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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'

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Further vs. Farther

 

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

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The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

 

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

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On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

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Is It 'day today' or 'day-to-day'?

 

What about Day Tomorrow?

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When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes