Grammar Police

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Grammar Police


Grammar Police

from the "Metropolitan Diary" section of the NY TIMES (June 1, 1998)


Visiting an editor at Random House, I stepped into a crowded elevator and found
myself pressed close to the control panel.

"Has everyone got their floors?" I asked.

After a moment's silence, a young female voice from the rear said, "His or her."

"I beg your pardon?" I said.

"His or her. It's 'Has everyone got his or her floors?' Your pronouns don't
agree."

"And shouldn't it be 'his or her floor', not 'floors'?" a young man piped up.
"Each of us gets off at only one floor."

"And wouldn't it be better to say 'Does everybody have?' rather than 'Has
everybody got?'" a third voice chimed in.

I stood corrected - and red faced. But I was glad to know that good grammar is
alive and well.




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