TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:FW: generic he summary From:"Delaney, Misti" <ncr02!ncr02!mdelaney -at- UCS01 -dot- ATTMAIL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 9 Aug 1995 13:50:00 -0500
----------
From: Price, Becca
To: Delaney, Misti
Subject: re: generic he summary
Date: Wednesday, August 09, 1995 12:46PM
"On the other hand, in "when you see your physician for your annual checkup,
make sure they check your blood pressure," the antecedent "physician" does
conjure up a picture of a single person. For many people the contrast
between that picture and the word "they" will be jarring."
-----
this is a situation when passive voice comes in handy. "when you see your
physician, make sure to have your blood pressure checked." does it nicely.
It gets away from the use of a generic he, a singular they, and anyway
usually it's the dr.'s nurse who checks my b.p., not the Dr.. him/herself.
