To the Editor:

Re “The Perfect Pronoun: Singular ‘They,’” by Farhad Manjoo (column, July 11):

The l ast major linguistic innovation we English speakers undertook in response to social change was the spread of “Ms.” in the 1970s. This allowed half the population to choose not to identify themselves by marital status. The universal use of the singular “they,” by contrast, would compel all speakers to change virtually every sentence in deference to the half-percen t of the population who identify as nonbinary.

In the process, it would destroy ancient and universal linguistic distinctions of gender, and, much worse, the distinction between the singular and the plural, which is essential to linguistic clarity.

For most of us gender remains a fundamental and uncontroversial aspect of how we identify ourselves and one another. The male and female genders are conceived more broadly and fluidly today than ever before. Those who nonetheless identify with neither gender are entitled to their freedom of identity and expression, and to our respect.

But that obligation of respect does not include an obligation to recast our language, and the expectation of this accommodation should not become the next liberal litmus test by which non-adopters will be shamed and ostracized.