Discussion Use of plural is annoying

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Jojo775, May 27, 2019.

  1. Jojo775

    Jojo775 Honorary Algae Knight

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    Does anyone share this pet peeve of mine where you notice how people use plural when they should use singular? For example someone has a reason not to do something and they'll say I've got reasons...
    or someone will say I have plans about that, you don't have plans ffs, you a have plan and so on...
    It's common in everyday speech, but much more present in novels which is why I rant.

    Edit: I have a decent example finally, as I said there's plenty of them just that I didn't bother rembemering them, now I did for this thread.
    It's in HP x High school DxD fanfic "FILFY Teacher" : Rias talks to someone saying how there were several powerful sacred gears in their territory. You see here! There were not several gears but only two, you can't say several for two or a couple - see it has it's own number word, and only one was powerful, the other one average.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
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  2. Deleted member 155674

    Deleted member 155674 Guest

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    I am not sure I understand :blobconfused:
     
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  3. Anra7777

    Anra7777 All powerful magic grammar hamster queen pirate.

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    When you started, I thought you were talking about ungrammatical uses of the plural, which is common, such as using “they,” instead of “he” or “she.” I have no problem with the examples you used.
     
  4. Westeller

    Westeller Smokin' Sexy Style!! Staff Member

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    It's the difference betweeen "this dude has complaints about the way people talk" and "this dude has a complaint about the way people talk." It's his fetish to obsess over the little thing(s). Don't worry too much about it, just let him do his thing(s).
     
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  5. kenar

    kenar ヽ(`・ω・´)ゝ

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    isn't "they" can be used as gender neutral pronoun?
     
  6. GuldTasken

    GuldTasken Well-Known Member

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    There, I had a complaint. But I fixed the complaint. I am a happy person for a lot of reasons now.

    Yep. When you write in third person and want to keep a person's gender or identity obscure. You generally use neutral pronouns and wordings. They, Their, It (Yes, even it) among others.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 27, 2019
  7. Sabruness

    Sabruness Cultured Yuri Connoisseur

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    welcome to the world of the english language. Where it sometimes contradicts it's own rules.
     
  8. Hacalyhd

    Hacalyhd Well-Known Member

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    We are confused by the examples they provided, nothing there seems strange to us.

    Jokes aside, both examples are said for a reason:
    If you use singular, people will ask "What reason?" / "What plan?", so you'd have to explain yourself. If you don't want to say it (or just don't feel like doing it) using plural can somewhat prevent that.

    Over time it became somewhat of a social norm(?):
    "I have a reason/plan" -> Ask
    "I have reasons/plans" -> Don't ask
     
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  9. Jojo775

    Jojo775 Honorary Algae Knight

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    Well I couldn't think of anything else, but I've read, heard many other examples that don't have that excuse.
     
  10. Anra7777

    Anra7777 All powerful magic grammar hamster queen pirate.

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    No, only when there is more than one person.
    A trans person may identify as “they,” but otherwise, no, it is not correct grammar ever to use “they,” when you’re referring to a singular person.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
  11. PotatoZero

    PotatoZero Well-known Potato

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    That's stupid, sometimes you don't have one clear reason why you do things, sometimes it's multitude of small reasons piling up pushing against you
    Ever heard of plan B?
     
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  12. Royalsoukoku

    Royalsoukoku Well-Known Member

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    Are you sure? Isn't they a substitute for him/her? Say you don't know the gender of someone you say they? Or is this a slangy thing?
     
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  13. tahzib1451

    tahzib1451 Title?is it food?

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    i think there r some particular words that are used as plural if the subject is first person.....for 2nd and third person singular form for those same words are used......is what i think i learnt ages ago?
     
  14. Sabruness

    Sabruness Cultured Yuri Connoisseur

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    "they" is a plural pronoun, used only when referring to more than one person.

    It is only used as a substitute for gender when the gender is unspecified or unknown. In that case, it's generally not referring to a specific person and rather as a broad reference.
     
  15. Aop

    Aop [Great Destroyer of Filth] [Dao of Cleanliness]

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    Tell me about it. It always pisses me off whenever I see people use sheep instead sheep. Or deer and deer.
     
  16. kenar

    kenar ヽ(`・ω・´)ゝ

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    Now I'm confused after checking cambridge online dictionary
    upload_2019-5-28_4-8-33.png
     
  17. SolInvictus

    SolInvictus Well-Known Member

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    You're wrong about that. Check your dictionary.

    'They'. : used to refer to a person of unspecified gender.
    "ask a friend if they could help"

    You're wrong about that. Check your dictionary.

    'They'. : used to refer to a person of unspecified gender.
    "ask a friend if they could help"
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 27, 2019
  18. listener

    listener Tony's Friend

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    It's alright, my grammar is broken too after all, so i can't notice it:blobthinkingsmirk:
     
  19. Heliowalton

    Heliowalton Well-Known Member

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    Came here to post this, they isn't purely for plural use.
     
  20. GuldTasken

    GuldTasken Well-Known Member

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    ' Someone was walking around in the darkness. Staring through the foliage with their grey eyes. Without the knowledge of what might rest beyond the window. They couldn't help but restrain their beating heart but one had to face their fear. With a deep inhale, they looked past the window to see if the rumours were true or false. Was that truly a monster hidden amidst the village? '

    In what manner, cannot I use they or their in this situation of writing? I clearly speak of a singular person. I simply don't want to say if that someone is a male or female. So I ambiguously write They or Their.

    It even says on this Resource that using They, Their and Them are completely Okay to use. Sure, it doesn't bode well for your vocabulary. But if you are writing in third person and want to keep a gender ambiguous. These are Completely OKAY to use. Sure, it is not 'professional' according a linguistic. But you rarely see a linguistic as an author.

    Another resource; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they

    So, I rest my case. It is completely okay to use it. It is best to avoid the usage of them and rather write the sentences in a different manner. But it is not Wrong either.
     
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