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“One can do his homework in the library”

Is it typical native speaker usage to inconsistently use the pronoun “one” in a paragraph?You, you two, you people and you'seUsing the pronoun 'one' twice in a sentence for the same personIs it grammatically correct to use his, her, or his/her?pronoun/noun followed by present participle'A or B' - singular or pluralWhat's up with “this,” in Old English(Ænȝlıſ͡ċ/Anglo Saxon‽)On the principle governing pronoun forms with verbs and after prepositionsCombining demonstrative and possessive pronoun“I showed the monkey himself in the mirror”. Why is this sentence grammatical?

6

1

One can do his homework in the library.

One can do one's homework in the library.

Nowadays, are these structures part of colloquial English? The use of one as a pronoun is still in use or is it considered formal if not old-fashioned? In this case how can we render colloquially the same idea?

pronouns

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

DimitrisDimitris

1334

New contributor

Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.
  
  – tchrist♦
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on
  
  – Dimitris
  8 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)
  
  – tchrist♦
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

6

1

One can do his homework in the library.

One can do one's homework in the library.

Nowadays, are these structures part of colloquial English? The use of one as a pronoun is still in use or is it considered formal if not old-fashioned? In this case how can we render colloquially the same idea?

pronouns

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

DimitrisDimitris

1334

New contributor

Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  One wonders just whose homework the first sentence is suggesting that one do in the library.
  
  – tchrist♦
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @tchrist Thanks for the feedback. Actually the first sentence was posted here french.stackexchange.com/questions/34230/pronoun-choice-for-on
  
  – Dimitris
  8 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The problem isn't the one. The problem is that one matches with one’s in English, not with his, which would appear to be some other guy’s homework. :) Sure we can do our own homework, and you can do your own homework, mais on ne peut pas faire les devoirs de quelques autre mec à notre bibliothèque. :)
  
  – tchrist♦
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

One can do his homework in the library.

One can do one's homework in the library.

Nowadays, are these structures part of colloquial English? The use of one as a pronoun is still in use or is it considered formal if not old-fashioned? In this case how can we render colloquially the same idea?

pronouns

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

DimitrisDimitris

1334

New contributor

Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

DimitrisDimitris

1334

New contributor

Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

DimitrisDimitris

1334

New contributor

Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 8 hours ago

DimitrisDimitris

1334

New contributor

Dimitris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 8 hours ago

DimitrisDimitris

1334

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

7

In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.

The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.

A student can do his or her homework in the library.

A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).

A student can do their homework in the library.

Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.

Students can do their homework in the library.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

775210

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe drop the pronoun? "Students can do homework in the library."
  
  – Ken Shirriff
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @ken. You can. But that is true whether you use one or a student.
  
  – Benjamin Kuykendall
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  As the beginning of the answer makes clear, this is a matter of opinion. Some people may regard 'one can do one's homework' as much less awkward than any of the alternatives that are advocated in this answer.
  
  – jsw29
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

6

These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Greg LeeGreg Lee

14.7k2932

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)
  
  – tchrist♦
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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7

In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.

The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.

A student can do his or her homework in the library.

A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).

A student can do their homework in the library.

Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.

Students can do their homework in the library.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

775210

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe drop the pronoun? "Students can do homework in the library."
  
  – Ken Shirriff
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @ken. You can. But that is true whether you use one or a student.
  
  – Benjamin Kuykendall
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  As the beginning of the answer makes clear, this is a matter of opinion. Some people may regard 'one can do one's homework' as much less awkward than any of the alternatives that are advocated in this answer.
  
  – jsw29
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.

The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.

A student can do his or her homework in the library.

A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).

A student can do their homework in the library.

Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.

Students can do their homework in the library.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

775210

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe drop the pronoun? "Students can do homework in the library."
  
  – Ken Shirriff
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @ken. You can. But that is true whether you use one or a student.
  
  – Benjamin Kuykendall
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  As the beginning of the answer makes clear, this is a matter of opinion. Some people may regard 'one can do one's homework' as much less awkward than any of the alternatives that are advocated in this answer.
  
  – jsw29
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In my opinion, using one in this sense is grammatical but awkward. I don't think it is entirely a matter of formality or that the usage has fallen out of practice (although, comparing one can, he can, she can, they can on ngrams does tell an intriguing story). I think the use of one is comparable to the use of the passive voice: both are clear and technically correct, but simply strained.

The best solution is to use a more specific word than one.

A student can do his or her homework in the library.

A touch of awkwardness remains. An easy resolution is to replace his or her with their (if you accept the singular they).

A student can do their homework in the library.

Alternatively, we can just make the subject plural. After all, the library should accommodate multiple students.

Students can do their homework in the library.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

775210

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

775210

answered 8 hours ago

Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

775210

answered 8 hours ago

Benjamin KuykendallBenjamin Kuykendall

775210

6

These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Greg LeeGreg Lee

14.7k2932

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)
  
  – tchrist♦
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

6

These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Greg LeeGreg Lee

14.7k2932

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Surely in an age where pronominal use can be dictated by referent not by the referrer, you could just tell people that your preferred pronouns are one and one’s. :)
  
  – tchrist♦
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

These days, one seldom uses the subject "one", meaning the impersonal "one", though one generally still understands when others use it. It sounds stilted and old-fashioned. It's too bad that it has gone out of use. I liked it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Greg LeeGreg Lee

14.7k2932

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Greg LeeGreg Lee

14.7k2932

answered 8 hours ago

Greg LeeGreg Lee

14.7k2932

answered 8 hours ago

Greg LeeGreg Lee

14.7k2932