“One can do his homework in the library”Is it typical native speaker usage to inconsistently use the...

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"One can do his homework in the library"

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“One can do his homework in the library”


Is it typical native speaker usage to inconsistently use the pronoun “one” in a paragraph?You, you two, you people and you'seUsing the pronoun 'one' twice in a sentence for the same personIs it grammatically correct to use his, her, or his/her?pronoun/noun followed by present participle'A or B' - singular or pluralWhat's up with “this,” in Old English(Ænȝlıſ͡ċ/Anglo Saxon‽)On the principle governing pronoun forms with verbs and after prepositionsCombining demonstrative and possessive pronoun“I showed the monkey himself in the mirror”. Why is this sentence grammatical?













2
















One can do his homework in the library.



One can do one's homework in the library.




Nowadays, are these structures part of colloquial English? The use of one as a pronoun is still in use or is it considered formal if not old-fashioned? In this case how can we render colloquially the same idea?










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Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 2





    One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago











  • @tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on

    – Dimitris
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago
















2
















One can do his homework in the library.



One can do one's homework in the library.




Nowadays, are these structures part of colloquial English? The use of one as a pronoun is still in use or is it considered formal if not old-fashioned? In this case how can we render colloquially the same idea?










share|improve this question







New contributor




Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 2





    One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago











  • @tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on

    – Dimitris
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago














2












2








2









One can do his homework in the library.



One can do one's homework in the library.




Nowadays, are these structures part of colloquial English? The use of one as a pronoun is still in use or is it considered formal if not old-fashioned? In this case how can we render colloquially the same idea?










share|improve this question







New contributor




Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.













One can do his homework in the library.



One can do one's homework in the library.




Nowadays, are these structures part of colloquial English? The use of one as a pronoun is still in use or is it considered formal if not old-fashioned? In this case how can we render colloquially the same idea?







pronouns






share|improve this question







New contributor




Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question







New contributor




Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question






New contributor




Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 hours ago









DimitrisDimitris

1134




1134




New contributor




Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 2





    One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago











  • @tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on

    – Dimitris
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago














  • 2





    One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago











  • @tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on

    – Dimitris
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)

    – tchrist
    1 hour ago








2




2





One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.

– tchrist
1 hour ago





One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.

– tchrist
1 hour ago













@tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on

– Dimitris
1 hour ago







@tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on

– Dimitris
1 hour ago






1




1





The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)

– tchrist
1 hour ago





The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)

– tchrist
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















3














In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.



The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.




A student can do his or her homework in the library.




A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).




A student can do their homework in the library.




Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.




Students can do their homework in the library.







share|improve this answer































    3














    These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 1





      Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)

      – tchrist
      1 hour ago











    Your Answer








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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    3














    In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.



    The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.




    A student can do his or her homework in the library.




    A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).




    A student can do their homework in the library.




    Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.




    Students can do their homework in the library.







    share|improve this answer




























      3














      In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.



      The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.




      A student can do his or her homework in the library.




      A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).




      A student can do their homework in the library.




      Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.




      Students can do their homework in the library.







      share|improve this answer


























        3












        3








        3







        In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.



        The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.




        A student can do his or her homework in the library.




        A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).




        A student can do their homework in the library.




        Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.




        Students can do their homework in the library.







        share|improve this answer













        In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.



        The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.




        A student can do his or her homework in the library.




        A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).




        A student can do their homework in the library.




        Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.




        Students can do their homework in the library.








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

        727210




        727210

























            3














            These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1





              Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)

              – tchrist
              1 hour ago
















            3














            These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1





              Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)

              – tchrist
              1 hour ago














            3












            3








            3







            These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.






            share|improve this answer













            These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            Greg LeeGreg Lee

            14.7k2932




            14.7k2932








            • 1





              Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)

              – tchrist
              1 hour ago














            • 1





              Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)

              – tchrist
              1 hour ago








            1




            1





            Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)

            – tchrist
            1 hour ago





            Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)

            – tchrist
            1 hour ago










            Dimitris is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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