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MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
Mon Apr 24, 2017, 07:54 PM Apr 2017

How about this for a gender-neutral pronoun?

"Em" pronounced as"em" or "um?" The pronunciation would depend on its use in the sentence. It could also be used as the plural pronoun for people.

"I saw em yesterday." Em will be here in about an hour." Did you notice em' s new car?

We use it all the time, anyway, with the unstressed vowel pronunciation.

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How about this for a gender-neutral pronoun? (Original Post) MineralMan Apr 2017 OP
The language gurus have already loosened up on the use The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2017 #1
Yup. We barely speak English these days, anyhow. MineralMan Apr 2017 #2
I find "they" and 'them" tough to adapt to JenniferJuniper Apr 2017 #5
Well, sometimes it's someone's actual name (like Auntie Em) LisaM Apr 2017 #3
I'd just use Emily's full name. MineralMan Apr 2017 #4

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
1. The language gurus have already loosened up on the use
Mon Apr 24, 2017, 07:57 PM
Apr 2017

of "they" and "them" as singular pronouns that can be used instead of "he/him" or "she/her." "Um" would just be a shortened form.

LisaM

(27,762 posts)
3. Well, sometimes it's someone's actual name (like Auntie Em)
Mon Apr 24, 2017, 07:59 PM
Apr 2017

so that might be a problem. Poor Em would be saddled with having to do everything!

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