2.5 Pronouns
Agreement in Number
If the pronoun takes the place of or refers to a singular noun, the pronoun must also be singular.
Correct: If a student wants to return a book to the bookstore, they must have a receipt.
Correct but old fashioned: If a student wants to return a book to the bookstore, he or she must have a receipt.
Correct- best for general situation: If students want to return a book to the bookstore, they must have a receipt.
In modern cases, in which gender should not be assumed or assigned, THEY can replace he or she, THEIR can replace his or her, THEM can replace him or her
Correct: If a student, wants to return a book to the bookstore, they must have a receipt.
| Singular Pronouns | Plural Pronouns | |||||
| First Person | I | me | my (mine) | we | us | our (ours) |
| Second Person | you | you | your (yours) | you | you | your (your) |
| Third Person | he, she, it | him, her, it | his, her, its | they | them | their (theirs) |
If you use a consistent person, your reader is less likely to be confused.
Incorrect: When a person goes to a restaurant, you should leave a tip.
Correct: When a person goes to a restaurant, he or she should leave a tip.
Correct: When we go to a restaurant, I should leave a tip.
Exercise 1
Edit the following paragraph by correcting pronoun agreement errors in number and person.
Over spring break I visited my older cousin, Diana, and they took me to a butterfly exhibit at a museum. Diana and I have been close ever since she was young. Our mothers are twin sisters, and she is inseparable! Diana knows how much I love butterflies, so it was their special present to me. I have a soft spot for caterpillars too. I love them because something about the way it transforms is so interesting to me. One summer my grandmother gave me a butterfly growing kit, and you got to see the entire life cycle of five Painted Lady butterflies. I even got to set it free. So when my cousin said they wanted to take me to the butterfly exhibit, I was really excited!
