The Elements Of Style - ChokseKU: Home

6 0 ] T H E E L E M E N T S O F S T Y L E
The truth is.... The fact is.... A bad beginning for
a sentence. If you feel you are possessed of the truth, or of
the fact, simply state it. Do not give it advance billing.
They. He or She. Do not use they when the ante
cedent is a distributive expression such as each, each one,
everybody, every one, many a man. Use the singular pro
noun.
Every one of us knows Every one of us knows
they are fallible. he is fallible.
Everyone in the com- Everyone in the com
munity, whether they are a munity, whether he is a
member of the Association member of the Association
or not, is invited to attend. or not, is invited to attend.
A similar fault is the use of the plural pronoun with the
antecedent anybody, somebody, someone, the intention be
ing either to avoid the awkward he or she or to avoid com
mitting oneself to one or the other. Some bashful speakers
even say, "A friend of mine told me that they...."
The use of he as a pronoun for nouns embracing both
genders is a simple, practical convention rooted in the
beginnings of the English language. Currendy, however,
many writers find the use of the generic he or his to rename
indefinite antecedents limiting or offensive. Substituting he
or she in its place is the logical thing to do if it works. But
it often doesn't work, if only because repetition makes it
sound boring or silly.
Consider these strategies to avoid an awkward overuse of
he or she or an unintentional emphasis on the masculine:
Use the plural rather than the singular.
The writer must address Writers must address
his readers' concerns. their readers' concerns.
Eliminate the pronoun altogether.
The writer must address The writer must address
his readers' concerns. readers' concerns.