"Fill It Up" or "Fill Her Up"?

Question

On Friday I asked a question about the origin of "fill 'er up" and why it refers to a "her"? After I did more research on the net I became more confused. I found out that some Newspapers write "fill it up" and others "fill her up". So is it "her" or "it".
References:
NY Times writes "fill it Up":
http://tinyurl.com/edj43
Bizz Journal writes "fill her up":
http://tinyurl.com/28by6c
English Idioms also claims that the right words are "fill her up":
http://tinyurl.com/29772d

For those who wanna know why it matters: I'm a writer for a foreign Magazine in a foreign langugage, and I wanna use the right words and the perfect spelling according to that langugage.

Answer 1

I take it you're referring to a car's gas tank. Technically, since the car and tank are inanimate objects, the phrase should be 'fill it up'. However, early superstitious sailors referred to the sea and, by extension, their ships as 'she'. This tradition has carried down to the present day, in that ships are still referred to in this manner, and - by extension - so are cars. So, speaking idiomatically, 'fill 'er up' is acceptable, if not technically correct.

Answer 2

It's called "personification.," that is, you are trying to "put life" into a thing that is lifeless; in this case, using the pronoun "her" to refer to a lifeless thing like a car, etc. In the case of a car, some(if not most) men refer to a car as his "baby" or "second love"(next to his wife/girlfriend), treating the car as if it was human.

There is no specific parameters/"correctness" set; saying "fill her up" or "fill it up" is acceptable. You can also just say "fill the car up",to be more clear/specific. What matters is that you get to express yourself well thru writing or conversations.

As to your being a writer for a foreign magazine in a foreign langugage, you can't go wrong by being courteous, respectful(specially of certain traditions in a particular country, about a particular action, food, word that is prohibited/unacceptable), resourceful, inquisitive, sensitive, unbiased, humble, & truthful --all of which are basic principles in your work,in whatever country you might be working in.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I certainly have by no potential experienced an inner vacancy. I evaluate existence too packed with wonderment to ever sense empty. i seem at existence as a gas tank. even while that's just about empty, all you will desire to do is open the cap, plug interior the pump nozzle and fill 'er up!

Answer 4

Fill it up makes more sense to translate, a vehicle does not have a gender. BUT I always name mine and it's usually female especially when it is obnoxious. Every car I've owned has had afemale name. My current pick-up is also female.

Answer 5

I was told that the "Oldtimers" used "fill 'er up" when referring to the car as if it were a female. Evidentally, most cars were referred to as females.

Answer 6

My grand father all ways said fill her up.So i guess that is the right one.But my grandfather was refering to his car.Witch one are U refering to?

Answer 7

Her, most people refer to their car as a female. Good ole' Betsy. The movie CHRISTINE.

Answer 8

does it matter?? it prolly started when people called their cars 'girls' therefore fill HER up. some newspaper prolly got in trouble for being 'sexist' and therefore changed it to fill IT up

honestly though? if they understand what your saying does it rele matter...?

Answer 9

It depends. If you think your car is a "her", then I guess it's fill her up. If you don't really think your car has a sex, then I guess it's fill it up

Answer 10

as an old tradition. don't ask me why, most people refer to their vehicles, ships, plains, ...etc as "her". so i guess it's "fill er' up.you know, like ol' betsy and things of that sort.