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Contiluo Posted 15 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

Their or his

Are the following sentences acceptable?

(1) Everybody wants to be different person, so everybody should do their best.

(2) Everybody wants to be a different person, so everybody should do his best.

(3) I believe everyone can realize their own dream.

(4) I believe everyone can realize his own dream.
  

Top answer

#2 and #4 are accepted by conservative grammarians and some teachers but eschewed by those who are politically conscious. #1 and #3 are eschewed by conservative grammarians and many teachers but accepted by most descriptivists nowadays at least informally. Your best bet is to pluralize and avoid all pitfalls: We all want to be better persons, so we should all do our best.

— Mister Micawber

  • #2 and #4 are accepted by conservative grammarians and some teachers but eschewed by those who are politically conscious.
  • #1 and #3 are eschewed by conservative grammarians and many teachers but accepted by most descriptivists nowadays at least informally.
  • Your best bet is to pluralize and avoid all pitfalls: We all want to be better persons, so we should all do our best.
  • I believe that we can all realize our dreams.
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1 Answers
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#2 and #4 are accepted by conservative grammarians and some teachers but eschewed by those who are politically conscious. #1 and #3 are eschewed by conservative grammarians and many teachers but accepted by most descriptivists nowadays at least informally.

Your best bet is to pluralize and avoid all pitfalls: We all want to be better persons, so we should all do our best. I bel
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