Generic or Common-Gender Pronouns
Use they, them, and their correctly when referring to a singular person of unknown or unspecified gender.
- check_circleI can use they/them/their for a singular person when gender is unknown.
- check_circleI can avoid awkward phrases like 'he or she' in professional and everyday contexts.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Sam: We need to hire a new marketing director by next month. Alex: I agree. What kind of experience should they have? Sam: Ideally, they should have at least five years in digital marketing. Also, if a candidate applies, we need to review their portfolio carefully. Alex: Good point. Should we ask them to complete a test project? Sam: Yes, I think so. It will help us see how they handle a real-world scenario. Alex: And what about the salary? Sam: If the right person comes along, we will make them an offer they can’t refuse. They should feel that their expertise is valued here. Alex: Perfect. I’ll make sure to update the job listing so that any applicant knows exactly what is expected of them before they submit their resume.
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
In English, when we don’t know the gender of a person, or when their gender isn’t important to the context, we often use they, them, their, and themselves. This is known as the singular “they”.
It is much more natural than saying “he or she” every time!
The Singular “They” in Action
When you are talking about a hypothetical person (like a customer, a student, or a user), you should use the plural pronouns grammatically, but they refer to a singular individual.
If a customer calls, ask them for their order number. Every student must bring their own laptop. Someone left their umbrella in the hallway.
Avoiding Clunky Alternatives
In the past, people often wrote “he/she” or “he or she.” While this isn’t strictly wrong, it can feel awkward and clunky in modern English.
Using the singular “they” is now widely accepted in both spoken and written English, including academic and business contexts. It keeps your sentences flowing smoothly!
Common Mistakes
Don’t use “it” for a person! Incorrect: If a manager is late, it should apologize. Correct: If a manager is late, they should apologize.
Always use plural verb forms with “they”, even when referring to one person. Incorrect: If someone calls, they is going to leave a message. Correct: If someone calls, they are going to leave a message.
When to use which form
- Subject: They (e.g., If anyone asks, they should know.)
- Object: Them (e.g., Tell them to wait.)
- Possessive Adjective: Their (e.g., Check their credentials.)
- Possessive Pronoun: Theirs (e.g., That coat is theirs.)
- Reflexive: Themself or Themselves (e.g., The user can set it up themselves.)
- Use they/them/their for a singular person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant.
- Always use plural verbs with “they” (e.g., they are, they do).
- Avoid using “he or she” to make your speaking and writing more natural.
- Never use “it” to refer to a person.
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?