# Non-gendered pronouns and their requested usage **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 29, 2020, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-gendered-pronouns-and-their-requested-usage/921795 "2020-09-29T07:56:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 44
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-gendered-pronouns-and-their-requested-usage/921795/44 "2020-10-08T21:07:39Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I use E, em, es, emself when gender is either unknown or irrelevant. The way I use it, it can be interchangeable with other gendered or non-gendered pronouns, but it’s specifically singular, not plural. That is, if either “he” or “she” or “they” is correct, then “E” is also correct. It’s not a “chosen” pronoun. I’ve churned the gears in my skull plenty trying to come up with a better, more serviceable gender-neutral pronoun, but nothing as good as yours. Who knows, if it catches on, it might also be chosen by individuals someday. Important clarification, **Acsenray** : Is _e_ meant to replace _he_ and _she_, but not _it_? If so, instead of being gender-neutral, it would be the same as in Dutch and Swedish grammar, the “common gender,” which is still contrasted with the neuter. But if _e_ can also replace _it_, then e’d be true gender-neutral. English, Dutch, and Swedish all derive from Proto-Germanic, which has 3 genders. English retains all 3, but only in the 3rd person singular pronouns. Dutch and Swedish have collapsed the masculine and feminine into a single “common gender,” and retained a distinct neuter, generally. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-gendered-pronouns-and-their-requested-usage/921795)._