- in an formal style, we often use they to mean he or she, especially after indefinite words like somebody, anybody, nobody, person. This usage is sometimes considered ‚ incorrect‘, but it has been common in educated speech for centuries:
If anybody wants my ticket they can have it.
actor and actress etc
- few jobs and position have different words for men and women: actor – actress, groom – bride, duke – duchess, hero – heroine, host – hostess, monk – nun, prince – princess, widower – widow
- some words ending in –ess have gave out of use:
steward and stewardess are being replaced by other term such as flight attendant
words ending in –man
- some words ending in –man do not have a common feminine equivalent (chairman, fireman, spokesman). On many cases –person is now used instead of man (chairperson).
- in some cases new words ending in –woman are coming into use (spokeswoman)
- supervisor instead of foreman
ambulance staff instead of ambulance man
firefighter instead of fireman
