What are gender-neutral pronouns?
They are pronouns that refer to people without specifying gender. English has several ways to do this in general statements (one, you, we) and when the person is unknown or not specified (they as a generic singular). Choosing neutral language avoids unnecessary gendering and keeps writing inclusive.
Generic reference one • you • we
Meaning
Use any of these to talk about people in general, including (often) the speaker and the listener: One/You/We can never be completely prepared.
Register
- one — more formal/academic; common in fixed forms like one’s: Education can change one’s life.
- you — natural in spoken English and instructions: In emergencies, you call 911.
- we — inclusive of writer and reader: We are human and make mistakes.
Grammar
- Subject or object: Sometimes the system treats you/us unfairly.
- Reflexive forms: Helping others helps oneself / yourself / ourselves.
Consistency: keep the same pronoun set within a sentence/paragraph: You never know what the future will bring you (not us).
People in general / groups they
Use they to refer to unspecified groups (authorities, residents, people in a place): They plan to raise taxes. / In this village, they don’t like loud music.
This they is plural in meaning and takes plural verbs.
Singular reference singular they (they/them/their)
Singular they refers to one person when gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when someone uses they/them pronouns. It is common in modern English, including formal writing.
- A good journalist never reveals where they get their information.
- Someone left their suitcase in the taxi. (someone + has — verb agrees with the singular subject; their is neutral.)
- Every student said their name aloud, didn’t they?
Verb agreement: use plural pronoun forms (they have) but keep the subject’s verb singular when the subject is a singular indefinite (someone has, each person is).
Style & tone choices
- Traditional
he or she, his or her — precise but wordy; avoid repetitive pairing. - Modern default
singular they — concise and widely accepted in academic, journalistic and official styles. - Respect names/pronouns
When someone shares specific pronouns (e.g., she/her, they/them), use those. - Neopronouns (e.g., ze/zir) appear in some contexts; follow the person’s preference.
Quick contrasts
| Use case | Natural choice | Example |
|---|---|---|
| General rules/instructions | you / we | You must wear a helmet. / We often forget passwords. |
| Formal generalisation | one | One should back up one’s files. |
| Unknown person | they (singular) | Someone called; they didn’t leave a message. |
| Authorities/people in a place | they (plural) | In Spain, they eat late. |
Common pitfalls & fixes
- Mixing sets: Don’t switch from you to we in the same sentence. ✔ You never know what the future brings you.
- Agreement with indefinites: Everyone has done their best. (verb has = singular; their = neutral possessive).
- Reflexives: each person … themself/themselves — both seen; many style guides now accept themself for singular they.
- Avoid male-default: Prefer they to generic he unless a gendered reference is intended.
Choose the form that fits your audience and keep it consistent across the page or document.