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 backward index mystery
The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

play body parts video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

play onomatopoeia video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

play contractions
On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

play video who vs whom
Who vs. Whom

 

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

play video affect vs effect
Affect vs. Effect

 

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.