"The most obvious example is the adoption of the singular 'they' to replace clunky constructions like 'he or she' and 'he/she.' Language purists argue that this is ungrammatical, even though 'they' has been employed in just this way by authors as diverse as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Austen, Dickinson, and Shaw."
"A rapidly shifting cultural landscape led to the swift adoption of the singular 'they,' with most journalistic style guides endorsing its use during the 2010s. In 2019, this usage reached the height of linguistic respectability by being enshrined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary."
English has gradually lost its gender markers over centuries, evolving from a language with three genders to a simpler, more modern form. This change accelerated in recent decades due to advocacy for gender equality and nonbinary acceptance. The singular 'they' has gained acceptance as a replacement for gendered pronouns, supported by major style guides and recognized in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. However, the transformation is ongoing, with remnants of gendered language still present in certain contexts.
Read at Psychology Today
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