Non-binary fiction writing

I'm writing book 7 of The Psion Saga and there are a lot of sections in the point of view of a non-binary character named Riftweaver. I relish a challenge and pushing my skills with British English while embracing logical and necessary change. 


I found myself using the term 'themself' instead of 'himself' or 'herself' and having to cancel the auto correction offered by Microsoft Word to 'themselves'. I wanted to check what I'm doing is right, so I asked Microsoft Copilot this:

AI prompt:

With a non-binary person would this grammar be ok: Rift pulled themself up into a sitting position.

Copilot's answer

Yes! "Themself" is a grammatically acceptable reflexive pronoun in this case. While "themselves" is traditionally used more often, "themself" is increasingly recognized when referring to a single non-binary person. So, "Rift pulled themself up into a sitting position" is correct and aligns with inclusive language.

Some style guides might still prefer "themselves," but language evolves—and it's great to prioritize wording that respects a person’s identity. Need help with other non-binary-friendly phrasing? I'm happy to assist!

The Psion Saga is out now on Amazon

Australia
https://www.amazon.com.au/Tiger-Eyes-Dragon-Teeth-Psion-ebook/dp/B0CG9H67T8/\

USA

https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Eyes-Dragon-Teeth-Psion-ebook/dp/B0CG9H67T8/

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