using 'their' with 'someone'

Question

'Someone forgot their keys'
someone said that this is the correct form even though we are using 'someone' and it is singular
Could you please send me the name or this grammar rule so I can search on internet and know more about the full rule

?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

There is no official 'rule'. In the past we used a singular possessive, usually 'his'. Later some of us used 'his/her', in order not to appear sexist. Nowadays, the plural 'their', always common in informal speech, is becoming increasingly accepted in more formal contexts as a gender-neutral possessive.

IMG · Answer

It is an issue, as far as I know. In formal English (taking TOEFL, for example) you'd have to say "someone forgot his keys", also you can use "his or her". In colloquial English we use "their", because "his" is somewhat incorrect since refers to males only (women strive for equal rights) and "his or her" sounds distracting and too long.

Fivejedjon · Answer

In most British examinations, 'their' would not be penalised.

Rami1511 · Answer

Thank you so much <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Dokterjokkebrok · Answer

Hi,

Some people argue it should be (masc.) 'Someone forgot his keys' or (fem.) 'Someone forgot her keys'. They feel that this is more correct than 'their' because 'someone' is a combination a quantifier and a noun. Essentially 'someone' can be rewritten into 'some person'. They argue that if the subject 'someone' is only one person, then how can the possessive that refers back to that one person be plural 'their'?

Their reasoning is pretty sound, but the problem people many people have with this is that pragmatically you cannot always know whether the person that forgot their (I prefer their) keys is a man or a woman. Therefore, some people use 'their' instead, which strictly speaking may only be used to refer back to the third person plural (they).

Another workaround for this problem is to write 'Someone forgot his or her keys'. The problem with this of course is that it sounds slightly clumsy. Generally, there's plenty of people who do not like this option either.

Note:

You can look up the grammar rule and that is fine. Simply search for 'someone/anyone their/his/her. However, it is also important to realize that grammar books and other text books are based on people's opinions on how they think the language works or should work. These people are generally editors, teachers, linguists, creators of style guides, translators, etc...

GPY · Answer

Rami1511'Someone forgot their keys' someone said that this is the correct form even though we are using 'someone' and it is singularCould you please send me the name or this grammar rule so I can search on internet and know more about the full rule ?

A term to search for is singular they. As you will see, this issue is a topic of great debate.

Dokterjokkebrok · Answer

GPY Rami1511'Someone forgot their keys' someone said that this is the correct form even though we are using 'someone' and it is singularCould you please send me the name or this grammar rule so I can search on internet and know more about the full rule ?A term to search for is singular they. As you will see, this issue is a topic of great debate.

I can specfically recommend: Androcentrism in prescriptive grammar: singular 'they', ***-indefinite 'he', and 'he or she' by Ann Bodine.

using 'their' with 'someone'

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions