English pronouns are only gender-specific in the third person singular. When a person's gender is binary, use she, her and her(s) for female gender and he, him and his for male gender.
When someone’s gender is non-binary, use that person’s self-identified pronouns, meaning the pronouns with which the person wants to be referred. In English, some people self-identify with the pronouns they, them and their(s), while others use sets of pronouns that have been introduced into the language to make it more gender-inclusive, like ze, hir and hir(s), or like hen, henom and hen(s). In the example below, the writer respects two people’s use of self-identified pronouns.
When the person’s gender is not known or not relevant, as is usually the case for institutional texts at the UB, use they, them and their(s).
Alternatively, rephrase the sentence so that the pronoun is unnecessary or pluralize the subject.
When someone’s gender is non-binary, use that person’s self-identified pronouns, meaning the pronouns with which the person wants to be referred. In English, some people self-identify with the pronouns they, them and their(s), while others use sets of pronouns that have been introduced into the language to make it more gender-inclusive, like ze, hir and hir(s), or like hen, henom and hen(s). In the example below, the writer respects two people’s use of self-identified pronouns.
 | My colleague James Rollins will be waiting for you in the main terminal when you clear customs; James is tall with a beard and they will be carrying a sign with your name on it, so it should be easy to recognize them. |
| Dr Sara Shields explains why ze believes hir formula would help hir and other scientists to simplify the procedure in an article published last week in a leading journal. |
When the person’s gender is not known or not relevant, as is usually the case for institutional texts at the UB, use they, them and their(s).
| Only one student submitted their assignment on time. |
| Before 15 October, each tutor must speak to the students that they have been assigned. |
Alternatively, rephrase the sentence so that the pronoun is unnecessary or pluralize the subject.
| Only one student submitted the assignment on time. |
| Before 15 October, all tutors must speak to the students that they have been assigned. |
Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics
Darrera actualització: 22-12-2023
Recommended citation:
«Third-person pronouns» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=2403> [consulta: 11 desembre 2024].
