Omniglot forum • View topic - Israeli-Palestinihttp://omniglot.com/forum/posting.php?modan

dtp883 · **Posted:** Fri 01 May 2009 5:53 am

First off, if this thread is going to anger people towards me just let it die, and someone else can make it later. :lol:

So has anyone heard about Israel's demand for the EU to stop criticizing it's new government?
Link

kaenif · **Posted:** Fri 01 May 2009 11:48 am

If one wants to be angry, anything can anger them.

(Just to ask, did I use "them" correctly?)
I did not hear about this, but my stance on this whole thing is, "peace"... And it seems that both sides have been making me sad.

SamD · Joined:Sun 19 Apr 2009 2:09 am Posts:19

"Them" is very common, but it's not really correct unless you refer to more than one person.

"One" is probably the correct pronoun, but it sounds awfully awkward...or else awkwardly awful. Your best bet may be to use "him or her."

Kietl · Joined:Sun 19 Apr 2009 8:39 am Posts:64

SamD wrote:

"Them" is very common, but it's not really correct unless you refer to more than one person.

"One" is probably the correct pronoun, but it sounds awfully awkward...or else awkwardly awful. Your best bet may be to use "him or her."

Or maybe use "someone" instead of "one". "Them" could sound a little less awkward in that case.

linguoboy · Joined:Sun 19 Apr 2009 9:02 am Posts:1003

SamD wrote:

"Them" is very common, but it's not really correct unless you refer to more than one person.

"Correct" according to whom? Assertions like this mean very little without proper attribution.

Sobekhotep · **Posted:** Fri 01 May 2009 9:46 pm

dtp883 wrote:

So has anyone heard about Israel's demand for the EU to stop criticizing it's new government?
Link

I had not heard about this. But, I'm with Netanyahu.

ILuvEire · **Posted:** Fri 01 May 2009 11:25 pm

linguoboy wrote:

SamD wrote:

"Them" is very common, but it's not really correct unless you refer to more than one person.

"Correct" according to whom? Assertions like this mean very little without proper attribution.

I agree. Aren't grammar rules determined by how natives use them? According to most natives (I can't say all, but I've never met someone that used one like that) that's 100% correct.

Neqitan · Joined:Fri 17 Apr 2009 9:59 pm Posts:397 Location: Canada

ILuvEire wrote:

linguoboy wrote:

SamD wrote:

"Them" is very common, but it's not really correct unless you refer to more than one person.

"Correct" according to whom? Assertions like this mean very little without proper attribution.

I agree. Aren't grammar rules determined by how natives use them? According to most natives (I can't say all, but I've never met someone that used one like that) that's 100% correct.

When you're speaking, it's the only thing that matters. When writing, some prescriptivism is included as well...

Stosis · Joined:Sun 19 Apr 2009 11:32 am Posts:71

Quite frankly things are such a mess in that area I think they're all wrong on everything but then again I'm not the one who has the fix things.

Now on the a much more exiting question, that of singular 'they'. I really like the encourage its use for many reasons. For one thing it already sounds natural and casual in most situations, even in formal situations only the most attentive people even notice. On top of that it is gender neutral and doesn't make you look like you favour men and stops people from thinking you're a hypocritical feminazi.

The term really has caught on enough that I think it could be considered part of the language. It really does show that if there is a need for a new word one will naturally come about, without a need for dictative organizations.

@kaenif: They way you used 'them' is appropriate but I think you should change the 'one' to 'they' for continuity's sake and because you are talking about more than one person (the Israeli people/government as opposed to one person in the country getting angry)/