“A singular they pronoun just feels wrong to me – it’s not grammatically correct!”
Have you come across this argument about they as a pronoun? Maybe you’ve made it yourself.
But the truth is that man and woman are not the only genders – a person can be non-binary, agender, gender non-conforming, and more. Some people identify with they/them pronouns instead of he or she.
If you or someone you know is looking for proof that they is legitimate before respecting people’s pronouns, this video has you covered.
Not only does Riley J. Dennis prove that they pronouns are grammatically correct – she’ll also show you that you’re already using gender neutral pronouns, and that they’ve been considered acceptable for quite some time.
So unless you’re still sticking to thou instead of you, it’s time to catch up with they as a perfectly legitimate alternative to he or she – and this shows exactly why.
The Editors at Everyday Feminism
Click for the Transcript
To learn more about this topic, check out:
- You Know Those Common Objections to ‘They’ Pronouns? Here Are 9 Simple Facts to Shut Them Down
- 6 Reasons Your Discomfort with They/Them Pronouns Reveals Unchecked Cis Privilege
Riley J. Dennis is a Contributing Vlogger for Everyday Feminism. She’s a polyamorous, atheist, gender non-binary trans woman with a passion for fiction writing, feminism, and technology. She got her BA from Whittier College in 2015 doing a self-designed major called Writing Worlds, a mixture of creative writing and anthropology, focused on realistic fictional world building. Find her on her YouTube channel, Twitter @RileyJayDennis, or her website RileyJayDennis.com.