Him vs. Her – Which is Correct?
Both “him” and “her” are correct English pronouns, but they serve different grammatical roles. “Him” is the objective form of “he,” while “her” can be the objective form of “she” or a possessive determiner. Choose according to the person and sentence structure. Avoid gender assumptions; follow stated pronouns when possible.
Him or Her – Which is Correct?
Both him and her are correct words. The right choice depends on the person you are referring to and the grammatical role the word plays in the sentence.
Him is an object pronoun used for a male person. It can follow a verb or preposition: “I called him” or “The message was sent to him.” Her is used as an object pronoun for a female person: “I called her” or “The message was sent to her.” It also functions as a possessive determiner before a noun: “That is her book.”
When a person uses different pronouns, follow that person’s stated preference. If gender is unknown or irrelevant, singular they may be more appropriate than choosing between “him” and “her.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the subject pronoun swap test. If the subject would be he, use him when that person receives the action. If the subject would be she, use her when that person receives the action.
For example, “He helped me” becomes “I helped him,” while “She helped me” becomes “I helped her.” For possession, remember that her comes directly before a noun: “her coat,” “her idea,” or “her appointment.”
The same subject-versus-object distinction matters in Her and I vs. Her and Me.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| him | Object pronoun | Refers to a male person receiving an action or following a preposition | Please give the keys to him. |
| her | Object pronoun or possessive determiner | Refers to a female person or shows possession | Please give the keys to her. That is her car. |
How to Use Him
Him is the objective form of the personal pronoun he. Use it when a male person is the direct object of a verb, the indirect object of a verb, or the object of a preposition. It is common in casual, professional, academic, and formal English.
Do not use “him” as the subject of a standard sentence. Say “He arrived early,” not “Him arrived early.” However, “him” may appear informally as a standalone response, such as “Who should I invite?” “Him.” In formal writing, a complete construction such as “I should invite him” is preferable.
Example 1: The manager thanked him for completing the report.
Example 2: We sent him the revised schedule.
Example 3: The responsibility rests with him.
What are the different forms of Him?
Him does not change for singular or plural use. It is one form in the traditional masculine third-person pronoun set: he is the subject form, him is the object form, and his expresses possession. The reflexive form is himself.
- He: He submitted the application.
- Him: The committee interviewed him.
- His: The application is his.
- Himself: He completed the work himself.
Etymology of the word Him
Him comes from Old English him, the dative form of the masculine pronoun. Over time, English gradually reduced its complex case system, and “him” became the standard object form corresponding to “he.” Its spelling and pronunciation have remained relatively stable for centuries.
How to Use Her
Her has two main grammatical uses. First, it is the objective form of she, used when a female person receives an action or follows a preposition. Second, it is a possessive determiner placed before a noun to show that something belongs to or is associated with a female person.
Compare these two uses: “I saw her” uses “her” as an object pronoun, while “I saw her bicycle” uses “her” as a possessive determiner. Unlike his, the possessive determiner her must normally appear before a noun; it cannot usually stand alone.
Example 1: The teacher congratulated her on the achievement.
Example 2: We spoke with her after the meeting.
Example 3: Her presentation received positive feedback.
What are the different forms of Her?
Her has the same spelling for its object-pronoun and possessive-determiner uses, but its grammatical function changes according to context. The traditional feminine third-person pronoun set includes she as the subject form, her as the object form, her as the possessive determiner, and hers as the independent possessive form. The reflexive form is herself.
- She: She organized the event.
- Her: The organizers thanked her.
- Her: Her plan was successful.
- Hers: The successful plan was hers.
- Herself: She prepared the materials herself.
Etymology of the word Her
Her developed from Old English forms including hire and heore, which expressed relationships involving a female person. As English lost much of its older case system, these forms evolved into the modern object and possessive forms “her.”
Related Concepts
Understanding pronoun case and possession makes it easier to choose between “him” and “her” accurately.
- Object pronouns: Object pronouns receive the action of a verb or follow a preposition. “Him” and “her” are both object pronouns in sentences such as “I invited him” and “I invited her.”
- Subject pronouns: Subject pronouns perform the action. Use “he” or “she,” not “him” or “her,” as the subject of a standard sentence.
- Possessive determiners: Possessive determiners appear before nouns. “Her” is a possessive determiner in “her phone,” while “his” works in “his phone.”
- Pronoun agreement: A pronoun should generally match the person or people it refers to in number, person, and—when relevant—their stated gender identity or pronoun preference.
- Singular they: “They” can refer to one person when gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when that is the person’s pronoun. It can prevent an inaccurate choice between “him” and “her.”
Examples from Media and Literature
These examples show how “him” and “her” commonly function in recognizable storytelling and communication contexts:
- Film dialogue: A character might say, “I saw him at the station,” using “him” as the object of “saw.”
- News reporting: A report may state, “Investigators spoke with her after the incident,” using “her” after the preposition “with.”
- Children’s literature: A narrator may introduce a character with “Her family lived near the forest,” using “her” to show possession.
- Historical biography: A sentence such as “The public remembered him for his reforms” uses “him” as an object and “his” as a possessive determiner.
- Contemporary fiction: A writer may use “They called her by her nickname,” where the first “her” is an object pronoun and the second “her” is a possessive determiner.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- The receptionist spoke with him or her before the appointment.
- The coach congratulated him or her after the final match.
- We placed the document in him or her folder.
- The director asked him or her to lead the discussion.
- Him or her presentation included several useful examples.
Answer Key
- him or her — The correct choice depends on the person being referred to: “spoke with him” or “spoke with her.”
- him or her — Both are grammatically correct, depending on the person’s pronoun.
- her — “Her” is a possessive determiner before the noun “folder.”
- him or her — Both can be objects of the verb “asked.”
- her — “Her” shows possession before the noun “presentation.”
Him Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| that man | A noun phrase referring to a particular male person |
| the male person | A more explicit noun phrase identifying a male individual |
| that individual | A gender-neutral alternative when the person’s identity is clear from context |
| that person | A neutral noun phrase that can replace a gendered pronoun in some contexts |
Her Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| that woman | A noun phrase referring to a particular female person |
| the female person | A more explicit noun phrase identifying a female individual |
| that individual | A gender-neutral alternative when the person is understood from context |
| that person | A neutral noun phrase that can replace a gendered pronoun in some sentences |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it “between him and her” or “between he and she”?
The correct phrase is “between him and her.” The preposition “between” takes object pronouns, so “him” and “her” are appropriate.
Question 2: Is “her” a pronoun or an adjective?
“Her” can be an object pronoun in “I called her,” or a possessive determiner in “her coat.” It is traditionally classified as a possessive adjective in some grammar resources, but “possessive determiner” is the more precise modern term.
Question 3: Should I write “him or her” in professional documents?
Use “him or her” when the person’s gender is known to be either male or female and no more inclusive wording is needed. When gender is unknown or irrelevant, rewrite the sentence with a plural “they,” singular “they,” or a gender-neutral noun.
Conclusion
Him and her are both correct, but they are not interchangeable. Use “him” as the object form of “he,” and use “her” as the object form of “she” or as a possessive determiner before a noun. When appropriate, use the person’s stated pronouns or a gender-neutral alternative. Pro Tip: Accurate pronoun use demonstrates attention to detail, respect, and professionalism in both written and spoken communication.
