Guide 213 / 366 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “their”
Five context-specific alternatives for "their."
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Their" works for plural and singular gender-neutral. The swaps are register or specificity moves — "his/her," "its," or rephrasing.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01His or her formal
old-school formal
Each student must submit his or her essay.
- 02The neutral
when ownership is implicit
Each student must submit the essay.
- 03Its neutral
when antecedent is a thing
Each company has its own policy.
- 04One's formal
generic person
One must keep one's priorities clear.
- 05A neutral
when generic article works
Each student must submit a final essay.