are the royal we and, in countries without a monarchy, the editorial we: first-person plurals used regularly as singulars and nobody calling anyone an idiot and a fool. And singular they is well on its way to being normal and unremarkable as well.
