For questions about using gendered words or phrases in English.
Questions tagged [gender]
66 questions
10
votes
6 answers
When referring to a gender-neutral entity in a paper such as an "agent", what pronouns and conjugation style should I use nowadays?
I'm writing a theoretical (control theory) paper. I'm not a native English speaker and I need guidance about the following. Often, the subject of my sentences is "an agent", or "decision-maker", who is a completely gender neutral entity. A…
J. R. C.
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4
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1 answer
Why do ESL speakers sometimes use "sir" to women?
When I use a website with a large numbers of users for whom English is not their first language (specifically, fiverr.com), I often get addressed as "Sir", even though I am a woman. How come?
My hypotheses are:
Learners of English in some…
Ellen Spertus
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2
votes
2 answers
Are feminine nouns ending with -ess the only proper option for females?
When we have a specifically feminine version of a noun which ends with the -ess suffix, like in huntress, sorceress, anchoress, etc. Is it always wrong to use, like, hunter for a female hunter too or sorcerer for a female sorcerer too and so on?…
Pedro V. G.
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2
votes
2 answers
Parliament - a she?
I've just come across a very strange phrase:
Parliament internationally surrendered HER sovereignty to the primacy of European Community law.
My question has nothing to do with politics! I just want to understand why the parliament is called…
Anastasia
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1
vote
1 answer
If I refer to 'the being' (a noun), do I have to use 'he' or 'she', or 'it'?
If I refer to 'the being' (as a noun) do I have to use he / she / it, or something else?
To add to my confusion: I am talking about a painting, where 'the being' is a woman. So the body has the shape of an anchor that arises from the depths. The…
HarpGirl
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0
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1 answer
Which possessive pronoun for an antecedent 'man' in the generic sense (="humankind") — 'its' or his'?
In a translation I have said "I feel the vigour of man", and a bit later I have to refer to the creator of "man", but I am unsure whether I should say
his creator
or
its creator
I take the term translated man to have the general sense…
guillefix
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0
votes
0 answers
Female emperor or empress?
Can a female be called an emperor or should she always be refered as empress? All dictionaries make the distinction, but Wizards of the coasts decided to name a female character The Wandering Emperor, and I'd don't understand is it a mistake or is…
Affaltar
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0
votes
1 answer
Can I use "She" and "her" for an animal?
Can I use "She" or "her" for an animal?
For example, Suppose I have a dog that is of the female gender.
How do I refer to it? "It" or "She"?
Also when I am talking with someone about an animal (for example Animal Doctor) and we both don't know the…
dBio
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