In today's Tribune there was a sic in this sentence:

"Dr. Oz has something like 4 million viewers a day. The average physician doesn't see a million patients in their (sic) lifetime."

Now, I see their point, but I don't think it's enough for a sic, do you? Maybe it's because you could possibly confuse the "their" with the million patients, rather then the average physician? On the other hand, I think it's pretty clear what the "their" refers to.

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

Are those sentences direct quotes from someone else, or the Tribune reporter's? If it's against the paper's style guide to use a singular they it may have been inserted to prevent an over-zealous copy editor changing it.

Maybe it's a joke - "The average physician doesn't see a million patients in their sick lifetime"?

OK, probably not...

You are right, arnie, the physician (author) is quoting someone else so you are probably right.