Is The Use Of A Singular 'They' Okay?

I originally thought about posting this in the forum on Bible translations.However,I think the subject is more broad-based.

There is a difference between spoken and written English.But I think current, standard,spoken English needs to be reflected in writing to some extent.I know you're thinking :"What is 'standard,spoken English' these days?"

Shouldn't rules written centuries ago based on the Latin language be considered passe?Why do we try to bind our language in such unnatural ways?

Eds.,on a thread from the recent past had the following sentence:"The would-be assassin was summarily locked in a closet by the SS until they cooled down,and while the SS figured out what to do with them."

Now I admit that apocryphal story sounded awkward.But it did have that conversational aspect to it.He was referencing just one individual;yet he wanted this person to be unidentified.He used the singular they (and 'singular them' too -- but I don't want to get into that).I haven't asked him,but hopefully he is consistent.I trust he doesn't excoriate the TNIV for this very practice.

Would any of you have a problem with the following?"If anyone has a question -- they should see me after class." The examples would compound that I hear and read even from those old guard prescriptivists in their unguarded moments.

William Shakespeare and the KJV used the singular they at times.Why can't we?

No one likes to comment on threads like these;but they should.If there is a brave soul out there,they should make themselves known.

 

But the point is that "they" has become more commonly used as a singular noun or pronoun -- in regular speech and in mainstream media.We are not stuck with either 'he' or 'he/she'.