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Old 07-28-2012, 08:07 PM   #75
Catlady
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelSullivan View Post
Yes I do use their names, but how do a refer to possession such as a body part of one of them as in:

Ban shook his head.

I don't like any of the alternatives:
Ban's head shook. (Which implies the movement was not under Ban's control)
Ban shook its head. (Makes him seem like a thing)
Ban shook their head. (Which is the wrong tense as their is plural)
Ban shook his/her head. (Seems awkward).
Ban shook hiser head. (Seems confusing - especially since I don't want to explain to the reader hiser is a combination of his and her.


It's easy to say:

Ban nodded.

But I'm having problems for how to denote Ban's disagreement without using a gender centric word.
Oh, sorry, I get it now.

I'd go with it-its, then. It would be the clearest and most succinct, and easily understandable for the reader. I would use workarounds as much as is feasible, though:
  • Ban frowned in disapproval.
  • Ban's eyes darkened in anger.
  • "I disagree," Ban said.
  • "Bad idea," said Ban.
That sort of thing, depending on what fits the situation.
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