On Tue, 30 Jun 2020 at 11:49, Ethan Furman <et...@stoneleaf.us> wrote:

> - it has been modernized as times have changed (the 2000 edition removed
> the advice
>    to use masculine pronouns whenever possible, and warns that some will
> find unnecessary
>    masculine usage offensive)
>

PEP-8 however does not mention a particular edition and the version that is
readily available (in the public domain) does contain this problematic
section "to use the masculine pronouns whenever possible" which is not
inclusive. Hence, I think we would be better off not mentioning it or
failing that, mentioning a particular edition. I think times/language norms
for inclusivity have changed a lot since 2000 (two decades), so another
style guide that was more recently updated might be better, if we think
there should be one mentioned at all.

This is the version I found on Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37134/37134-h/37134-h.htm and the particular
problematic section I mentioned is this:


> 'They. A common inaccuracy is the use of the plural pronoun when the
> antecedent is a distributive expression such as each, each one, everybody,
> every one, many a man, which, though implying more than one person,
> requires the pronoun to be in the singular. Similar to this, but with even
> less justification, is the use of the plural pronoun with the antecedent
> anybody, any one, somebody, some one, the intention being either to avoid
> the awkward β€œhe or she,” or to avoid committing oneself to either. Some
> bashful speakers even say, β€œA friend of mine told me that they, etc.”



Use he with all the above words, unless the antecedent is or must be
> feminine.'
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