This contextual nuance is mostly lost or went over the heads of young learners today, for better or for worse. I like to think that’s why “they” was word of the year for a few dictionaries in the last decade or two, for the benefit of young and old alike.
They usually only use it for unknown people though, which is why it sounds strange to them to use for a known person.
This contextual nuance is mostly lost or went over the heads of young learners today, for better or for worse. I like to think that’s why “they” was word of the year for a few dictionaries in the last decade or two, for the benefit of young and old alike.