darwin dali wrote:madbrad wrote:darwin dali wrote:madbrad wrote:andrew wrote:Right before I get gazumped again by unethical competition players, which driver made their F1 debut at the ripe old age of 38?
Which driver made HIS F1 debut at the ripe old age of 38?
Unless women drivers are meant to be included there
If female specific, HER would be correct. If the gender is non specific, HIS is actually(surprisingly) correct to cover both sexes, but HIS OR HER is also acceptable.
The students were advised that each must bring his lunchbox on Monday.
In a class presumably populated by both sexes, HIS is the correct word to use. If it were an all girl class and the reader knew that, then HER would be correct.
The students were advised that each must bring their lunchboxes on Monday.
that is sloppy and incorrect grammar. THEIR always refers to a plurality of people, and the word EACH made the subject singular. If I asked you to bring THEIR lunchbox, I would be asking you to bring a lunchbox that belongs to some group of people that is not you.
So the question is asking what driver made a debut of someone else, and more than one person. It makes no sense. Regardless of whether it makes sense to me, thogh, it is incorrect.
Guidelines for Gender-Fair Use of Language
Use the plural pronoun when the indefinite referent is clearly understood to be plural.
Avoid exclusionary forms such as
When everyone contributes his own ideas, the discussion will be a success.
Does everybody have his book?
Choose inclusionary alternatives
When everyone contributes their own ideas, the discussion will be a success.
Does everybody have their book?
Use of the singular they/their form. This construction is becoming increasingly acceptable. However, classroom teachers need to be aware that state and/or national assessments may not regard this construction as correct.
Avoid exclusionary forms such as
Does each student have his book?
Choose inclusionary alternatives
Does each student have their book?
Fair enough, you were taught that, and I was taught the way I posted. By taught I mean in class at school. So we have 2 different things that are opposite yet claim to be right. OK it's a big world.
At the end of your post, the few examples there, where it uses the word THEIR, that would be wrong by what I was taught. If you think HIS is exclusionary, then using HIS OR HER will be acceptable.
I wonder though, if things changed since I was taught, to reflect a more enlightened worldly attitude about gender. That is, not keeping the women down.
As you have probably noticed, maybe from past posts as well, I'm pretty anal about grammar and diction, and spelling too. I know it doesn't matter. I just can't help myself. Not to say I know all grammar and never err in that arena, and I know I make a lot of typos because I can't type, just that I spot some glaring faux pas and it sets me in motion.
English lecture instead, the answer to my question is 
