0
Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Its vs Their

1. All businesses have its customers coming first.

2. All businesses have their customers coming first.

If businesses weren't in the plural, then I would without a doubt use "its." However, since it's "businesses", "its" doesn't sound correct. Which is grammatically correct?
  

Top answer

All b usinesses have their customers come first.

— Mister Micawber

  • All b usinesses have their customers come first.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
All businesses have their customers come first.
0
0
Thanks for the reply. But I thought when referring to an entity, you use "its." And "their" is used to describe people. When I typed into google "Businesses have its" it came back with 34 million results. When I typed in "businesses have their" it only came back with about 10 million results.
0
0
AnonymousBut I thought when referring to an entity, you use "its." And "their" is used to describe people. When I typed into google "Businesses have its" it came back with 34 million results. When I typed in "businesses have their" it only came back with about 10 million results.
If you wish to trust Google, then why bother us? Googling jjust shows you how il
0
0
But aren't I correct in saying that an entity, such as a business, is referred to as "its"?
0
0
But am I not correct in saying that an entity, such as a business, is referred to as "its"? -- One business: 'its'. Two businesses: 'their'.
0
0
Okay, thanks for the clarification :-) In academic writing, would one write business in singular or plural form? "Its" seems more acceptable. I can always rephrase my writing to make the noun singular, thereby allowing me to use the possessive "its."
0
0
AnonymousIn academic writing, would one write business in singular or plural form?
Both are possible and common.
Anonymous. I can always rephrase my writing to make the noun singular, thereby allowing me to use the possessive "its."
There is no need to do so. 'Their' is correct.
0

Related Questions