User:Landfish7/Pokémon pronoun guidelines
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This article is a proposed policy for Bulbapedia.
Please discuss the proposed policy and suggest possible changes on the article's talk page. |
NUTSHELL: Use "it/its" pronouns when referring to Pokémon in articles. Exceptions apply for individuals consistently referred to with specific pronouns in most appearances across media.
In most contexts, Pokémon should be referred to with neutral pronouns, typically "it/its". This reflects standard usage in most official Pokémon media and provides consistent and clear language across articles.
Note that when a source uses singular "they/them" for Pokémon, "it/its" is generally used in articles for consistency, but the original usage may be noted where relevant. Also, when a Pokémon character's gender or pronouns differ between media, prefer "it/its" over specific pronouns between coverage of different media.
Exceptions for individual Pokémon characters that are consistently referred to with specific pronouns in a majority of their appearances across media are listed on this page. Additionally, human characters temporarily taking the form of a Pokémon should generally still be referred to with their original pronouns.
Exceptions
The following Pokémon characters are referred to consistently with specific pronouns in a majority of their appearances across media and may be referred to with those pronouns in articles.
- Marowak, the deceased mother of Cubone that appears in Pokémon Tower as a Ghost in the Kanto-based games, is referred to with "she/her" pronouns (though her spirit is referred to with "it/its" pronouns in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!).
- Detective Pikachu, the titular character of the Detective Pikachu series, is referred to with "he/him" pronouns.
- Meowth, a member of Team Rocket in Pokémon the Series, is referred to with "he/him" pronouns.