Vocally far right actor and alleged creep James Woods got completely schooled by the Dictionary.com Twitter last week after a transphobic tweet.
“Please join me in using proper grammar, syntax, and spelling,” Woods wrote. “The correct pronoun usage in the English language is “he” for a singular male and “she” for a singular female. “They” is used for the plural of either males, females, or both. Don’t be bullied by hare-brained liberals.”
But if you’re going to attempt to be snarky about language, make damn sure you’ve got it right.
And Woods, of course, did not.
Thankfully, @Dictionarycom was there to correct him.
“They has been in use as a singular pronoun since the 1300s. Among its best known users in history: Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Jane Austen.”
\u201cThey has been in use as a singular pronoun since the 1300s. Among its best known users in history: Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Jane Austen. \n\nhttps://t.co/nQcNSgnd0Q\u201d— Dictionary.com (@Dictionary.com) 1549975636
It was a savage burn, and one the internet appreciated like hell.
\u201cThe fact that we live in a world where @dictionarycom can burn @RealJamesWoods so incredibly hard makes up for the fact that nearly everything else is so terrible\u201d— Biscoe Krampus (@Biscoe Krampus) 1550023732
\u201c@MellifluousSunF @Dictionarycom @zodiacreverie Wait til 'they' (did I get that usage right @RealJamesWoods?) start trying to boycott the dictionary for "leaning left" or being "fake words." \nMost of the RW nutjobs who tweet inflammatory stuff barely spell anyway so it won't show any difference. \ud83d\ude03\nIt'll be funny though.\u201d— Dictionary.com (@Dictionary.com) 1549975636
\u201c@Dictionarycom\u201d— Dictionary.com (@Dictionary.com) 1549975636
\u201c@Dictionarycom @zodiacreverie The impact this one tweet can have on literally tens of thousands of people is astounding. Yet you always hit the nail on the head, every time. You always stick up for the LGBTQ+ community and do your part even though no one even expects it of you. THANK YOU SO MUCH. \ud83d\udc9e\ud83d\udc96\ud83d\udc9e\u201d— Dictionary.com (@Dictionary.com) 1549975636
Woods, however, appeared to be too busy tweeting out Fox News links to respond.
