Singular They: Meaning, Grammar, and Pronoun Usage

It has two common uses:

• referring to a person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or not stated;
• referring to a known person who uses they/them pronouns.

For example:

• “A customer left their umbrella.”
• “Morgan said they need more time.”

In both sentences, they refers to one individual.

• Subject: they
  They work here.
• Object: them
  I called them.
• Possessive adjective: their
  That is their desk.
• Possessive pronoun: theirs
  The desk is theirs.
• Reflexive: themself or themselves
  They completed the project themself.

The words their and theirs have different grammatical functions:

• Their appears before a noun: their coat.
• Theirs replaces the noun phrase: The coat is theirs.

Correct examples include:

• They are ready.
• They have arrived.
• They do understand.
• They were invited.

The following forms are generally incorrect in standard English:

• They is ready.
• They has arrived.
• They does understand.
• They was invited.

Compare:

• Jordan is ready.
• Jordan said they are ready.

The meaning is singular, but the grammatical agreement follows the established forms used with they.

Examples include:

• If anyone calls, tell them I am busy.
• Every passenger must show their ticket.
• A good teacher listens to their students.
• Someone forgot their keys.

In these sentences, the speaker may not know the person’s gender, or gender may not be relevant.

Singular they can often replace longer expressions such as he or she:

• Every applicant should attach his or her résumé.
• Every applicant should attach their résumé.

The second version is generally shorter and more natural.

Examples include:

• Riley is my neighbor. They work at the hospital.
• I spoke to Alex, and they approved the plan.
• Morgan brought their laptop.
• The blue jacket is theirs.

In this usage, they is not used because the speaker lacks information. It is used because they/them is the individual’s pronoun set.

Singular:

• Jordan said they are leaving.
• One customer said they had a complaint.

Plural:

• Jordan and Lee said they are leaving.
• Several customers said they had complaints.

The pronoun and verb forms remain the same. The surrounding nouns and context communicate the number.

Themself makes the singular meaning especially clear:

• Jamie completed the task themself.
• The visitor introduced themself.

Themselves is also widely used:

• Jamie completed the task themselves.
• The visitor introduced themselves.

Usage may depend on personal preference, regional practice, or editorial style. When referring to a known person, use the reflexive form that person prefers when that preference is known.

• anyone;
• anybody;
• someone;
• somebody;
• everyone;
• everybody;
• no one;
• nobody.

Examples include:

• Someone left their bag.
• Everyone should bring their identification.
• If anybody asks, tell them I will return soon.
• Nobody should be judged before they have spoken.

Although words such as everyone and nobody are grammatically singular, singular they can refer back to them naturally.

Examples include:

• A patient should tell the doctor about their symptoms.
• Each employee must update their password.
• An applicant may withdraw their application.
• Every participant should bring their identification.

This construction helps writers avoid unnecessary gender assumptions and repetitive phrases such as he or she.

When writing about a known person, use that person’s stated pronouns rather than replacing them with another form for stylistic reasons.

• she/they;
• he/they;
• she/he/they.

A person who uses she/they may be comfortable with both she/her and they/them:

• She is attending the meeting.
• They are attending the meeting.

Preferences differ. One person may welcome both sets equally, while another may prefer that people alternate between them or use one more frequently.

When necessary, ask respectfully:

• “Do you prefer one set more often?”
• “Would you like me to alternate between them?”

However, pronouns and gender identity are not identical. A nonbinary person may use:

• they/them;
• she/her;
• he/him;
• neopronouns;
• multiple pronoun sets;
• no pronouns.

Likewise, a person who uses they/them is not necessarily nonbinary. A woman, man, agender person, genderfluid person, or another individual may use singular they.

Pronouns provide information about language preference, not a complete explanation of gender.

• “What pronouns do you use?”
• “Which pronouns should I use for you?”
• “May I ask your pronouns?”

A person may share their own pronouns during an introduction:

• “I’m Sam, and I use they/them pronouns.”
• “My name is Dana. I use she/they.”

Pronoun disclosure should generally remain voluntary. Someone may be questioning, concerned about privacy, or not ready to share gender-related information publicly.

• “She—sorry, they—will join us later.”

Helpful steps include:

1. Correct the pronoun.
2. Apologize briefly when appropriate.
3. Continue the sentence.
4. Practice the correct forms privately.

Long apologies may draw unnecessary attention to the mistake. Consistent improvement is usually more helpful.

Singular they requires “they is.”
No. Standard forms include they are, they have, and they do.

They can refer only to several people.
No. Context allows they to refer to one person or multiple people.

Everyone who is nonbinary uses they/them.
No. Nonbinary people may use any pronoun set.

Singular they always hides someone’s gender.
No. It may accurately represent a known person’s stated pronouns.

Themself is the only correct reflexive form.
No. Both themself and themselves are used with singular they.

1. Singular they can refer to a person whose gender is unknown.
2. Jordan uses singular they as their personal pronoun.
3. Is singular they appropriate in formal writing?
4. Singular they normally takes plural-style verb agreement.
5. The teacher used singular they instead of assuming each student’s gender.
6. Personal singular they refers to a known individual who uses they/them pronouns.
7. Singular they can follow words such as someone, everyone, and anybody.
8. Understanding singular they helps learners write clearly and inclusively.

However, singular they does not define gender identity. People of different genders may use they/them, and many nonbinary people use other pronouns. The pronoun also has a general grammatical use when gender is unknown or irrelevant.

Understanding singular they therefore supports both accurate English grammar and respectful communication about gender without requiring unsupported assumptions about identity.