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Make pronouns, words that substitute for nouns, and their antecedents, that which they substitute for or refer to, agree in number (singular or plural).

• The teacher graded her students' papers.
• The students wrote their papers.

Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things; they are words such as anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, none, no one, somebody, someone, something. They are usually treated as singular.

• In this class everyone is expected to do his or her own work.

When the plural pronoun refers mistakenly to a singular indefinite pronoun, you can usually choose one of three options for revision:

• Replace the plural pronoun with he or she or his or her.
• Make the antecedent plural.
• Rewrite the sentence so that no problem of agreement arises.

Examples of revised sentences

• (Incorrect) When someone is tired, they are more likely to be forgetful.
• When someone is tired, he or she is more likely to be forgetful.
• When people are tired, they are more likely to be forgetful.
• Someone who his tired is more likely to be forgetful

Generic Nouns

A generic noun represents a typical member of a group, such as a typical student, or any member of a group, such as any lawyer. Although generic nouns may seem to have plural meanings, they are singular.

• Every student must study every day if he or she wants to do well in college.

When the plural pronoun refers mistakenly to a singular generic noun, you can usually choose one of three options for revision:

• Replace the plural pronoun with he or she or his or her.
• Make the antecedent plural.
• Rewrite the sentence so that no problem of agreement arises.

Examples of revised sentences

• (Incorrect) An athlete must train daily if they want to succeed.
• An athlete must train daily if he or she wants to succeed.
• Athletes must train daily if they want to succeed.
• Athletes train daily to succeed.

Collective nouns

Collective nouns such as jury, committee, audience, crowd, class, troop, family, team, and couple name a class or group. If the group functions as a unit, treat the noun as singular; if the members of the group function individually, treat the noun as plural.

• As a unit: The committee reached its decision after much discussion
• As individuals: The committee must put their signatures on the papers.

Compound antecedents

• Treat compound antecedents joined by and as plural.
  • Joanne and Jim go to Arizona in the winter, where they have a second home.
• With compound antecedents joined by or or nor, make the pronoun agree with the nearer antecedent.
  • Neither the dog nor the cats are happy in their new home.