The use of the singular
they is quite common nowadays, although I understand it's more common on this side of the pond. I'm all for it, as it seems the most sensible solution to the
he/she/it problem.
I noticed an interesting side effect in my paper the other day. In an article about a footballer who has gone into rehab (for the umpteenth time) the author opined rather sententiously that "an alcoholic knows that the only person who can help them is
themselves" (my emphasis). I don't know if the reflexive
themselves was made plural by the author or an editor so that it seemed to agree with the word
them, but it looked weird to me.
There does exist an alternative,
themself, although I'm sure plenty of peevers would throw a fit at its use.
Oxford Dictionaries defines it thus:
"used instead of ‘himself’ or ‘herself’ to refer to a person of unspecified sex:
the casual observer might easily think themself back in 1945"
It goes on with a usage note:
quote:
The standard reflexive form corresponding to they and them is themselves, as in
they can do it themselves
. The singular form themself, first recorded in the 14th century, has re-emerged in recent years corresponding to the singular gender-neutral use of they, as in
this is the first step in helping someone to help themself
. The form is not widely accepted in standard English, however.
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
I am only using the term by presuming its meaning in the above quote.)
