2. They/Their
• Do not use the pronouns "they" or "their" when referring
to a collective noun or an indefinite pronoun. Collective
nouns include the terms "all," "everyone," and
"everybody." They are collective because they refer to
groups of people. Indefinite pronouns such as "each"
and "someone," like collective nouns, do not indicate a
specific gender. Do not substitute the pronoun "they" for
a collective noun or an indefinite pronoun. Instead, try to
avoid the need for the pronoun if possible. One way to
avoid the pronoun problem is to substitute the word "the"
or "a." Use "he or she" or "his or her" as an alternative
only if absolutely necessary; this option almost always
can be avoided by rewriting the sentence.
3. Examples
» Incorrect: Everyone will be required to submit their
memorandum at 9:00 a.m.
» Better: Everyone will be required to submit his or her
memorandum at 9:00 a.m.
» Best: Everyone will be required to submit the
memorandum at 9:00 a.m.
» Incorrect: Each person should provide me with a copy of their
schedule.
» Better: Each person should provide me with a copy of his or
her schedule.
» Best: Each person should provide me with a copy of a
personal schedule.
» Incorrect: A lawyer is the guardian of civil liberties. They
protect the rights of those in the citizenry who are unable to
protect their own rights.
» Awkward: A lawyer is the guardian of civil liberties. He or she
protects the rights of those in the citizenry who are unable to
protect their own rights.
» Best: Lawyers are the guardian of civil liberties. They
protect the rights of those in the citizenry who are
unable to protect their own rights.
4. I/me
• When a first-person pronoun replaces a subject,
use "I." When it replaces an object, use "me."
• Incorrect: It is me. Correct: It is I.
•
Explanation: "I" is the subject of the verb "is."
Use "I" as a subject and "me" as an object.
• Incorrect: The judge threw the gavel at I after
the twelfth consecutive objection. Correct:
The judge threw the gavel at me after the
twelfth consecutive objection.
5. I/me
• Explanation: When you are uncertain about
using "I" or "me," you may want to ask yourself
which word you would choose if writing in
the third person. For example, it is easy to
conclude that "the judge threw the gavel at her"
is correct, while "at she" would be incorrect.
Since the pronouns "me," "him," and "her" all are
used as objects, you know to use "me" in the
first person whenever "him" or "her" would be
appropriate in the third person.
6. It/it’s
• It's is a contraction for it is or it has.
• Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or
belonging to it.
• And there is absolutely, positively, no such word as its'.
• A simple test
• If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is or it has, then
your word is it's; otherwise, your word is its.
• Another test
• Its is the neuter version of his and her. Try plugging her into your
sentence where you think its belongs. If the sentence still works
grammatically (if not logically) then your word is indeed its.
• Examples
• It's been good to know you. Contraction: it has
It's a bird! It's a plane! Contraction: it is
7. Their/theirs
• What's the difference between theirs and their's?
• Theirs
• Theirs is the third person plural possessive pronoun - it replaces "their" + noun.
• Is this yours or theirs?
• He found a book - is it theirs?
• I can't find my keys, but theirs are on the table.
• Theirs is a better idea.
• Theirs is over here.
•
Their's
• Though you may see their's written even by native speakers, it is incorrect. Theirs
should never have an apostrophe.
•
The Bottom Line
• The idea that theirs needs an apostrophe comes out of the fact that on virtually every
other word, 's indicates possession, so English speakers sometimes think theirs
should be spelled their's. However, this is always incorrect - theirs is the only correct
spelling
8. Their or theirs
• Remember that the third person plural
possessive adjective is their: They've sold
their house. Don't confuse it with the
adverb there, 'in that place' or with they're,
which is the shortened form of 'they are'.
• The third person plural possessive
pronoun is theirs (not their's): If this is
theirs, they'd better take it.
