Thread: Wording with Genders?

Hey, I'm new to this forum (and to writing in general, actually). In my story I'm working on, my character becomes a female at one point (he changes back and forth several times, though). When referring to the character, would I still say, for example, "he said", or should I change it to, for example, "she said"? I don't want the reader to get confused about who I'm talking about, so I'm wondering what the best approach would be.

well, for each section/chapter/every-few-paragraphs/whenever you feel fit, reiterate the character's name, then just use he/she. If you feel uncomfortable about it, just put their name every time and go back and write he/she as you please.

it may also depend on how important each change is and how much you stress it. If they are each big events, then you can use he/she fairly because the reader should catch on. in this case, as long as you know how to properly balance pronouns and proper names, you'll be fine.

I think it depends on the depth of the change in the character. For example, does he just become female in body or completely female in manner, thoughts etc. If only in body, I would still refer to him as a him. I hope that makes sense.

I have a similar question. If I'm trying to make the gender unknown throughout a whole short story, how would I go about it. (As if you were talking about watching someone but they were too androgynous to be sure their gender.) What kind of pronouns should I use? I feel "it" make him/her sound inhuman or degraded.

Call them "the person"??

Originally Posted by Purple.Head.Rush

I have a similar question. If I'm trying to make the gender unknown throughout a whole short story, how would I go about it. (As if you were talking about watching someone but they were too androgynous to be sure their gender.) What kind of pronouns should I use? I feel "it" make him/her sound inhuman or degraded.

Write it in first person.

I think he's asking this because he wants to write it in third person though...