Most writers will agree that pronouns are a wonderful thing. Not only do they provide an easy substitute for nouns, pronouns offer a short, less wordy form of reference. But pronouns can also be a writer’s dilemma, like when it comes to choosing a singular pronoun for an animal. Maybe it’s okay to call a common bird in the sky an it, but what about the friendly beagle next door or the sweet doe living in the woods? Don’t they deserve to be called by their gender?
Deciding which pronoun to use for an animal can be confusing, but knowing the rules – and when to bend them – can help.
Animals and Gender – General Rule for Singular Pronouns
The general rule with regard to animals and singular pronouns is perhaps best stated in the Associated Press Stylebook: “Do not apply a personal pronoun to an animal unless its sex has been established or the animal has a name.” Adds the Medical Library Association: “When the animal’s sex is known or the animal has a name, use masculine and feminine pronouns as appropriate.” Simple enough. The pronoun for Carl the cat, then, is he; a nameless ewe is a she; and a fox in the wild, an it.
Not every writer follows this rule, though. Some writers prefer to take a more personal approach to the treatment of animals in writing, especially domesticated and familiar animals. To call a stray kitten an it, for example, may seem cold and inhumane. So what pronoun should those more sensitive writers give a nameless animal whose gender is unknown? The problem with using he, the formerly accepted generic pronoun for people, is that it’s now considered sexist and inappropriate. But while he may offend some readers, using she isn't exactly a fair alternative.
When in Doubt About Animal Pronouns – Options for Writers
When he, she, or it doesn't do the trick, writers have the option to reword their writing. One way to do that is to choose the plural form of the animal. For example, the sentence “When a dog feels ill, he may chew on grass for comfort” could be changed to “When dogs feel ill, they may chew on grass for comfort.” However, as William Zinsser explains in his classic book On Writing Well (Collins, 2006), “this is good only in small doses. A style that converts every ‘he’ into a ‘they’ will quickly turn to mush.”
For some writers, using the phrases he or she and him or her for an animal whose gender isn’t known can work too, although this will also get tiresome and clutter the writing. Another option is to change the pronoun to a noun (i.e., instead of using he for a dog, substitute the dog or the pooch). Sometimes, whether to give an animal a gender pronoun depends on the publication where the writing will appear. For example, the Humane Society, PETA, and other organizations devoted to the compassionate treatment of animals might frown on using it in their publications when referring to an animal. Choosing either he or she and then using that pronoun consistently might be a better approach for them. On the other hand, a newspaper aimed at the general public may favor the pronoun it for animals.
Relative Pronouns for Animals
Keep in mind that when giving an animal a gender pronoun in writing, another dilemma often presents itself: Should the corresponding relative pronoun be that or who? Consider the following:
- Max is a gentle horse. He’s the one who belongs to the old man.
- Max is a gentle horse. He’s the one that belongs to the old man.
According to The Chicago Manual of Style, the second example would be correct since who should be used to refer to a person while that can refer to a person or an animal. Still, this usage rule isn’t always enforced, and some writers refuse to use anything other than who or whom when referring to an animal. Of course, rewording the sentence can also solve the problem: The old man owns Max, a gentle horse.
Bottom line? The general rule for animals and singular pronouns – when the sex or name of an animal is known, use the appropriate male or female pronoun; otherwise, use it – most often applies. But depending on the writer or the publication, that rule can be bent. And when in doubt, rewording the sentence works well.
Sources:
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law (New York: Basic Books, 2009), “animals.”
The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010), 5.54.
Medical Library Association, MLA Style Manual, www.mlanet.org (accessed October 14, 2011).
Zinsser, William, On Writing Well, 7th ed. (New York: Collins, 2005), 82.
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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