RE: Apple permits "then" to be used as a coord. conjunction in instructions?

["Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>]

> From: Kathleen [mailto:keamac -at- cox -dot- net] 
> 
> Bonnie,
> 
> I'll be the first to bow to your superior grammatical 
> expertise, because
> grammar isn't my strong point. But I thought I saw a note 
> recently that
> "they" can be used in the singular and plural--was that
historically
> speaking or a recent development?
> 
> OTOH: I don't agree with using "they" as singular; the sentences
don't
> make sense.
> 

I believe there's historical precedent for it back in the 14th and
15th centuries, but if it was standard usage then (and I don't know
that to be the case), that certainly seemed to have changed by the
time you and I turned up. I also believe there are examples from
Shakespeare and others that are offered as "proof" that the usage
is correct. 

I just know we're going to be talking a bit more about this now. ;
)

Bonnie Granat | www.GranatEdit.com
bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com
Cambridge, Massachusetts, US



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now Shipping -- WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word! Easily create online
Help. And online anything else. Redesigned interface with a new
project-based workflow. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Doc-To-Help 2005 now has RoboHelp Converter and HTML Source: Author 
content and configure Help in MS Word or any HTML editor. No 
proprietary editor! *August release. http://www.componentone.com/TECHWRL/DocToHelp2005

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.