play video his or her
Usage Notes

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'


"Everyone should do his or her best in whatever situations he or she happens to find himself or herself in?" That's awkward. Perhaps everyone should just do their best in the situations they find themselves in. Even if their best involves they as a singular pronoun.

Up next

play video his or her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play alright allright video
Alright vs. All Right

 

Is 'alright' all right?

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

play video who vs whom
Who vs. Whom

 

Good news for those who feel stuffy saying 'whom.'

play how to read a french menu video
How to Read a French Menu

 

How to 'amuse-bouche' without begging pardon for your French

play ismo merriam webster tip
Some Odd Words with ISMO: "People Tipping"

 

Comedian ISMO on the complexities of the word 'tip'

play video soup vs soop
An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

 

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut