objective case of they
Meredith ClarkWilliam Shakespeare
Can they, their, theirs, them, themself, and themselves be used to refer to one person?: Usage Guide
Words like everyone, anyone, and someone are typically understood as singular, which means that logically they should be paired with a singular pronoun like him or her. However, neither of the following examples are acceptable to the modern speaker unless the person referred to is known to be male or known to be female:
His or her, him or her, and similar combinations were formerly recommended instead, but widely disliked. Fortunately, a simpler solution is available: they—and the related forms them, their, theirs, and themselves—have done the job for centuries, and are now widely accepted.
Jane Austen
Lucy Maud Montgomery
William Shakespeare
Louisa May Alcott
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Additionally, the form themself, which was all but eclipsed by themselves in the late 16th century, has recently seen an increase in use as an alternative to singular themselves.
James Lewis Hoberman
They and related forms are also commonly used to refer to someone whose identity is unknown, unspecified, or intentionally not revealed, or to singular nouns that stand for any person or many persons.
Zach Nunn
Ida Alexa Ross Wylie
George Bernard Shaw
Mary Gabriel
These forms are also often preferred by those whose gender identity is nonbinary.
Maddy Shred
Aidin Vaziri
Eduardo Medina and Jacey Fortin
Cite this Entry
“Them.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/them. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share