Here in Georgia, ’you all’ (pronounced yawl and spelled ya’ll) is considered perfectly acceptable as a plural form of ‘you’. Northerners moving south consider it to be a rite of passage the first time they use ya’ll correctly in a sentence that’s not derogatory towards Southerners.
Is it ya’ll or y’all? I most often see (and use) y’all. However, I’m originally from Alaska where y’all is as common as a rattlesnake hot dog.
Of course it’s ” y’all ”. That is the plural you’re looking for. It’s even gramatically correct AND gender neutral.
It makes more sense to say “you all…” or “y’all…” to a group, than to say the abominable “Youse…”; or even worse “You guys…” if speaking to a group of women. Don’t laugh, I’ve actually heard women address a group of women with “You guys…”
Funny … in the last couple years I’ve noticed everyone becoming comfortable saying “you guys” to just about any group. As I recall, it used to be applied mostly to men growing up, “hey you guys, let’s go hunting”. Then I remember cringing a bit when younger people would apply it to a group of men and women, kind of grouping them all together out of grammatic convenience.
Lately I’ve heard it used by business people (or other muckie mucks) to any group of more than 2 people, even if those two people are two women.
Long-winded way of saying I prefer the gender neutral y’all.
Peter Sipes cheered this. —9 months ago
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Daniel Spils cheered this. —10 months ago
