Language change?

[firecat]

Language change note (or new-to-me language usage, anyway)

An article in Knitty had this: “They’re arranged in such a way that one can develop their brioche proficiency by working their way through the designs.“

I’ve never seen the pronoun ”one“ paired with “their“. I’ve always done it like this: “one can develop one’s proficiency…” I like it.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

Hmm, I like it too. I know I've said one ... one's many times in the past, aiming for gender-neutrality. But I felt like I was donning a fake Oxonian cap while doing it. The one ... their pair is much more natural for a US English speaker.

So, what does brioche proficiency mean in a textile craft context?

[firecat]

Oxonian cap — Exactly. In my editorial career I always rewrote sentences that had more than two “one’s”.

Brioche is a knitting technique that produces a very thick, plush fabric. I haven’t learned it yet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brioche_knitting

[pameladean]

If I recall correctly, the way you (and I) refer back to "one" was standard accepted English, but lots of people just naturally used "they" pronouns to refer back, and got corrected. But now it may, I hope, be considered to be correct to just do that.

P.

[firecat]

Yes, I think you recall correctly!

[starwatcher]

Hmm... I think I've seen it and just shrugged and carried on. With the new acceptance of singular 'they', it makes a lot of sense.

[firecat]

Agreed!