| The American Heritage® Book of English Usage. |
A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English. 1996.
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5. Gender: Sexist Language and Assumptions
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| § 11. guy |
| Used in the singular, guy is an informal noun that refers to a man or boy. Its feminine equivalent is the equally informal, though probably less common, term gal. So, for example, if you are separating two groups of students for a session in line dancing, everyone will know what you mean when you say, “Guys to the left and gals to the right.” Similarly, every girl knows how to interpret a “Guys Only” sign outside her brother’s bedroom door. | 1 |
| In the plural, guy is used to refer to a group of men, to a mixed group of men and women, or even (though less frequently) to a group of girls or women. | 2 |
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| The American Heritage® Book of English Usage. Copyright © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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