Do I have to say the two "sexes" apart?

[daoxunchang]

Which one is better:
1. ... respective application of different words to the two sexes
2. ... respective application of different words to men and women/males and females

Thank you.

 

[mplsray]

Which one is better:
... respective application of different words to the two

Could you give us some context? I'm not sure what phenomenon you're discussing.

 

[daoxunchang]

Could you give us some context? I'm not sure what phenomenon you're discussing.

The first sentence was one I write myself and my friend suggested that I should change the "sexes" into more specific terms: men and women/males and females. I'd like to know what YOU might feel about these three options.

I was talking about the use of "husky" and "deep" in describing a person's voice. The former word I was told was more often used in describing a woman's voice, while the latter a man's.

Thank you.

 

[mplsray]

The first sentence was one I write myself and my friend suggested that I should change the "sexes" into more specific terms: men and women/males and females. I'd like to know what YOU might feel about these three options.

I was talking about the use of "husky" and "deep" in describing a person's voice. The former word I was told was more often used in describing a woman's voice, while the latter a man's.

Thank you.

I'd go with "respective application of different words to men and women," since "the two sexes" and "males and females" could apply to children as well as adults, but the difference in voice which you are discussing occurs only in adults.

 

[Dimcl]

Wouldn't the word "genders" be appropriate in this context?

 

[elroy]

I would reword the whole thing:

The use of different adjectives depending on the sex/gender of the person described

At the very least I'd get rid of "respective."

The fuller context (meaning the actual sentences) would be appreciated.

 

[gaer]

I would reword the whole thing:

The use of different adjectives depending on the sex/gender of the person described

At the very least I'd get rid of "respective."

The fuller context (meaning the actual sentences) would be appreciated.

I agree, and I would add that the avoidance of "sex" in favor of "gender" is a fairly recent change in English usage.

 

[daoxunchang]

I would reword the whole thing:

The use of different adjectives depending on the sex/gender of the person described

At the very least I'd get rid of "respective."

The fuller context (meaning the actual sentences) would be appreciated.

Thanks for your suggestion. Your sentence is really a far better one than mine. But for the convenience of discussion, I'll just copy my original sentence for you: "Well, so far as I feel, the two singers, who are often lyrics writers themselves, do not care too much for the respective application of different words to the two sexes."
I'm afraid it would not be much help for your further choice between these three.

"the two sexes" and "males and females" could apply to children as well as adults

But when I'm thinking of "two sexes (or "genders". I personally don't have any problem with "sexes", but maybe some foreros have, so I would write this down)", I wouldn't have in my mind the place of children. Am I being wrong? Of course I know this word covers that group of our population, but I just wouldn't think of them. What's your case? Maybe there's some cultural differences?

Many thanks

 

[elroy]

Well, as far as I'm concerned, the two singers, who are often lyric writers themselves, do not care much for the different gender-based words used to describe their voices.