” This is not to be confused with a generic use of singular “they.” Both AP and MLA style permit the usage of “they/them” if someone’s gender is unknown or if those are their preferred pronouns. When writing in MLA format, the MLA website states that not only does it allow, but it also encourages the usage of a person’s preferred pronouns, including the singular “they.” For example: “Jules is writing their research paper on Jane Austen’s Persuasion.

Others may shy away from them in academic papers. Using pronouns that reflect their identity makes non-binary and gender non-conforming people more comfortable.Įven so, many people may be confused on how to use gender neutral pronouns, which is completely understandable.

This being said, many people feel that they do not identify with male or female, and may feel as if they are somewhere in between or wholly different. Gender is the social construct that humans created around sex. Gender however, exists on more of a spectrum and cannot be contained by only two categories. There are three sexes: male, female, and intersex. When using them, it is important to note that gender neutral pronouns, most commonly singular they/them pronouns, are ways to express gender identity that falls outside of what most people know as the “binary.” The idea of being non-binary or agender is easier to grasp after recognizing that sex and gender are not the same. The idea of gender neutral pronouns and their usage may seem overwhelming to some, but in actuality they are easy to understand and apply, even in academic settings.

What are neo pronouns