Date: Sat, 12 Nov 1994 08:58:00 EDT

From: "David A. Johns" DJOHNS[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UFPINE.BITNET

Subject: Singular "they"



Bob Lancaster said:



# Although I saw (and see) such usages as "them" singulars

# (especially in writing), as symptomatic of loss of clarity,



Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the issue here is whether the

singular "they" is in fact unclear. The usage is extremely common

both in real life and on television (even in prepared material such as

commercials and news reports), and yet, even though I've consciously

listened for cases of ambiguity for years, I've never actually heard

one.



Have you?



David Johns

Waycross College

Waycross, GA