Don't they know English?

[Naomasa298]

Or OJ Simpson an acquitted murderess??

Well now, if we are hyper-pedantic, and we assume that the acquittal means they didn't do it, no one can be an "acquitted murderer/murderess". The acquittal means they didn't do it, so they can't be a murderer/murderess of any kind. They have been acquitted of murder.

I'll take off my pedant hat now.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Well now, if we are hyper-pedantic, and we assume that the acquittal means they didn't do it, no one can be an "acquitted murderer/murderess". The acquittal means they didn't do it, so they can't be a murderer/murderess of any kind. They have been acquitted of murder.

I'll take off my pedant hat now.

No need to apologise for being correct. That's like referring to a scientific theory as "just a theory".

But it is wrong to refer to OJ Simpson (or any man) as a "murderess", acquitted or otherwise. The word "murderess" means "a woman who has committed murder", according to Merriam-Webster and Collins Dictionary.

"Murderer" may be gender-neutral, but "murderess" is not. (Please don't blame me. I'm not making this up, you know!)

 

[Louanne Learning]

I wonder if it matters in what era your story is set? If it is an historical fiction, it might be appropriate to use old-fashioned language?

For example, scoundress for a female scoundrel?