pronouns to abstract character

[ThrillingHuman]

In many books(usually textbooks) the authors use he, or sometimes she, when reffering to an abstract character they describe.
Something like:

When a physicist observes a natural phenomenon, he does it by...

When do people use "he" and when "she" when talking about an abstract entity?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

If I'm not mistaken you use he all the time, unless you are a very progressive citizen of USA.

 

[Deleted member 120990]

In many books(usually textbooks) the authors use he, or sometimes she, when reffering to an abstract character they describe.
Something like:

When do people use "he" and when "she" when talking about an abstract entity?

That's a good question, but you could easily use "she" in your example. I think it may depend on the gender of the character, or the circumstances surrounding whatever it is.

If I'm not mistaken you use he all the time, unless you are a very progressive citizen of USA.

People usually use "she" for cars or ships

 

[ThrillingHuman]

I think it may depend on the gender of the character, or the circumstances surrounding whatever it is.

that's the thing, abstract characters do not have genders

If I'm not mistaken you use he all the time, unless you are a very progressive citizen of USA.

I tried finding a textbook where they used "she" but it was a pain. I know there is one I read.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I have a deity character with no gender so I refer to it as an "it", "the being", or "deity" since it has a blend of masculine and feminine traits but is neither. He and she can be used to describe them but it doesn't matter since they are a spiritual body. However, what is most fitting to call this character based on their personality is "cheeky cunt."

 

[RepresentingWrath]

People usually use "she" for cars or ships

What I've learned and heard is that whenever you can't choose between "he" and "she" you use "he". It's a default pronoun used in such situations. But I'm not sure, maybe you are right.

 

[Deleted member 120990]

that's the thing, abstract characters do not have genders

I tried finding a textbook where they used "she" but it was a pain. I know there is one I read.

Oh! It might depend on something like a profession when it comes to textbooks. If there was a textbook on nursing they might use she. Ex: "If a nurse wants to treat (insert thing here) she will do X."

 

[ThrillingHuman]

I have a deity character with no gender so I refer to it as an "it", "the being", or "deity" since it has a blend of masculine and feminine traits but is neither. He and she can be used to describe them but it doesn't matter since they are a spiritual body. However, what is most fitting to call this character based on their personality is "cheeky cunt."

Again, a deity is not an abstract character.
Also, not to be offensive, but I am geniunely curious, as a Christian, is it okay for you to write about pagan gods?

Oh! It might depend on something like a profession when it comes to textbooks. If there was a textbook on nursing they might use she. Ex: "If a nurse wants to treat (insert thing here) she will do X."

Maybeeee. I never did read a textbook for a discipline traditionally associated with any sex, though. Who knows if I just didn't know however?

 

[LilRora]

I think it's a habit in most cases. It's common to use "He" because it's rooted in day-to-day English, but I don't think it's any different from "She". Although it can often be used when we're talking about a gender-specific proffessions and other things (just like Enora wrote) and sometimes to assign gender roles. By sexists, possibly.

"They" is also often used in the stories if it's unknown for plot or narration reasons, but I'm pretty sure you can use it to replace "He" or "She" anytime. Just that "He" is the most common and defaulted to among the three.

People usually use "she" for cars or ships

I would agree with that completely, but I'm pretty sure that's not an abstract entity.

 

[Deleted member 120990]

I just thought of something else that could change a textbook's gender pronouns. If a country has a queen, the author might be more likely to use "she" for political reasons.

 

[BearlyAlive]

If it's undefined and a person, you use "he", otherwise "she" or "it".

If your crime suspect might be an animal but might just as well be a girl with a weapon you'd still use he, tho since it's still an undefined person.

You can also just do it the way Paul did and give those characters a moniker like "the suspect" or give them nicknames.

I have a character most people just call Five.

 

[Deleted member 120990]

If it's undefined and a person, you use "he", otherwise "she" or "it".

If your crime suspect might be an animal but might just as well be a girl with a weapon you'd still use he, tho since it's still an undefined person.

You can also just do it the way Paul did and give those characters a moniker like "the suspect" or give them nicknames.

I have a character most people just call Five.

This is just speculation, and not based on any research. But it probably depends on positions of power, or who is more likely to be associated with a certain thing. Men tend to more often hold higher positions of power, so in most places "he" is probably more common.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Again, a deity is not an abstract character.
Also, not to be offensive, but I am geniunely curious, as a Christian, is it okay for you to write about pagan gods?

I would disagree on deities not being an abstract character on the basis that they are an ethereal being. Plus, I use deity as a placeholder because it is the manifestation of time itself and I didn't know how else to describe it.

As for your question about Christianity, that is difficult to answer that many Christians do not agree on but it is not offensive to ask. I believe that writing about pagan gods isn't a sin in and of itself, as even the Bible references pagan gods such as Baal. Since most Christians (including myself) believe that pagan gods are demons that were worshipped as gods, writing about them can become a sin if it used as a method of worship or praise, which I am not. I am simply utilizing the ideas that they promote in order to more easily convey messages to my audience. Christian writers have used magic in their stories before as well, not to promote the use of it, but to convey certain ideas in both good and bad lights. Take C.S. Lewis and Tolkien for example, as both used magic systems (and in Tolkien's case, fictional deities) in their stories while keeping the message predominantly christian in nature. Plus, being a Christian doesn't mean that you can't write non-Christian stories, it just means that you should do what you can to glorify God with it. Though there are probably some Christians who would heavily disagree with me on this.

 

[Vnator]

In many books(usually textbooks) the authors use he, or sometimes she, when reffering to an abstract character they describe.
Something like:

When do people use "he" and when "she" when talking about an abstract entity?

For textbooks at least, it refers to a hypothetical person, where you can use either, but they seems to better get across that they're a hypothetical person and not anyone definite. Also, it's a fucking textbook, those aren't written by people who give a shit about things like writing, entertainment, or sounding interesting.

 

[georgelee5786]

He is just the default pronoun

 

[Gibbs505]

In many books(usually textbooks) the authors use he, or sometimes she, when reffering to an abstract character they describe.
Something like:

When do people use "he" and when "she" when talking about an abstract entity?

You could use 'they'.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

I would disagree on deities not being an abstract character on the basis that they are an ethereal being. Plus, I use deity as a placeholder because it is the manifestation of time itself and I didn't know how else to describe it.

If it is a concrete entity with its own definite actions affecting the real world on its own and not existing as a thought or an idea then it doesn't matter if it's the embodiment of time or the living number two.

You could use 'they'.

But I asked not about "they" but "he" or "she"

 

[Tyranomaster]

A lot of it has to do with general ambiguity of the English Language. I won't chastise someone for using either he or she when refering to an ambiguous professional in reference to the individual, but I do take issue with using words like they or them. Quite frankly, common vernacular lacks a non-abiguous non-gendered singular pronoun to use in that situation.

The best way to actually write in informative writing is to avoid pronouns, and just repeat "the doctor" to refer to the individual. In practice though, it's a human writing on the other side, and frankly, if it's a complicated topic, I can't fault the person for not focusing on small grammar issues when trying to explain a topic.

 

[Ssthat]

What I've learned and heard is that whenever you can't choose between "he" and "she" you use "he". It's a default pronoun used in such situations. But I'm not sure, maybe you are right.

so i can just call non-binary people "he"! that makes things so much easier thanks for clearing that up

 

[RepresentingWrath]

so i can just call non-binary people "he"! that makes things so much easier thanks for clearing that up

What?