Harper's Writing Center: Pronoun Agreement [ Home ] [ Contents]

Pronoun Problem:
Agreement

A pronoun must always agree in number and gender with its antecedent (the word or words to which the pronoun refers).

Use a singular pronoun to refer to a singular antecedent; similarly, use a plural pronoun to refer to a plural antecedent.

Examples:

Use a singular pronoun when the antecedent is a singular, indefinite pronoun, regardless of intervening phrases.

Examples:

Use a plural pronoun when there is more than one antecedent joined by and.

Example:

When compound antecedents are joined by or, nor, either/or, neither/nor; the pronoun should agree with the closer antecedent.

Examples:

  • Either Wendell or Omar will bring his basketball to practice.
  • Neither the doctor nor the nurses blamed themselves for the patient's death.

    (Placing the plural antecedent last helps to avoid unnecessary awkwardness.)

    Problems with Gender:
    Pronoun agreement problems involving gender most commonly occur when there is a singular antecedent whose gender could be either male or female (as in student, teacher, doctor, friend, lover, nurse, truck driver, or day-care provider). In this instance, writers can avoid gender stereotyping by making both the pronoun and the antecedent plural; however, if the singular is preferred, then use he or she, him or her to refer to a non-gender specific antecedent.

    Examples:

  • A student must present photo identification when he or she comes in for placement testing.
  • Students are required to present photo identification when they come in for placement testing.

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    Last Revised: 12 May 1998