The American Psychological Association (APA) now endorses the use of “they” as a singular pronoun. They are the latest major organization to provide style guidelines around “they,” meaning that scholars, writers, and scientists will be mandated to use they/them pronouns when needed within their professional and educational fields. It’s just one step towards the legitimization and standardization of the singular “they” pronoun, validating those who use it as a gender-neutral option within a major medical context.
“This means it is officially good practice in scholarly writing to use the singular ‘they,’” APA’s Content Development Manager Chelsea Lee writes in an APA Style blog post. Style and grammar guidelines for use of the singular “they” now appear in the seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association and the APA Style website.
APA is America’s largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists, with over 118,000 members. Its Publication Manual is followed by a vast amount of professionals, educators, and scholars, who work in the social or behavioral sciences, medical field, and other related fields. APA Style would have previously accepted the use of the phrase “he or she” to indicate a gender-neutral subject; for example: “A person should enjoy his or her vacation.” But Lee writes that this usage “presumes that a person uses either the pronoun ‘he’ or the pronoun ‘she,’” which might not always be the case since some people use other pronouns such as “they,” “zir,” “ze,” and “xe,” among others. “When readers see a gendered pronoun, they make assumptions about the gender of the person being described,” Lee writes. “APA advocates for the singular ‘they’ because it is inclusive of all people and helps writers avoid making assumptions about gender.”
APA Style has not only suggested the use of singular “they,” but they’ve also mandated it. “If you are writing about a person who uses ‘they’ as their pronoun, then yes, you have to use it,” Lee continues. “Respectful and inclusive language is important. And it’s part of APA Style.”
“They" is being increasingly recognized by academic, literary, and professional organizations as a valid singular pronoun. In 2015, the Washington Post adopted the usage of the singular “they,” and the pronoun was named the Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society. In 2017, the American Psychiatric Association provided guidelines on the singular “they” in their best practice guide on working with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming patients and on their website. And most recently, in September, Merriam-Webster added a definition to their entry for the word “they,” saying that it could be used to refer to a single person whose gender identity is nonbinary.
AP Style also introduced the usage of the singular “they” in 2017, though they did not fully endorse it. “They/them/their is acceptable in limited cases as a singular and-or gender-neutral pronoun, when alternative wording is overly awkward or clumsy,” the 2017 AP Stylebook read. “However, rewording usually is possible and always is preferable. Clarity is a top priority; gender-neutral use of a singular they is unfamiliar to many readers.”
The New York Times' own style guide operates similarly in regards to the singular "they"; though the publication allows for it in their current style guide, it warns against its widespread use. “Take particular care to avoid confusion if using they for an individual,” the stylebook reads. The publication has since fallen under criticism for not endorsing the gender-neutral pronoun. In a 2017 op-ed for the Daily Beast, writer Samantha Allen argues that the Times should change their style guide. "Non-binary people aren’t going anywhere, nor is singular 'they' for the time being," Allen writes. "'Grammar' is never a good excuse for trying to freeze language in place."
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