This allowed half the population to choose not to identify themselves by marital status. The universal use of the singular “they,” by contrast, would compel all speakers to change virtually every sentence in deference to the half-percen t of the population who identify as nonbinary. In the process, it would destroy ancient and universal linguistic distinctions of gender, and, much worse, the distinction between the singular and the plural, which is essential to linguistic clarity. For most of us gender remains a fundamental and uncontroversial aspect of how we identify ourselves and one another. Those who nonetheless identify with neither gender are entitled to their freedom of identity and expression, and to our respect.

Source: New York Times July 17, 2019 17:26 UTC