Guidelines for Nonsexist Usage

Some professors and executives consider the use of the gendered pronouns "his" and "her" inappropriate. Often these questions will arise when pronouns such as "each," "everyone," "either," or "neither" appear in a sentence. Some tips follow for making usage more inclusive:

Avoid gender entirely by rewriting the sentence, avoiding the pronoun or using plurals whenever possible:
- Neither student gave his homework to the teacher ---> Neither of the students gave homework to the teacher.
Use "his or her" in place of "his" or "s/he" in place of "he" or "she" Note: This can sound a bit awkward:
- Everyone on the scene gave his or her version of the accident.
- When you visit the university, ask your tutor if s/he has taken Core.
Use a specific noun instead of a pronoun:
- A man who loves his family must support it. ---> Parents who love their families must support them.
- Exception: A father who loves his family must support it. (Here, one wants to make a point about fathers).
Use "their" with a single noun:
- "Everyone was concerned about their grades."
- Beware; this usage of "their" is not grammatically correct: it pairs a noun that should take a singular pronoun with a plural pronoun.