TIP: Don't assume pronouns (DBO)

by ncsuDuncan , Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 23:11 (3571 days ago) @ Kermit

You are correct, Cody, but most newer style guides at least mention that it is perceived by many readers as sexist and because of this suggest you rewrite the sentence to avoid the issue. It rarely comes up in my professional writing, and there are cases where I think it's a tough call. The awkwardness of writing around it is more disruptive than using the masculine pronoun, but then it's a case of pick your poison. Which readers are you willing to lose?

Heh, this is actually something I've struggled with many times, especially when I post community-created content to the DBO front page (or Twitter feed) and don't know the gender behind the user name. Sometimes a Twitter bio or DeviantArt profile will reveal the gender, but I never assume unless it's blindingly obvious.

I usually just rewrite the sentence to eliminate pronouns and call it a day. :P

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Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 06:52
- Hi! - Avateur, 2014-07-23, 06:54
- Hello, uh, is that REALLY your chosen username? - kidtsunami, 2014-07-23, 06:55
  - Hello, uh, is that REALLY your chosen username? - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 06:57
    - Cool, WELCOME! - kidtsunami, 2014-07-23, 07:21
  - Maybe he's a geologist - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 07:16
    - *she's - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 07:19
    - TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 09:01
      - TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 09:32
        
        S/he ? - someotherguy, 2014-07-23, 09:34
        
        I wouldn't go with that. - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 11:40
        
        I wouldn't go with that. - someotherguy, 2014-07-23, 13:38
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Xenos, 2014-07-23, 09:38
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:02
        
        TIP: You know what you could do... - Hyokin, 2014-07-23, 10:11
        
        TIP: You know what you could do... - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 10:51
        
        TIP: You know what you could do... - MrPadraig08, 2014-07-23, 11:28
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 11:27
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 11:45
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 11:50
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - RaichuKFM, 2014-07-23, 13:48
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 14:54
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 11:36
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 14:36
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 15:07
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - ncsuDuncan, 2014-07-23, 23:11
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-24, 10:55
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Cody Miller, 2014-07-24, 17:25
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-25, 08:41
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - uberfoop, 2014-07-23, 15:10
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 16:38
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - kidtsunami, 2014-07-24, 00:46
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - RaichuKFM, 2014-07-23, 13:42
    - Way to go Cody. - Revenant1988, 2014-07-23, 12:22
      - Lol. Was thinking the same thing. *poke poke* *run* - GrimBrother One, 2014-07-23, 15:14
      - I look away from the thread for a few hours.. - Zeouterlimits, 2014-07-23, 16:04
- I know you! - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 07:24
  - I know you! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 07:26
    - I know you! - Malagate, 2014-07-23, 07:31
      - I know you! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 07:35
        
        Roger that! Will be good times. - Malagate, 2014-07-23, 07:41
- Welcome Aboard! - DaDerga, 2014-07-23, 07:25
- Hello again! - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 08:17
  - Hello again! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 08:24
    - Hello again! - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 08:33
      - Hello again! - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:04
        
        Rick Springfield - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 11:20
        
        Rick Springfield - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 16:39
        
        Rick Springfield - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 17:05
- Hello Hello DBO! - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 08:17
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 08:23
    - Hello Hello DBO! - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:00
    - You've been on the forum only a few hours - Revenant1988, 2014-07-23, 10:05
      - You've been on the forum only a few hours - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 10:12
        
        aw yiss - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:20
    - HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - Bones, 2014-07-23, 10:20
      - HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - Revenant1988, 2014-07-23, 12:21
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 12:44
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 16:40
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - Korny, 2014-07-23, 21:48
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - General Vagueness, 2014-07-23, 16:18
      - 5 stars, would get murdered again - MrPadraig08, 2014-07-23, 12:32
- Hello Hello DBO! - CaneCutter, 2014-07-23, 08:44
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 10:52
- Hello! - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 09:00
- Welcome! - Xenos, 2014-07-23, 09:34
- Welcome to the party! - Hyokin, 2014-07-23, 10:14
- but, you're supposed to be dead! - MrPadraig08, 2014-07-23, 10:32
  - but, you're supposed to be dead! - LostSpartan, 2014-07-23, 12:15
- Hello Hello DBO! - Speedracer513, 2014-07-23, 10:38
- Greetings! - SigbiasSilva, 2014-07-23, 11:24
- Hello Hello DBO! - stabbim, 2014-07-23, 14:53
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 16:12
- Hello Hello DBO! - Sammy Whammy, 2014-07-23, 15:22
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 16:11
- Hello Hello DBO! - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 17:44
- Welcome! I'll be playing on XB1 as well. :) - Atsumi, 2014-07-23, 20:43
- Hello Hello DBO! - HuskerAlpha, 2014-07-24, 07:48

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TIP: Don't assume pronouns (DBO)