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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Pronoun Usage

I frequently read sentences exhibiting incorrect pronoun usage. Is it now standard to do so as it is so pervasive, or is it a blatant error?

When one sets their goals high they must take the task at hand seriously in order to achieve them.

I'd say it should be this:

When one sets one's goals high, one must take the task at hand seriously in order to achieve them.





Thanks
  

Top answer

Technically, you are correct. The lack of a better gender/number free possessive is a problem for those who like to sound precise and correct. I usually avoid the problem by using a plura subject to begin with: People who set their goals high..........

— Philip

  • Technically, you are correct.
  • The lack of a better gender/number free possessive is a problem for those who like to sound precise and correct.
  • I usually avoid the problem by using a plura subject to begin with: People who set their goals high..........
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5 Answers
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Technically, you are correct. The lack of a better gender/number free possessive is a problem for those who like to sound precise and correct. I usually avoid the problem by using a plura subject to begin with: People who set their goals high..........
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English 1b3Is it now standard to do so as it is so pervasive
It has been standard to do so for centuries! The respected author Jane Austen uses they and their and them in that way all over the place in her novels, written about 200 years ago. And many other respected writers have done the same throughout the history of English.

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English 1b3When one sets their goals high they must take the task at hand seriously in order to achieve them.
This sentence is horrible. If one starts out using "one" then one should continue using "one", in my opinion. (In an older style, authors also switched from "one" to "he", but this is now uncommon.)
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While I agree that if you start with "one" you should continue with "one," as CJ said, it would NOT be an error to start with "a person" (singular) and continue with "they," "their," and "them."
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Thanks everybody.

It seems to me that if you're not a noted writer, it is best to avoid this, simply because people may mistake this style choice as a mistake. I'll leave it to you guys.
PhilipThe lack of a better gender/number free possessive is a problem for those who like to sound precise and correct.
Can someone please explain this to me? I
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