Page 132 - Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking

■ Colloquial witness: Yes, it’s him.

10.11 Pronouns and Indeterminate Gender

When you know that a noun (see section 8.0, Nouns) is a female or male person
or animal, then you use the appropriate subject pronoun she or her, or he or him.

If you don’t know whether the subject or object noun is male or female, then you

can use they as the subject pronoun or them as the object pronoun, even if you
know it’s singular. This usage has been around for at least 600 years.

■ If someone from your department wants to interview me, they should

call my cell phone.
■ A good scientist will always reveal their sources.

■ Always ask a police officer to show their badge before letting them
into your house.

In the past, it was custom to use he and him as the default pronouns when the
gender of the subject was not known. You may also find that some people insist

on using the phrase he or she or the constructions she/he or s/he. However, all
these methods are now widely considered old-fashioned (or even sexist in the

case of the default he or him) and a poor style choice. They should now be
avoided by all writers and speakers at all levels.

If you’re still uncomfortable about the singular they, then try to rewrite the
sentence to avoid having to use either he or she or they.

■ Each student should leave his or her backpack by the gym door.
■ Each student should leave their backpack by the gym door.

■ All students should leave their backpacks by the gym door.

An acceptable variation when you are talking about a person or people of

indeterminate (or both) genders is to alternate the use of the gendered pronouns
when writing at length, as long as you keep to one gender in each sentence or in

each closely related idea.