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Snarf Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Pluralizing a Noun With “Their”

Sometimes I get confused about whether to pluralize a noun with “their” or not. Here I would do it:

They lost their minds in a mine shaft.

But what about in the form of this kind of question here:

“Has everybody lost their freakin’ minds today?” he screamed.

Is it fine to pluralize “mind,” or is it too literal? Is it merely a matter of style? Keep in mind that it is a person speaking, so it’s not formal, anyway.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Snarf They lost their minds in a mine shaft. Oh, no! Now they'll have to go back down the shaft and find them!

— CalifJim

  • Snarf They lost their minds in a mine shaft.
  • Oh, no!
  • Now they'll have to go back down the shaft and find them!
  • ” he screamed.
  • Is it fine to pluralize “mind,” or is it too literal?
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23 Answers
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SnarfThey lost their minds in a mine shaft.
Oh, no! Now they'll have to go back down the shaft and find them!
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CalifJim minds is fine. their minds is completely normal. I don't see it as a matter of style.
Good. I was concerned that "their mind" might sound better.
CalifJim A person speaking? So if it's a cat speaking, it's formal? CJ
Haha! No, I just meant it's dialogue rather than a formal write-up like an essay or report.
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Snarf“Has everybody lost their freakin’ minds today?” he screamed.
Choosing the singular option "Has everybody lost his freakin' mindtoday?" is a matter of style, as you suggest --- in my opinion.
Snarf it is a person speaking, so it’s not formal, anyway.
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SnarfI just meant it's dialogue rather than a formal write-up like an essay or report.
Got it!
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Avangi lost his freakin' mind today
Oh. I thought the choice was between 'their mind' and 'their minds'. Maybe I misunderstood the question!
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I wouldn’t make mind plural, since both everybody and their are singular.
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CalifJimMaybe I misunderstood the question!
Me too! I hadn't even considered "Has everyone lost their freakin' mind."
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Aspara GusI wouldn’t make mind plural, since both everybody and their are singular.
Ouch! I'm afraid my 1980's dictionary must be replaced. It only states that "their" is the possessive form of "they," and that "they" is third person plural.

That guy didn't use their head! ???

I would expect at least a "Usage note."

Regards,
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In the OP’s sentence, the pronoun is their is singular.
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Aspara GusI wouldn’t make mind plural, since both everybody and their are singular.
I think you may have hit on something here, but for the wrong reason, because this seems to say that only a singular noun can be used with 'everybody' and 'their'. And yet, the following can't be right.

Everybody has taken their shoe off at the door.

I
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