What's your preference?

1. 'Everyone must consult his or her manager'
2. 'Everyone must consult their manager'

Everyone must consult his or her manager is clumsy, but it does avoid 'his manager' which is clearly unacceptable - unless everyone on this occasion just happens to be male.

Everyone must consult their manager' uses 'their' with the singular 'everyone'. Is that okay? Yes. It's not only a necessary device in modern business writing, but fully justified by usage and even officially approved.

Officially approved?

The three major dictionaries - the Oxford English, Websters and the Dictionary of English Language all just note that plurals such as their, they, and themselves are used with singulars such as everyone, every or any. There's no sense that the dictionary editors are wagging their fingers.

Henry Fowler's advice

That great guru of English usage Henry Fowler provides the example '...anybody can see for themselves' and describes it as 'the popular solution'.

You know pedants who say it's ungrammatical?

Refer them to the dictionaries and Fowler. Pedants take notice of such authorities, but left unchecked, pedants stifle the language.

'Somebody parked in the wrong place, didn't they?'

Relax. Even Henry says it's okay.

 

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Clarity and the late Professor Robert Eagleson and his task force colleagues.

 

Interested in a workshop on business writing for your team? Contact us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We'll put you in touch with a trainer, not a salesperson.

 

Ready for more? See the archive

Leading people who work from home

Interested in training for your leaders?

We’ll show your leaders how to keep their teams motivated and productive.

Learn more

Register for The Skillset Brief

Tips, advice and insights from our specialists.

It's not a newsletter. There's no news and it's not about us - just ideas you can use.

We send them out every few weeks.

Register for The Skillset Brief