[Grammar] Welcome X in "his" new role ... or welcome X in "their" new role ?

[acogscott]

Welcome X in "his" new role ... or welcome X in "their" new role ?

Please would you tell me if it is correct or incorrect to say the following...under the strange circumstance of not actually knowing if it is a male or female (perhaps due to the name which could be foreign, for example)

We would like to welcome this person in "their" new role
or
We would like to welcome this person in "his" new role

I was always taught that it is impossible to use "their" in this case as it is clearly a SINGULAR case of ONE person being welcomed ...hence into his/her new role...never "their" which is plural. However, the person writing the Memo for the company insists that this is correct and accepted, but I would like "grammatical English proof" that this is acceptable or not.
Thank you for your time.
Caroline

 

[Barb_D]

Re: Welcome X in "his" new role ... or welcome X in "their" new role ?

You are unlikely to get such "grammatical English proof" here, Caroline.

The use of "their" for a singular reference when the sex is unknown has a long history. It's acceptable use in a broad range of settings.

Wouldn't you be embarrassed to use "his new role" and have a woman be the person you're talking about?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Welcome X in "his" new role ... or welcome X in "their" new role ?

Please would you tell me if it is correct or incorrect to say the following...under the strange circumstance of not actually knowing if it is a male or female (perhaps due to the name which could be foreign, for example)

We would like to welcome this person in "their" new role
or
We would like to welcome this person in "his" new role

I was always taught that it is impossible to use "their" in this case as it is clearly a SINGULAR case of ONE person being welcomed ...hence into his/her new role...never "their" which is plural. However, the person writing the Memo for the company insists that this is correct and accepted, but I would like "grammatical English proof" that this is acceptable or not.
Thank you for your time.
Caroline

I am not a big fan of using plural pronouns as gender-neutral singular pronouns. But, as Barb said, it is sometimes unavoidable. Sometimes we can avoid he problem by phrasing the sentence in the plural. Sometimes we can use "he/she or him/her. But neither of those strategies will work in your proposed sentence.

 

[acogscott]

Re: Welcome X in "his" new role ... or welcome X in "their" new role ?

You are unlikely to get such "grammatical English proof" here, Caroline.

The use of "their" for a singular reference when the sex is unknown has a long history. It's acceptable use in a broad range of settings.

Wouldn't you be embarrassed to use "his new role" and have a woman be the person you're talking about?

Reply - Thanks for the reply. Yes, I totally agree but that is why I find it strange that they even think about using PLURAL. If you have just taken on somebody, SURELY GOODNESS you know if the person is a Man or a Woman ??? (even if they did have foreign names from India or wherever which as I mentioned may not be obvious to Quebec as to what sex the person is)
This means that you would obviously use HIS role or HER role and not their role ! hahaha :lol:
thanks again.