you guys

when you point to "that guy over there," everyone expects (rightly) to see a man. Singular guy is an all right word, limping a little only in that its natural mate, gal, doesn't have nearly the use, standing, or linguistic influence that guy does. The problem arises when "you guys" refers to mixed-gender groups or groups consisting entirely of women. Many people use "you guys," maintaining that the term is functionally inclusive, and it's fast becoming part of standard language in all but the most formal speech. (A Harvard survey of North American dialects found "you guys" the default expression of choice in all U.S. regions but one. Others vehemently object to its use. Audrey Bilger (in Bitch) says, "Calling women 'guys' makes femaleness invisible. It says that man—as in a male person—is still the measure of all things." Alice Walker asks, "Isn't it at least ironic that after so many years of struggle for women's liberation, women should end up calling themselves this?" Advice? Avoid it in writing. In speech, know your friends — who is okay with it, who is not. We haven't heard the last of this. Language usage is determined by the speakers of it; keep an open mind about this term. Alternatives, besides the simple "you": y'all, you all, folks, people; hey, people/peeps, hey everyone, hey team/crew, hey, friends.