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I find that it sounds/feels rather odd to use pronouns like "she" or "her" to refer to this vessel. I know it's traditional, at least in some contexts, to regard boats and ships as female; but is it appropriate within an encyclopaedic setting? I think it sounds weird.
Does Wikipedia have any policy on this?
Thanks.M.J.E. (talk) 21:29, 11 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]
As you say, it is traditional in the English language to use feminine pronouns to refer to ships. WP:SHIPMOS does not include any guideline requiring either that this longstanding tradition be followed or not be followed, and the same is true of WP:MOS. That being so, the general rule, as prescribed by MOS:VAR, is "When either of two styles are acceptable it is inappropriate for a Wikipedia editor to change from one style to another unless there is some substantial reason for the change." Bahnfrend (talk) 07:54, 12 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]