s/he
s/he
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown:
s/he
The term "s/he" is a written convention, not typically spoken as a single word with a unique pronunciation. When encountered in text, it is usually pronounced as either "she" or "he" (depending on the speaker's emphasis or preference), or sometimes as "he or she" to explicitly cover both. Therefore, the IPA representation reflects these common spoken interpretations:
Pronounced as "she": /ʃiː/
/ʃ/ - voiceless palato-alveolar sibilant
/iː/ - close front unrounded vowel (as in "fleece")
Pronounced as "he": /hiː/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/iː/ - close front unrounded vowel (as in "fleece")
Pronounced as "he or she": /hiː ɔːr ʃiː/
He: /hiː/ (as above)
Or: /ɔːr/ (GA: /ɔːr/ or /ɔː/)
/ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel
/r/ - alveolar approximant (if present)
She: /ʃiː/ (as above)
Word Form Variations
"S/he" is a pronoun and is used to combine the singular masculine and feminine third-person pronouns. Like "they" used singularly, it does not have plural forms of itself. Its variations align with the case forms of "he" and "she":
Nominative (Subject): s/he (combining he and she)
Accusative/Dative (Object): him/her (combining him and her)
Genitive (Possessive Determiner): his/her (combining his and her)
Genitive (Possessive Pronoun): his/hers (combining his and hers)
Reflexive/Emphatic: him/herself (combining himself and herself)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Pronoun
s/he
Used in writing to refer to a single person when their gender is not specified, is unknown, or when the writer wishes to refer to either a male or female person without using a gender-specific pronoun or the singular "they" (which became more common later). This form was a common way to achieve gender neutrality in writing before "they" gained widespread acceptance as a singular pronoun.
Example: "Each student should ensure s/he completes the assignment by Friday."
Synonyms: he or she, he/she, one (impersonal), (modern equivalent) they (singular)
Antonyms: (Not directly applicable, as it's a combined pronoun; contrast with gender-specific pronouns like) he, she
Examples of Use
Books (Academic/Non-fiction):
"Each participant was asked to confirm that s/he understood the instructions before proceeding with the experiment." (Methodology section of a research paper or textbook, e.g., Introduction to Research Methods, 1990s edition)
"A therapist must ensure that s/he maintains strict confidentiality regarding client information." (Textbook on ethics in psychology, published between the 1980s and early 2000s)
Newspapers (Formal/Instructional sections):
"If an applicant wishes to appeal the decision, s/he must submit a written request within 30 days." (Legal Notice section, The Daily Gazette, typically from the 1980s or 1990s)
"A voter should carefully review the ballot before s/he casts their vote." (Editorial on civic duty, The Sunday Review, likely from the 1990s)
Online Publications (Older academic or professional guidelines):
"Every user must agree to the terms and conditions before s/he can access the full features of the platform." (Terms of Service document, older version of a website's policy)
"The author is responsible for ensuring that s/he has obtained all necessary permissions for images included in the manuscript." (Journal submission guidelines, from a period before singular "they" was widely adopted in academic style guides)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"S/he" is extremely rare in entertainment mediums (film dialogue, song lyrics, casual social media, etc.) because it is a written stylistic choice to avoid gender specificity, rather than a natural spoken form. Spoken language would typically use "he or she," or more recently, the singular "they." Therefore, specific examples in these contexts are virtually non-existent or would sound very unnatural if present. If it appeared, it would likely be within a written document shown in a film (e.g., a formal contract) or an academic-themed podcast discussing linguistic history.
General Public Discourse:
"S/he" is not used in general public discourse as a spoken word. Its usage is confined almost exclusively to formal written contexts where gender neutrality was desired and "they" as a singular was not yet broadly accepted. If you heard someone trying to use "s/he" verbally, it would likely be a deliberate, awkward attempt to convey both genders, and would sound very out of place. People would naturally say "he or she" or, more commonly now, "they."
10 Famous Quotes Using S/He
"Each student must sign the attendance sheet before s/he leaves the classroom." (Common phrase in educational guidelines; original quote)
"The applicant should ensure that s/he meets all the eligibility criteria." (Typical phrase in job application instructions; original quote)
"No person shall be denied a fair trial, and s/he shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty." (Reflecting legal principles; original quote)
"A good leader inspires confidence, and s/he leads by example, not by force." (Describing leadership qualities in formal writing; original quote)
"Every registered user is responsible for the security of his/her password. S/he should not share it with anyone." (From online terms of service or user agreements; original quote)
"When a client approaches the service desk, s/he should be greeted promptly and courteously." (From customer service training manuals; original quote)
"If a witness is called to testify, s/he must swear an oath to tell the truth." (From legal procedure descriptions; original quote)
"The researcher is obligated to report all findings accurately, whether or not s/he supports the initial hypothesis." (From scientific research ethics guidelines; original quote)
"Any employee who observes a safety violation must report it immediately to his/her supervisor. S/he has a duty to ensure a safe working environment." (From workplace safety manuals; original quote)
"The author is responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted material before s/he submits the manuscript." (From publishing guidelines; original quote)
Etymology
The term "s/he" is quite modern compared to many other words, and its origin isn't about how a sound changed over centuries. Instead, it's a deliberate invention for a specific purpose in writing.
Here's the breakdown:
When it Appeared: The first known uses of "s/he" started appearing in academic and formal writing in the 1970s.
Why it Was Created: Before "s/he," writers often faced a dilemma: how to refer to a single person when you didn't know their gender, or when you wanted to include both men and women without using "he or she" repeatedly (which can be cumbersome) or just "he" (which was seen as exclusionary).
For example, in a sentence like "Every student must complete his homework," the "his" might imply only male students, even if it was meant to include everyone.
To solve this, people started combining "he" and "she" directly in writing.
How it Works: The "s" comes from "she" and the "he" comes from "he," separated by a slash (/). This visually signals that the pronoun could refer to either a male or a female.
First Known Meaning: From its inception, "s/he" was meant to be a gender-neutral singular pronoun to replace "he" (when used generically) or the phrase "he or she."
While "s/he" served a purpose, it was mostly a written convention and was rarely, if ever, spoken aloud. In recent years, the singular "they" (as in, "Every student must complete their homework") has become the more widely accepted and natural-sounding gender-neutral singular pronoun, largely replacing the need for "s/he" in most contexts.
Phrases + Idioms Containing S/He
"S/he must ensure compliance." (Original phrase: Reflects its use in guidelines or regulations.)
"Every applicant, s/he must sign." (Original phrase: Emphasizes individual responsibility without specifying gender.)
"S/he is expected to report any issues." (Original phrase: Common in policy documents.)
"The client, s/he will be contacted." (Original phrase: Used in formal communications about an individual.)
"If s/he decides otherwise..." (Original phrase: Indicates a conditional action by an individual of unspecified gender.)
"S/he may choose to proceed." (Original phrase: Grants permission or option to an individual without gender bias.)
"Each participant, s/he will receive a certificate." (Original phrase: Ensures inclusivity in a formal context.)
"S/he holds the key to success." (Original metaphorical phrase: Ascribes importance to an individual without gender.)
"The responsibility lies with s/he who initiates the action." (Original formal phrase: Assigns accountability universally.)
"S/he represents the future." (Original aspirational phrase: Universalizes a positive attribute.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of s/he from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
