如何使用有性别特征的名词

使用没有性别区分的语言对于某些作者而言似乎是没有必要的，但是，如果一概使用男性化的代名词则会给读者留下这样的印象，即认为女性不包括在作者所指的群体当中。虽然有人会反驳说男性化的代名词"he" 和"his"同时指代男性和女性，但是读者而非作者完全会产生上述的印象。因为很多读者读到男性化的代名词时会认为仅指男性，所以，作者可能是不经意地创造了这种错误的印象。　

基于经验得来的重要方法就是避免使用具有性别特征的用语；只是在必须使用名词才能完成句子的情况下，可以使用"他或她"（"he or she"）作为替代。多数情况下可以重写一个句子避免使用具有性别特征的名词。

下面将介绍三种方法。第一种是最理想的。不要使用“他们”代替他和她，“他们”应该只是在指称复数的情况下才使用。这里的每一个规则都提供了一个避免使用具有性别特征用语的方法。

1、重写一个句子避免使用任何名词　通常可以用"the" 或"a"代替该名词。

Incorrect: A good judge takes their job very seriously.

Undesirable:A good judge takes his or her job very seriously.

Better: A good judge takes the job very seriously.

OR

A good judge takes judging very seriously.

Incorrect: A defendant should not be required to sacrifice their constitutional right to a fair trial for the sole benefit of allowing televised coverage of their trial.

Better: A defendant should not be required to sacrifice his or her constitutional right to a fair trial for the sole benefit of allowing televised coverage of his or her trial.

Best: A defendant should not be required to sacrifice the constitutional right to a fair trial for the sole benefit of allowing televised coverage of the trial.

2． 如果必要的话，使用"one"代替"he or she"或"his or her"。但是，如果可能的话，也应该避免使用这一表达，因为"one"这个词用起来并不容易。

不理想的：

A person who masters the basic rules of grammar, punctuation, and good writing is likely to impress his or her supervisors.

较理想的:

One who masters the basic rules of grammar, punctuation, and good writing is likely to impress one’s supervisors.

3、如果必要的话，将主语由单数改为复数。如果你所指的并非一个明确的个体而是一类个体，你可以使用一个复数的主语，这样就可以避免使用具有性别特征的名词，同时还可以避免不正确地使用“他们”（"their"）这个名词。

Incorrect: A teacher must communicate clearly with their students.

Also Incorrect: A teacher must communicate clearly with her students.

Better: A teacher must communicate clearly with his or her students.

Best: Teachers must communicate clearly with their students.