Feb 19, 2008 15:42
16 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
Veni Vidi Vici
Native in: Russian 
, Ukrainian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, Ukrainian to English, and 5 more.
how to avoid the he / she dilemma ?
English
Marketing
Economics
How can I avoid the he / she dilemma in the following sentence?
Maybe someone can suggest a solution removing this he or she altogether ?
Thank you!
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We cannot create a software system if the customer does not tell us what kind of system he wants
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Maybe someone can suggest a solution removing this he or she altogether ?
Thank you!
===
We cannot create a software system if the customer does not tell us what kind of system he wants
===
Responses
| 4 +18 | plural |
Nesrin
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| 4 +7 | passive |
NancyLynn
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| 4 +2 | as a general rule, stick with 'he' |
Mark Berelekhis
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| 4 | we cannot create a software system... |
Adele Oliveri
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| 4 -1 | one or it |
Anna Tomashevskaya
|
Responses
+18
2 mins
Selected
plural
One solution would be to put the sentence in the plural:
We cannot create a software system if customers don't tell us what kind of system they want.
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Note added at 3 mins (2008-02-19 15:45:42 GMT)
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Or, to keep it singular: "if the customer does not tell us what kind of system is required"
We cannot create a software system if customers don't tell us what kind of system they want.
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Note added at 3 mins (2008-02-19 15:45:42 GMT)
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Or, to keep it singular: "if the customer does not tell us what kind of system is required"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
BrigitteHilgner
: My words exactly.
0 min
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Precisely, thanks :-)
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| agree |
Marie-Hélène Hayles
: yes - would that it were always so easy...//too true - see also my comment on NancyLynn's answer!
2 mins
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I know, which is why the use of "they" with the singular has become so widespread nowadays. It was so much easier when "he" was always acceptable (in pre-pc times)
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| agree |
Anna Tomashevskaya
4 mins
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| agree |
Mihailolja
7 mins
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| agree |
PoveyTrans (X)
: the most common option these days
8 mins
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| agree |
Tatiana N. (X)
8 mins
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| agree |
David Russi
10 mins
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| agree |
Angela Dickson (X)
: yes, there's a nice solution here!
21 mins
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| agree |
Ken Cox
: quite useful and common strategies
27 mins
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| agree |
jccantrell
: What I would suggest.
1 hr
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| agree |
Vicky Nash
1 hr
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| agree |
Suzan Hamer
3 hrs
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| agree |
Claire Chapman
3 hrs
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| agree |
Mark Nathan
6 hrs
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| agree |
Will Matter
7 hrs
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| agree |
Ade Indarta
18 hrs
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
2 days 23 hrs
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| agree |
V_Nedkov
: definitely
4 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "many thanks to all!"
4 mins
Adele Oliveri
Italy
Italy
Specializes in field
Italy
Your financial translation expert
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian, French to Italian, Italian
Related KudoZ points
:
4
we cannot create a software system...
... unless the customer provides us with accurate system / product specifications.
-1
9 mins
Anna Tomashevskaya
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Specializes in field
Russian Federation
Reliable translation
Native in: Belarusian (Variant: Standard-Belarus) , Russian (Variant: Standard-Russia)
Works in: English to Russian, Italian to Russian, English to Belarusian, and 3 more.
one or it
"One" or "they" could be used general statments depending on the context
In legal texts for example, "it" is used instead of "he" or "she
In legal texts for example, "it" is used instead of "he" or "she
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Buck
: you cannot refer to a person as it, certainly not in a legal text
16 hrs
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Well, if British lawyers are not aware of there language rules, certainly cannot:-)
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+2
11 mins
Mark Berelekhis
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Exemplary quality, truly bilingual
Native in: Russian , English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
as a general rule, stick with 'he'
I myself was very surprised to find that most clients simply prefer to stick with 'he,' as that cuts down significantly on issues like this. And I'm talking about professional texts to be used in legal and business documents, psychiatric batteries, etc.
This has been my solution to the problem for a long time, and since then I've only had one customer ask me to find a way of neutralizing the pronoun. So, I suggest simply sticking with 'he.'
This has been my solution to the problem for a long time, and since then I've only had one customer ask me to find a way of neutralizing the pronoun. So, I suggest simply sticking with 'he.'
Note from asker:
| This is a marketing text - so I'd better avoid it - but I will keep your advice in mind. Thank you, Mark! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Buck
: I stick with he unless the customer insists on the dreaded pc he/she
16 hrs
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Thank you, Buck.
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| agree |
V_Nedkov
: Agree w the general rule. I think "they" (which is quite common) fits better as otherwise it creates a specific target group.
4 days
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Thank you, V_N. I can agree with that as well.
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+7
5 mins
passive
Nesrin's solution works in this context but be careful not to fall into the gap of using "they" for a single person - I'm seeing this more and more.
In this case you could try some thing like "if the customer doesn't tell us what is required". or even: If we don't know what is required, we can't...
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Note added at 18 mins (2008-02-19 16:00:28 GMT)
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Dear Asker,
To turn it around that way, you could say "if he customer does not tell us what we need to do."
In this case you could try some thing like "if the customer doesn't tell us what is required". or even: If we don't know what is required, we can't...
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Note added at 18 mins (2008-02-19 16:00:28 GMT)
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Dear Asker,
To turn it around that way, you could say "if he customer does not tell us what we need to do."
Note from asker:
| Can I put it this way ? - "We cannot deliver a software system if the customer did not tell us what we shall do" |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Marie-Hélène Hayles
: with your warning - although I think use of "they" for a single person will soon be considered as acceptable even in written English, as you sometimes need to jump through linguistic hoops to avoid it.
3 mins
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| agree |
Tatiana N. (X)
5 mins
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| agree |
Angela Dickson (X)
: I rather like 'they' for a single person (I think it's a neat solution) but I avoid it anyway, as so many people disapprove of it!
17 mins
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| agree |
Ken Cox
: also possible; and esp. in the US, using 'they' to refer to singular persons is very common now. @ Alexander: no you can't put it that way; it's awkward and grammatically incorrect.
26 mins
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| agree |
Vicky Nash
1 hr
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| agree |
Deborah Workman
: I do dislike plurals for singulars, so I'm for going passive (as it were!)-- e.g., "what system is required". Occasionally I use "s/he wants", but only if I know it will work for the client and context.
9 hrs
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| agree |
V_Nedkov
: w/ Ken too
4 days
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Discussion