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Newguest Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Connection between ...
Hi
Is it gramatically correct to write: There is a direct connection between the length of a person's telomeres and the longevity of their cells.
Is it gramatically correct to write: There is a direct connection between the length of a person's telomeres and the longevity of their cells.
Top answer
Yes, it is possible. I suppose that you're not sure about a person (singular) being used with their (plural) but sometimes you will use this construction so as to avoid using either her or him (to replace person).
- Yes, it is possible.
- I suppose that you're not sure about a person (singular) being used with their (plural) but sometimes you will use this construction so as to avoid using either her or him (to replace person).
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2 Answers
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Yes, it is possible. I suppose that you're not sure about a person (singular) being used with their (plural) but sometimes you will use this construction so as to avoid using either her or him (to replace person).
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This shift in number makes up for the lack of an English third person singular pronoun of indefinite gender. It is so common in conversation that the correct usage sounds stilted. For more formal writing you can get number agreement by starting out with a plural antecedent:
"There is a direct connection between the length of people's telomeres and the longevity of their cells."
"There is a direct connection between the length of people's telomeres and the longevity of their cells."
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