mmb,

The use of the term they/their in the singular has been in use in many parts of Ireland for years. It isn't something that came from a desire for gender neutrality. I know a lot of blatantly sexist people who use this all the time. But it is a form I like because it does serve that purpose. I've heard people tie themselves up in knots in only a few short sentences because they've insisted in using He or she and his or her every time they (or should I say he or she) needed to use one of these pronouns. Its sometimes difficult to get a point across if this sort of verbosity is required.