Guidelines for Nonsexist Usage
Some professors and executives
consider the use of the gendered pronouns "his" and
"her" inappropriate. The university has also issued
a directive that faculty educate students about this issue.
Often these questions will arise when pronouns such as "each,"
"everyone," "either," or "neither"
appear in a sentence. Some tips follow for making usage more inclusive:
- Avoid gender entirely by rewriting the sentence, avoiding
the pronoun or using plurals whenever possible:
- Neither student gave his homework to the teacher --->
Neither of the students gave homework to the teacher.
- Use "his or her" in place of "his" or
"s/he" in place of "he" or "she"
Note: This can sound a bit awkward:
- Everyone on the scene gave his or her version of the accident.
- When you visit the Writing Center, ask your tutor if s/he
has taken Core.
- Use a specific noun instead of a pronoun:
- A man who loves his family must support it. ---> Parents
who love their families must support them.
- Exception: A father who loves his family must support
it. (Here, one wants to make a point about fathers).
- Use "their" with a single noun:
- "Everyone was concerned about their grades."
- Beware; this usage of "their" is not grammatically
correct: it pairs a noun that should take a singular pronoun
with a plural pronoun.
- Do not use this last method without a professor's approval.
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