It for baby?

[vladz]

My student asked me if it's all right to use the pronoun "it" in reference to the word "baby" because she read it from an article in Reader's Digest. I told her that it would be appropriate to make use of he/she because it is a person. Please help me. Thanks

 

[Casiopea]

My student asked me if it's all right to use the pronoun "it" in reference to the word "baby" because she read it from an article in Reader's Digest. I told her that it would be appropriate to make use of he/she because it is a person. Please help me. Thanks

When the sex/gender of the baby is not (yet) known, using generic "It/it" is considered acceptable.

 

[vladz]

How about for police, nurse or any generic occupation is it ok to use the pronoun "it"?

 

[Francois]

We could say that you asked for it if you do.

FRC

 

[Casiopea]

How about for police, nurse or any generic occupation is it ok to use the pronoun "it"?

In that case, use the person's title e.g., the police officer, the engineer, the nurse.