Frogleg > wrote:

> You hit a nerve. I'm a part-time grammar cop, and "guy/guys" drives me
> up the wall. I've been protesting to local media for some time that

The use of "guys" as a gender neutral term doesn't bother
me too much in casual speech, although "folks" seems made for
that purpose.

> "girl" had been attacked by a "guy" who ran into the woods. Babe,
> dude, chick, brother, are only a heartbeat away.

Now you hit one that bugs me. My daughter and her
female friends have a rather distressing habit
of calling each other "dude." Shudder.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.