They, their, them, themselves: English lacks a common-gender third person singular pronoun that can be used to refer to indefinite pronouns (such as
everyone, anyone, someone). Writers and speakers have supplied this lack by using the plural pronouns.
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and every one to rest themselves betake
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—William Shakespeare
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I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly
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—Jane Austen
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it is too hideous for anyone in their senses to buy
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—W. H. Auden
The plural pronouns have also been put to use as pronouns of indefinite number to refer to singular nouns that stand for many persons.
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'tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear the speech
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—William Shakespeare
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a person can't help their birth
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—W. M. Thackeray
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no man goes to battle to be killed. — But they do get killed
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—G. B. Shaw
The use of
they, their, them, and
themselves as pronouns of indefinite gender and indefinite number is well established in speech and writing, even in literary and formal contexts. This gives you the option of using the plural pronouns where you think they sound best, and of using the singular pronouns (such as
he, she, he or she, and their inflected forms) where you think they sound best.
