From the course: Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer

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It versus they

It versus they

From the course: Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer

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It versus they

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- Now which of these two sentences sounds better? Microsoft has launched a new operating system that they say will be their best one yet. Or, Microsoft has launched a new operating system that it says will be its best one yet. The difference is between referring to Microsoft a company as an it or as a they. Now, I don't know which of those you prefer, it might be either one of them, but is a company an it or a they? My general rule which I picked up from my time writing about companies for newspapers is that when you refer to an entity a company or an organization, you usually refer to it in the singular. So Apple is an it. The United Nations is an it. The Justice Department is an it. The Government is an it. Having this rule keeps things nice and clear. There are however some notable exceptions. Even in newspapers, for some reason, sport teams are often referred in the plural as they, so you would say, Manchester United play their first match of the season on Saturday in a game they…

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