Agreement with generic nouns
A generic noun represents a typical member or members of a group, such as a typical student or typical musicians, or any member of a group, such as any lawyer. Although singular generic nouns may seem to have plural meanings, they must be treated as singular.
When a plural pronoun refers mistakenly to a generic noun, you will usually have three revision options.
- Replace the plural pronoun with he or she (or his or her).
- Make the antecedent plural.
- Rewrite the sentence so that no problem of agreement exists.
Exercises:
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 1
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 2
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 3
Pronoun-antecedent agreement 4