Thread: Why Seoul is feminine? Is 'ship' always feminine?

As wiki goes: This, however, is considered a stylistically marked, optional figure of speech. This usage is furthermore in decline and advised against by most journalistic style guides such as The Chicago Manual of Style. That's why i am asking present day speakers how they would say nowadays. E.A.Poe, of course, uses 'she' when he writes about ships (i also remember noticing this in his stories), but he is the 19th century writer.

Originally Posted by alexsms

E.A.Poe, of course, uses 'she' when he writes about ships (i also remember noticing this in his stories), but he is the 19th century writer.

Actually he was a 19th century writer, not "the", as there were rather more than one.

Originally Posted by bitpicker

Actually he was a 19th century writer, not "the", as there were rather more than one.

i wanted to underscore the 19th century, not the word 'writer', meaning his language is not present-day. )) but the language of the 19th century.

Originally Posted by alexsms

i wanted to underscore the 19th century, not the word 'writer', meaning his language is not present-day. )) but the language of the 19th century.

Oh, in that case it doesn't work like that at all. You have to write "he was a writer of/in the 19th century".

Originally Posted by bitpicker

Actually he was a 19th century writer, not "the", as there were rather more than one.

And yet it would perfectly correct to write "E.A Poe, the 19th century writer, always used "she" when referring to ships."

Ain't English fun...