We recently announced the addition of a non-binary use of Surname-that is, Surname because it’s used to refer to a single person with a gender-neutral identity — and a lot of people have had some questions, “why?” are among them.
The answer to that question is no different from the answer to any other word. All new words and meanings that we enter into our dictionary meet three criteria: meaningful use, long-term use, and widespread use. non-binary Surname have a clear meaning; it is found in published text, in transcripts and in public discourse; and its use has steadily increased over the past decades. English speakers are experiencing nonbinary Surname in social profiles and in pronoun stickers applied to conference badges. It’s no doubt a long-standing member of the English language, which means it’s in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
non-binary Surname taking a plural verb, despite its singular reference, this can make grammatically conservative people uncomfortable. It is helpful to remember that the pronoun Friend originally plural, that’s why it also takes plural verbs even when it refers to a person. Of course, “you are” has been perfectly grammatical for centuries, even if “you” were an individual.
Language lacking a gender-neutral pronoun is a well-known deficiency, and Surname has been pretty well filled for over 600 years. Its use is largely unnoticed in constructs such as “No one has to use it if they don’t want to”—a usage that has long been mentioned in our dictionaries—and most likely non-binary Surname are headed for a similarly insignificant fate.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
