I am loath to criticize anyone holding his ground against the forces of singular they/their. However, I do concede that it’s possible to take things a little too far.
CitiBank, Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland.
I follow the Associated Press Stylebook* in matters of animals and pronouns: “Do not apply a personal pronoun to any animal unless its sex has been established or the animal has a name. The dog was scared; it barked. Rover was scared; he barked.”
Given the fastidiousness with which the CitiBank sign is worded (“Please ask…”), I was surprised to see “a assistant.” And as long as we’re talking about correctness, why “pet” instead of the PETA-approved alternative, “animal companion”? Come to think, why not just “dog”? Perhaps some disabled persons now use chickens to cross the road.
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* The AP would have some stern words about CitiBank’s erratic capitalization, too.
"Ma'am, excuse me, that potbellied pig can't be in here."
"Hey, I asked her to wait outside, but she said 'nothing doing.' You'll have to take it up with her."
Posted by: Amy Reynaldo | September 27, 2011 at 07:50 AM
I always wanted one of those adorable trained monkeys as an "animal companion assistant." I wouldn't take him to the bank, though, for fear that he might learn how to write checks to himself.
But yes, why "Please Ask"? My theory is that this statement was subject to committee. It probably started as "We ask that you please..." and then came out as this after a committee "fixed" it.
Posted by: 4ndyman | September 27, 2011 at 08:48 AM
As long as we’re talking about correctness, you probably meant "differently-abled persons", didn't you?
Posted by: Malcolm McLean | September 27, 2011 at 08:58 AM
Whatever happened to "No dogs"?
Posted by: mike | September 27, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Also, if a person needed a guide dog, how would they read the sign???
Posted by: Clare | September 28, 2011 at 12:15 AM
Thinking as I do in musical riffs, I wondered if you were going to be writing about actress Zooey Deschanel's surprisingly good band, She & Him. Perhaps He/She must ask Him/Her to wait outside while They do Their banking.
Posted by: Nancy Davis Kho | September 28, 2011 at 08:57 AM
What a silly sign. I sincerely hope that their math is a lot better.
Posted by: Nick | September 28, 2011 at 07:57 PM
And then there is the article: "a" instead of "an" preceding "assistant." I hope they're better at math/banking than writing.
Posted by: Andrzej O. | September 29, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Hi, Andrzej! I did mention "a assistant"--see the first sentence of the third paragraph.
Posted by: Nancy Friedman | September 29, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Re: How would you read the sign if you need a guide dog?
The sign is not really for people who need a guide dog. I guess it should say "If you can read this, your pet has to wait outside."
Posted by: grace millsaps | October 02, 2011 at 08:15 PM