Tim Morris
@timpmorris.bsky.social
Biostatistician working on methodology at Novartis. Simulation studies, non-inferiority, missing data, estimands, covariate adjustment…
He/him
https://tpmorris.substack.com/
He/him
https://tpmorris.substack.com/
Hang on… I added "font" to show that this isn’t because it’s ambiguous.
November 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Hang on… I added "font" to show that this isn’t because it’s ambiguous.
Perhaps only if they’re on google fonts?
November 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Perhaps only if they’re on google fonts?
Looking through the journals that commit this sin, I don’t consider submitting papers to them and perhaps this is a subconscious reason. Essentially showing they don’t care about readers’ experiences (buttressed by various typographic choices).
November 11, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Looking through the journals that commit this sin, I don’t consider submitting papers to them and perhaps this is a subconscious reason. Essentially showing they don’t care about readers’ experiences (buttressed by various typographic choices).
You mean it sounds “correcter”
November 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
You mean it sounds “correcter”
On the rare occasions it happens this feels like winning the lottery
November 7, 2025 at 3:14 PM
On the rare occasions it happens this feels like winning the lottery
That’s exactly it. I guess the old-fashioned use would imply asking “What does he want” every time… sounds awkward.
October 31, 2025 at 11:15 AM
That’s exactly it. I guess the old-fashioned use would imply asking “What does he want” every time… sounds awkward.
Ah yes, ‘dreamt’ not ‘dreamed’. No idea why I thought of it but imagine a reader telling someone else about the beginning of the book, with no other knowledge (yet) of the book’s narrator.
Would this use of ‘they’ sound wrong to some generations?
Would this use of ‘they’ sound wrong to some generations?
October 31, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Ah yes, ‘dreamt’ not ‘dreamed’. No idea why I thought of it but imagine a reader telling someone else about the beginning of the book, with no other knowledge (yet) of the book’s narrator.
Would this use of ‘they’ sound wrong to some generations?
Would this use of ‘they’ sound wrong to some generations?
Would the use of ‘they’ have been unavailable to earlier generations, who would instead have to say ‘he or she’?
If so, I’m surprised – it’s been a valid way to refer to an unspecific/unknown person as long as I’ve been alive!
If so, I’m surprised – it’s been a valid way to refer to an unspecific/unknown person as long as I’ve been alive!
October 31, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Would the use of ‘they’ have been unavailable to earlier generations, who would instead have to say ‘he or she’?
If so, I’m surprised – it’s been a valid way to refer to an unspecific/unknown person as long as I’ve been alive!
If so, I’m surprised – it’s been a valid way to refer to an unspecific/unknown person as long as I’ve been alive!
So take the following: In the first line of Rebecca, the narrator tells us that last night they dreamed they went to Manderley again.
[Nothing about the narrator is known by the reader at the point]
Or this exchange:
A: A friend is going tonight.
B: Where did they get tickets?
[Nothing about the narrator is known by the reader at the point]
Or this exchange:
A: A friend is going tonight.
B: Where did they get tickets?
October 31, 2025 at 6:52 AM
So take the following: In the first line of Rebecca, the narrator tells us that last night they dreamed they went to Manderley again.
[Nothing about the narrator is known by the reader at the point]
Or this exchange:
A: A friend is going tonight.
B: Where did they get tickets?
[Nothing about the narrator is known by the reader at the point]
Or this exchange:
A: A friend is going tonight.
B: Where did they get tickets?
Something something beggars something choosers
October 30, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Something something beggars something choosers
Ah ok, so they being also plural could be confusing. Good point!
October 30, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Ah ok, so they being also plural could be confusing. Good point!
Scotland has “yous”! Does that count?
Most of us whose first language is English have a problem with language in general.
Most of us whose first language is English have a problem with language in general.
October 30, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Scotland has “yous”! Does that count?
Most of us whose first language is English have a problem with language in general.
Most of us whose first language is English have a problem with language in general.
Ah I’d forgotten that!
But it reminds me, I must read What If again. I read the first two sections 6 or 7 years ago and it was really good, but never managed to get into the third section at the time. Apparently it’s quite regularly updated.
But it reminds me, I must read What If again. I read the first two sections 6 or 7 years ago and it was really good, but never managed to get into the third section at the time. Apparently it’s quite regularly updated.
October 30, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Ah I’d forgotten that!
But it reminds me, I must read What If again. I read the first two sections 6 or 7 years ago and it was really good, but never managed to get into the third section at the time. Apparently it’s quite regularly updated.
But it reminds me, I must read What If again. I read the first two sections 6 or 7 years ago and it was really good, but never managed to get into the third section at the time. Apparently it’s quite regularly updated.
Thanks. I guess it seems a weird choice of distraction, but perhaps it’s to prevent readers picturing their imaginary scientist (usually) as he/she by default every time?
I’m still baffled by the authors who insist on switching between she/he for every new unspecific person. Any ideas?
I’m still baffled by the authors who insist on switching between she/he for every new unspecific person. Any ideas?
October 30, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Thanks. I guess it seems a weird choice of distraction, but perhaps it’s to prevent readers picturing their imaginary scientist (usually) as he/she by default every time?
I’m still baffled by the authors who insist on switching between she/he for every new unspecific person. Any ideas?
I’m still baffled by the authors who insist on switching between she/he for every new unspecific person. Any ideas?
I don’t want to be irked by this – can you explain the choice?
Perhaps using “she” every time is an attempt to balance historic default of “he”? Why not use “they”?
Perhaps using “she” every time is an attempt to balance historic default of “he”? Why not use “they”?
October 30, 2025 at 8:36 AM
I don’t want to be irked by this – can you explain the choice?
Perhaps using “she” every time is an attempt to balance historic default of “he”? Why not use “they”?
Perhaps using “she” every time is an attempt to balance historic default of “he”? Why not use “they”?
In my head it was the same day the Rabois fallacy appeared. Classic Pearl moment when someone said in trials you can’t force people to take their medication, not receive rescue med, etc. Pearl said something like “Sure you can, you just need a tough nurse”. All-timer 😂
October 24, 2025 at 9:06 AM
In my head it was the same day the Rabois fallacy appeared. Classic Pearl moment when someone said in trials you can’t force people to take their medication, not receive rescue med, etc. Pearl said something like “Sure you can, you just need a tough nurse”. All-timer 😂