Re: [PATCH 4/4] CodingGuidelines: recommend singular they

From: Derrick Stolee <stolee@gmail.com>
Date: Jun 9, 2021, 13:23 UTC
Message-ID: <baa4b326-19c3-6471-36d7-701716d0a836@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <60bf2634beff5_1a700820836@natae.notmuch>

On 6/8/2021 4:11 AM, Felipe Contreras wrote:

Show 18 quoted lines

> Jeff King wrote:
>> On Mon, Jun 07, 2021 at 04:57:48PM +0000, Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget wrote:
>>
>>> If we use singular "they/them" pronouns instead of "he/him" or "she/her"
>>> pronouns, then we can avoid this congitive load on the reader.
>>>
>>> Using singular "they" is also incredibly efficient. Choosing a gendered
>>> pronoun is usually arbitrary between "he" or "she". Using constructs
>>> such as "he or she", "s/he", or "(s)he" are more complicated than
>>> singular "they".
>>
>> In general, I do like the efficiency and readability of singular "they".
>> As a native speaker, I have no problem reading it, and I have little
>> sense that most of my native-speaker acquaintances would, either.
> 
> Does this sound correct to you?
> 
>   We thank the reviewer for their helpful comments

In the case of an anonymous reviewer (such as a single-blind review of an academic paper), then this is exactly how one should acknowledge a single reviewer.

If we know the identity of the reviewer, then we should use their preferred pronouns to the best of our ability.

Thanks, -Stolee