Why do people use the words "they/their" when referring to a single person?

Question

Example: "Who was that on the phone?"
"I don't know. They hun up."

One couldn't just say, "The caller hung up."?

I also say, "Somebody left one's car lights on."

Am I the only one here who says, "the caller hung up" or "To hide one's identity to learn who one really is"? People have never used the words "somebody" or "someone"?
Not to come off critical, I just want to be sure what one is saying to me.

My vote goes to:
my big bear ron
Ichoosetotellthetruth
mkcandyrocky
Albert
rfamilymember
and
Bambi

Thanks!

Answer 1

"They" is usually used when the gender of the person is unknown, such as in the example you cited. It's not incorrect grammar.

Answer 2

Because in the U.S.A. the teacher's don't teach proper when a child is not understanding.

When i went to school we could make and ( E or F ) and we was passed from one grade to another.

I'm American and it makes me sick to see or kid's grow up in these condition's.

Oh yes it has changed but what about the people who was left behind which or now grown up's.

Than people want to say why this? why that? What makes it so bad is when someone always wants to put down others.

The * NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2001 * i have been fighting for year's and is the biggest joke since President Bush!!

Wish i could figure out why one person in this land my for-father's died for freedom for all can set up and put down others if they Mis-spell or they walk wrong or talk's the wrong way.

Yes i could stay on this question to next June 7 , 2007 but your question has been answered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay correct me i made ( E's in school ) and was raised so for out in the wood's i talk like Forrest Gump.

Answer 3

Well because otherwise you have to say:

• I don't know, he or she hung up.

It is perhaps wrong according to grammar books but only prescriptive grammar. The fact that so many of us say this and we all know what we mean indicates that it is an accepted way to communicate the idea of a singular concept even though it is a plural pronoun.

And of course you can say: "The caller hung up." I would probably say: I don't know the idiot hung up. But we all have our prefernces.

Answer 4

I'm glad you asked that, I just read the reason at another website... http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=330.

They used to be the correct way to refer to an unspecified individual, but in the early 19th century I believe, it was switched by act of English Parliament to 'him.' All the laws were rewritten so they said him instead of they or them.

Read the article for a complete answer.

Answer 5

Really. They/Their are plural. Too many people don't like to be corrected. I find it to be helpful. You're not insulting anyone, just bettering their (I mean, one's) grammar. Another sample I wish people would learn: Mrs. Jones' diary, not Mrs. Jones's diary.
The group and its members, not the group and it's members.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Often it's used when people don't know the gender of the person they're referring to or don't want to be bothered defining it, even though that's obviously incorrect.

Answer 7

"They" avoids the awkwardness of "he or she."

Sure, you could just say "the caller"; however, if you knew the caller was male, you would normally say, "He hung up."

In written work, it is good practice to use something like "the caller" to avoid using "they" (technically ungrammatical), "he" (sexist) or "he or she" (awkward).

In casual conversation, however, it's more natural to say "they."

Answer 8

It's just the way they speak.Each area has it's own dialect.The Southern appalachian dialect is simlar to that.Some people just don't speak proper english when speaking.

Answer 9

The wrong attitude while learning grammar

Answer 10

easy way to answer. otherwise we have to say ,"i don't know. he/she hung up.' when we do not know whether it is a male or female we normally use the word they, it doesn't look nice to use the word 'it'