he/she
Someone being discussed
He/she is a written device attempting to include both sexes: Each student should bring he/she own laptop.
The construction is awkward and has largely given way to singular they, which flows more naturally in speech and writing.
Some style guides once recommended he/she or the slash-free variant he or she, but both now feel dated and clunky.
Gender-neutral singular pronouns
- neopronounsNewly created personal pronouns
- gender-neutralWithout sex distinction
- inclusiveCovering all members
- respectfulShowing proper regard
asking · introducing · normalizing · affirming · ally · awareness · sensitivity
Consisting of two parts
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- cisgenderBirth-sex-identified
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
identity · male · female · man · woman · boy · girl · masculine
Matter under discussion
- pronounNoun's grammatical replacement
- antecedentSomething that precedes
- agreementShared position between parties
- referentWhat a term designates
singular · third-person · nominative · case · syntax · usage · prescriptive · epicene
Not we, but
- themThird-person plural object
- himMale object pronoun
- herFemale object pronoun
- hisMale possessive pronoun
themself · oneself · whom · whose · person · individual · someone · anybody
Gathering for celebration
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- claimantOne asserting entitlement
- respondentOne who gives answers
testator · beneficiary · spouse · decedent · guardian · heir · signatory · complainant
they/them
Gender-neutral singular pronouns
- neopronounsNewly created personal pronouns
- gender-neutralWithout sex distinction
- inclusiveCovering all members
respectful · asking · introducing · normalizing · affirming · ally · awareness · sensitivity
binary
Consisting of two parts
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- cisgenderBirth-sex-identified
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
genderqueer · identity · male · female · man · woman · boy · girl · masculine · feminine
subject
Matter under discussion
- pronounNoun's grammatical replacement
- antecedentSomething that precedes
- agreementShared position between parties
referent · singular · third-person · nominative · case · syntax · usage · prescriptive · epicene · generic
they
Not we, but
his · themself · oneself · whom · whose · person · individual · someone · anybody · one
party
Gathering for celebration
respondent · testator · beneficiary · spouse · decedent · guardian · heir · signatory · complainant · petitioner