I've been an editor enough years to know that "they" is not accepted as a pronoun referring to an antecedent in the singular number in standard written English
Why not? As you pointed out, it's how you and many others speak. The only reason it persists in being "incorrect" is because it is deemed so. None of the alternatives I've seen seem particularly better, and indeed often worse. Can't we let English grow in this direction?
I expect English will grow in that direction. Most professional editors eventually follow established usage of the best writers, as evidenced by the best dictionaries and usage guides.
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I've been an editor enough years to know that "they" is not accepted as a pronoun referring to an antecedent in the singular number in standard written English
Why not? As you pointed out, it's how you and many others speak. The only reason it persists in being "incorrect" is because it is deemed so. None of the alternatives I've seen seem particularly better, and indeed often worse. Can't we let English grow in this direction?
I expect English will grow in that direction. Most professional editors eventually follow established usage of the best writers, as evidenced by the best dictionaries and usage guides.