He/She Issue

[Niccea Majeare]

I'm in a progressive college that has a good deal of feminists. I know it is not politically correct to put "he" anymore when you write/talk about general subjects. But I don't want to waste time with typing out "he or she" and if I remember my English classes correctly (been two years), "they" is not a grammatically correct. So I am asking as a concerned person who doesn't want to be stung on typing "he," what is correct?

Simplified.

• Before a doctor does surgery, he must wash his hands.
  
• Before a doctor does surgery, he or she must wash his or her hands.
  
• Before a doctor does surgery, they must wash their hands.
  
• Doctors must wash their hands before they preform surgery.

What is better or what would be a better alternative?  

[Sachiko13]

If I remember correctly (it's been a while), you are supposed to alternate between "he" and "she" each paragraph.  

[Niccea Majeare]

I remember that too. But if you only do it once. I guess I'm just getting paranoid. I found out that there is going to be some sort of timed writing as part of the application for Grad school. It is half a year away, but it is never too early to get a head start.  

[Patron with a Mission]

Timed sections?! Grad school is a year away for me, but I still would like to get a head start myself. Does it depend upon school or does it apply for all schools, no matter of location?

To answer your question:

Your fourth sentence would be okay to put down. At least, that is what my experience as a writing tutor says. To be honest, I just put something like "Immigrants, whether poor or not, deserve the right to reside here." Note how I don't mention either at all, but the he/she is basically implied. I believe that is the best way to go, though others may prove me wrong.  

[Niccea Majeare]

Yeah was thinking that. I think it could just be my school. I don't know. It makes it hard going to a feminist school. Especially since I'm not a feminist.  

[Anavis]

"Doctors' hands must be washed before surgery," perhaps? A cheap way to avoid the whole mess, I would think.  

[Zemedelphos]

In place of 'he', 'he or she', or 'you', try to put 'one'  

[Henneth Annun]

To be on the safe side, I always use "they" or "one".

Doctors must wash their hands before they perform surgery.

or

One must wash their hands before performing surgery.  

[Dante Dela Rosa]

My first post in this guild!

In any case, whenever I am penning instructions, I always use 'they' as the personal pronoun of choice when I'm in 'mixed' company. If I know for a fact that I'm dealing with an all-male or all-female audience, I'll use the gender-specific pronoun to match.

In military training manuals, you'll see mostly masculine pronouns...not unexpected but you don't see anyone complaining about it either.  

[Emilem]

I would agree with "XWraith_LordX" above.
It seems logical and also grammatically correct.
Although, in some sentences, it wouldn't entirely work to put "One must" at the begining. Plus, it would turn the paper even more drab than it already is. If I were to have to write out said paper, I would write it with "he" and then edit it by adding a "/she" where it is supposedly "needed".
:3  

[Annikaya]

I believe 'he' is what my MLA textbook tells me but, when in doubt, you can always eliminate it from a sentence. It seems rather touchy to be offended by it though. Silly.  

[mc2]

Well, first post in the guild...

Okay, back to studying grammar for the ACT.

The last one is best... and using the principal of Occam's razor, the least wordy sentence is generally the best choice. Grammar books go back and forth, but thanks to feminism and modern sensitivity "he or she" is liked, and "their" hasn't totally infiltrated grammar books and English grammar as being proper grammar. Then, of course, using just "he" is preferred by many still because it is less wordy. Usually it is best to avoid using any gender reference. Of course, I know personally I do use "he or she."

Personally, I'm just as accepting of having "he" in the sentence as "he or she." I just use "he or she" because that is what I prefer to use.  

[Elanchana]

But how quickly we forget
Such a sure and perfect plan,
And unlearn the passions that once had burned.

I either pluralize it, use "he or she", or turn it into an example so it can become gender-specific (for one person).

But how could I have seen?
What was I to do?
How could I know I would find you?
-Erik, The Phantom of the Opera, Tom Alonso

 

[egginaframe]

It may be politically incorrect to put "he" instead of "he or she", but it is grammatically correct to put just "he".  

[SerpentRose]

I would ask the teacher, that way your choice will be correct in the eyes of the person grading your work biggrin