Readers laud Rx for poor grammar

July 27, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My letter has nothing to do with a medical problem — just a response to something I read in your column today. Kudos to you for responding to the grammar question the way you did (agreement of pronouns in gender and number). Sadly, it has become a widespread habit these days to refer to a person of unspecified gender as “they.” I’m glad you stick to your guns and use “he” and “she” as traditional grammar requires.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have no medical issue to discuss. I simply want to offer my sincere thanks for your recent reply to a reader who proposed that you use the grammatically incorrect “they” instead of the proper “he or she” that you use. I am also one who refuses to bow to modern society’s laxity. I admire you sticking to your principles!
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Grammar still important to Gott

June 29, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: When you respond to a question and refer to their doctor as “he or she,” why don’t you just say, “Your doctor will tell you what ‘they’ want you to do,” instead of “he or she”?

I love your column. I have gotten other people (note that I didn’t have to say gender specific) to read you, too!

DEAR READER: The simple answer is grammar. “They” is used when talking about more than one individual. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense that an individual (one person) can give “their” (more than one person) suggestions on a matter.
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