Pronouns
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Of the two solutions, the second alternative is usually better even though it requires more sentence revision. The option with he or she often seems clumsy. A second problem is using he and she in a way that stereotypes occupations or tasks. For example: Let’s find a pilot and see what he says. Let’s find a nurse and see what she says. The use of he in the first example and she in the second implies that all pilots are males and all nurses are females. Some people have become very sensitive to this kind of gender stereotyping. You should be careful to avoid it. Again, we can solve the problem by using the compound he or she: Let’s find a pilot and see what he or she says. Let’s find a nurse and see what he or she says. However, since the he or she compound is so awkward, a better solution would be to rewrite the sentences to avoid the pronoun altogether. For example: Let’s see what a pilot would say. Let’s see what a nurse would say.
Exercise 5.3 Rewrite the following sentences to avoid the inappropriate use of he and she. Do not use the compound he or she in your answers. Every employee must wash his hands before returning to work. All employees must wash their hands before returning to work. 1. A good writer chooses his words carefully.
2. A geologist spends most of his research time in the field.
3. A teacher should allow her students time to finish their work.