EDITORIAL: Gender-neutral pronouns are vital for respect and understanding

Take a step into English 101 for a second: a pronoun, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, is “a word that is used instead of a noun or a noun phrase” and can show possession.

This editorial was originally co-written on behalf of the PantherNOW e-board and was featured in PantherNOW. The editorial focuses on the necessary respect for gender-neutral pronouns.

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Maytinee Kramer/Opinion Director

Take a step into English 101 for a second: a pronoun, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, is “a word that is used instead of a noun or a noun phrase” and can show possession.

“ S h e , ” “ h e r , ” “ h e ” a n d “him,” are the most commonly used pronouns however, as times have changed, so does language, which tends to shift toward inclusivity.

Some may feel their gender identity doesn’t conform with the use of those pronouns. “They” is used as a third-person pronoun to refer to plural antecedents of any gender and, under certain circumstances, to a singular antecedent that refers to a person.

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via Gender-neutral pronouns are vital for respect and understanding

Photo Credit: Michael Prewett on Unsplash.

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