# Choice of personal pronouns **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choice-of-personal-pronouns/927771 "2020-12-10T15:47:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choice-of-personal-pronouns/927771/1 "2020-12-10T15:47:23Z")
[Elliot Page posted a statement on Twitter introducing himself as transgender](https://twitter.com/TheElliotPage/status/1333820783655837701). He told us his name and pronouns (he/they). What exactly does that choice me? They are both nominative pronouns, one singular and one plural. When would I use “they” when referring to Elliot Page? I don’t mean this to be just about Mr. Page, but in general, aren’t usually a nominative, accusative, and possessive pronoun given? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choice-of-personal-pronouns/927771/2 "2020-12-10T15:58:47Z")
Page’s designation of “he/they” are both singular pronouns, but the difference is one is singular gender-specific and one is singular gender-neutral. Similar to how “you” can be both singular and plural, “they” is being used that same way. English doesn’t have a widely used gender-neutral single personal pronoun, so it’s not unusual that you take it as being plural. But here it’s being used as a singular pronoun because it has some history of being used as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. So in this sentence: > [@](#): > > “The Umbrella Academy” is a great show. The actors are fantastic. **They** (1) do a great job of bringing the story to life. Page’s performance really stands out. **Their** (2) portrayal of Vanya holds the whole show together." The “They”(1) refers to all the actors. The “Their”(2) refers to Page as a singular, non-gender neutral pronoun. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choice-of-personal-pronouns/927771/3 "2020-12-10T16:03:08Z")
I know about the singular they. But it’s used when the gender is unknown. Why wouldn’t I say “his portrayal…” Using ‘they’ would indicate there is gender ambiguity, something I’d think he’d not want at all. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choice-of-personal-pronouns/927771/4 "2020-12-10T16:08:34Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > [Elliot Page posted a statement on Twitter introducing himself as transgender](https://twitter.com/TheElliotPage/status/1333820783655837701). He told us his name and pronouns (he/they). I didn’t see any reference to pronouns in that link. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choice-of-personal-pronouns/927771/5 "2020-12-10T16:23:48Z")
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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choice-of-personal-pronouns/927771/6 "2020-12-10T16:27:37Z")
Given that there is a very extensive discussion of the meaning of gender pronouns in reference to non-binary individuals in both the thread on Page in Cafe Society, and in ATMB, I am going to close this and refer the OP to those threads. > [@Ellen Page is trans/nonbinary now, name is Elliot](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ellen-page-is-trans-nonbinary-now-name-is-elliot/926940): > > He came out as gay in 2014 which did not really surprise many people > [@Do the existing rules prohibit people from debating the gender of people who identify as transgender?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-existing-rules-prohibit-people-from-debating-the-gender-of-people-who-identify-as-transgender/927272): > > My reading of the rules leads to two related paradoxes. Consider this argument, you do not have to agree with it to see the paradox: Debating the validity of someone’s gender is encouraging readers to treat others differently based on their gender encouraging readers to treating people differently because of their gender constitutes encouraging gender discrimination it is against the rules to encourage gender discrimination without mod approval The first bullet point is contentious, and that’…