See A4 in the Quick Editing Guide for more on editing for subject-verb agreement.
A pronoun’s job is to fill in for a noun, much as an actor’s double fills in for the actor. Pronouns are a short, convenient way to avoid repeating the noun.
The sheriff drew a six-shooter; he fired twice.
In this action-packed sentence, first comes a noun (sheriff) and then a pronoun (he) that refers back to it. Sheriff is the antecedent of he. Just as verbs need to agree with their subjects, pronouns need to agree with the nouns they stand for without shifting number, person, or gender in midsentence.
| 7a | Pronouns agree with their antecedents in person and number |
A pronoun matches its antecedent in person (first, second, or third) and in number (singular or plural), even when intervening words separate the pronoun and its antecedent.
| FAULTY | All campers should bring your knapsacks. |
Here, noun and pronoun disagree in person: third person campers; second person your.
| FAULTY | Every camper should bring their knapsack. |
Here, noun and pronoun disagree in number: singular camper; plural their.
| REVISED | All campers should bring their knapsacks. |
| REVISED | Every camper should bring his or her knapsack. (See also 7f.) |
| 7b | Most antecedents joined by and require a plural pronoun |
compound subject: A subject consisting of two or more nouns or pronouns linked by and: Scott and Liz drove home.
A compound subject is plural; use a plural pronoun to refer to it.
George, who has been here before, and Jenn, who hasn’t, need their maps.
If the nouns in a compound subject refer to the same person or thing, they make up a singular antecedent. Use a singular pronoun too.
The owner and founder of this company carries his laptop everywhere.
| 7c | A pronoun agrees with the closest part of an antecedent joined by or or nor |
If your subject is two or more nouns (or a combination of nouns and pronouns) connected by or or nor, look closely at the subject’s parts. Are they all singular? If so, your pronoun should be singular.
Neither Joy nor Jean remembered her book last week.
If Sam, Arthur, or Dieter shows up, tell him I’m looking for him.
If the part of the subject closest to the pronoun is plural, the pronoun should be plural.
Neither Joy nor her sisters rode their bikes today.
If you see Sam, Arthur, or their friends, tell them I’m looking for them.
| 7d | An antecedent that is a singular indefinite pronoun takes a singular pronoun |
See A6 in the Quick Editing Guide for a list of indefinite pronouns. For more on agreement with indefinite pronouns, see 4f and 7f.
Most indefinite pronouns (such as everyone and anybody) are singular in meaning, so the pronouns that refer to them are also singular.
Either of the boys can do it, as long as he’s on time.
Warn anybody who’s still in her swimsuit that a shirt is required for dinner.
An indefinite pronoun that is plural (both, many) takes a plural pronoun.
Tell both the guests I will see them soon.
| 7e | Most collective nouns used as antecedents require singular pronouns |
When the members of a group (such as a committee, family, jury, or trio) act as a unit, use a singular pronoun to refer to them.
The cast for the play will be posted as soon as the director chooses it.
For more on agreement with collective nouns, see 4e.
When the group members act individually, use a plural pronoun.
The cast will go their separate ways when summer ends.
| 7f | A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender |
If one of your parents brings you to camp, invite him for lunch.
For more on bias-free language, see 18.
While technically correct (the singular he refers to the singular one), this sentence overlooks the fact that some parents are male, some female.
If one of your parents brings you to camp, invite him or her for lunch.
If your parents bring you to camp, invite them for lunch.