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Sometimes singular "they" doesn't work

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January 05, 2022, 20:27
BobHale
Sometimes singular "they" doesn't work
We have talked about the use of "they" as a singular pronoun many times and as I have often stated it has the merit of having been around for a very long time, being in extremely common use and not requiring any invented new vocabulary. In short I see nothing wring with it. However sometimes it just sounds wrong.

Here's an example I have just seen in an article about the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.

"But since the trial, one juror has claimed in media interviews they were a victim of sexual abuse."

Does that sound right to you? It doesn't to me. I would have written

"But since the trial, one juror has claimed in media interviews to have been a victim of sexual abuse."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale,


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