Grammar lesson?
What's wrong with this? If you look in the sidebar, you will see "Writing Tip for the Day." This is today's tip (emphasis mine):
Treat your editors like the coach from any sports team because the editor knows their audience and only rejects writing with a good reason--even if you never learn the specifics.
Is this correct? I think it should say:
"...the editor knows his audience..."or
"...the editors know their audience...".
And this is a "writing" tip?
Correct me if I'm wrong. Please.
6 comments:
I agree with you, Janie,
...singular subject takes a singular verb.
Hmmmm, should we write and tell 'em?
Dana in GA
Oh, I agree with you, and this is one of my pet peeves. It seems to be accepted usage these days, though.
You're correct, of course. Wonder who writes those "tips?"
Okay, I looked at it from a different perspective. Who's audience is it? The editor or the writer? Shouldn't it be "...the editor knows a writer's audience..." or the "editor knows your audience..."
Grammar is not my strong point, and it's probably showing here.
It's absolutely wrong, and I don't care if it's becoming accepted today! Agreeing with both you and Anne--and it's definitely a pet peeve of mine, too. Interetingly, the College Board (of SAT fame) still considers it wrong!
Singular subject--singular pronoun. Period.
(Okay, off my soapbox now ;-))
Move over and make room for me on the band wagon. I ***hate*** this usage. It's wretched that standard English usage takes back seat to PC.
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