His vs. Their – Which is Correct?
Both his and their are correct possessive words. Use his for one male person, while their traditionally refers to two or more people and is also standard for one person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary. Choose the form that matches your intended meaning and style in each sentence.
Because their is often confused with sound-alike words, review There vs. Their vs. They’re before editing.
His or Their – Which is Correct?
His and their are both correct, but they usually refer to different people. Use his when the possessor is one male person: Daniel forgot his keys. Use their for possession by multiple people: The students submitted their essays.
Their is also the standard singular, gender-neutral possessive determiner. It is appropriate when a person’s gender is unknown or unimportant, or when the person uses singular they: Someone left their umbrella and Alex brought their notebook.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the pronoun swap test. If you could replace the person with he, choose his: He lost his wallet. If you could replace the person with they, choose their: They lost their wallet. Remember that singular they still takes their, even though the person is only one individual.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| his | Possessive determiner or pronoun | Belonging to one male person | Marcus repaired his bicycle. |
| their | Possessive determiner | Belonging to multiple people or one person using singular they | The team celebrated their victory. |
How to Use His
His indicates that something belongs to one male person or is associated with him. It can come before a noun as a possessive determiner, as in his jacket, or stand alone as a possessive pronoun, as in The jacket is his.
Use his when the antecedent is clearly singular and masculine. It is common in casual, academic, business, and formal writing whenever a male person is being discussed.
Example 1: Liam placed his phone on the desk.
Example 2: The decision was his, not mine.
Example 3: Every father hopes his child will be happy.
What are the different forms of His?
His has the same spelling whether it appears before a noun or functions independently. Before a noun, it is a possessive determiner: That is his coat. Without a following noun, it is a possessive pronoun: That coat is his. Unlike many possessive words, his does not take an apostrophe. His is correct; his’ and his’s are incorrect in standard English.
Etymology of the word His
His developed from Old English forms related to he, the masculine third-person pronoun. Middle English gradually established his as the possessive form, and modern English retained it for both possessive determiner and possessive-pronoun uses.
How to Use Their
Their shows possession or association with two or more people, animals, or things treated as plural: The players packed their equipment. It is also widely used as a singular, gender-neutral possessive determiner when the person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary.
Use their before a noun: their house, their opinion, or their responsibility. When it stands alone, the corresponding possessive pronoun is theirs: The house is theirs. Do not write their’s; the word never takes an apostrophe.
Example 1: The children put their books away.
Example 2: If a customer has a question, their request should receive a prompt reply.
Example 3: Jordan said their presentation was ready.
What are the different forms of Their?
Their is used before a noun, while theirs is used independently: They brought their materials and The materials are theirs. The related subject and object forms are they and them. The possessive form remains their for both plural they and singular they.
Etymology of the word Their
Their comes from Old Norse and Old English forms associated with plural possession. It replaced earlier English forms over time and became the standard possessive determiner for plural they. Its modern singular use developed from the long-established practice of using singular they when gender is unknown or unspecified.
Related Concepts
Understanding pronoun agreement and possessive forms makes it easier to choose between his and their accurately.
- Possessive determiners: Words such as his and their appear before nouns to show ownership or association. For example, his car and their car identify different possessors.
- Possessive pronouns: These forms stand alone rather than modifying a noun. The independent form of his is also his, while the independent form of their is theirs.
- Singular they: Singular they refers to one person and is accepted in contemporary standard English. Its possessive determiner is their.
- Pronoun agreement: A pronoun should match its antecedent in person and number, while gender-neutral language may guide the choice between gendered and nongendered forms.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both forms appear regularly in literature, journalism, film dialogue, and everyday reporting. The choice depends on the person or group being described.
- Classic literature: Narrators and characters in novels commonly use his to identify something belonging to a male character, such as his horse, his sword, or his decision.
- Contemporary news reporting: News articles often use singular their in sentences such as, “A resident can submit their comment online,” when the individual’s identity is not specified.
- Workplace communication: Company announcements may say, “Each employee should update their emergency contact,” using singular their as an inclusive alternative to the traditional generic his.
- Film and television dialogue: A character may say, “He left his jacket here,” when referring to one known male person, or “Someone forgot their jacket,” when the person is unknown.
- Modern fiction: Authors may use their for a nonbinary character who uses singular they, as in, “Alex checked their notes before the interview.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- Michael left ___ keys on the kitchen counter. (his/their)
- The volunteers stored ___ supplies in the basement. (his/their)
- If a guest loses ___ ticket, the attendant can help. (his/their)
- Priya said that the final choice was ___. (his/their)
- Sam uses singular they, so the teacher returned ___ assignment. (his/their)
Answer Key
- his — Michael is one male person.
- their — The volunteers are plural.
- their — Singular their refers to an unspecified guest.
- hers would be grammatically correct because Priya is female; neither his nor their fits the sentence as written.
- their — This is the possessive determiner for singular they.
His Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Belonging to him | A phrase meaning that something is owned by or associated with one male person. |
| Of him | A formal or literary phrase indicating association with a male person. |
| That man’s | A more explicit possessive phrase referring to one particular male person. |
Their Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Belonging to them | A phrase meaning that something belongs to multiple people or entities. |
| Belonging to that person | A gender-neutral phrase for something associated with one unspecified or nonbinary person. |
| Of them | A phrase indicating association with a group or with a person referred to by singular they. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Should I use “his” or “their” for one person?
Use his when the one person is male and their when the person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary, or when that person uses singular they.
Question 2: Is “their” grammatically correct for one person?
Yes. Singular their is standard modern English and has been used for centuries when referring to one person whose gender is unspecified. It is also the appropriate possessive form for people who use singular they.
Question 3: What is the difference between “their” and “theirs”?
Their comes before a noun, as in their project. Theirs stands alone, as in The project is theirs. Neither word should contain an apostrophe.
Conclusion
His refers to something belonging to one male person, while their refers to something belonging to multiple people or to one person in a gender-neutral context. Both are correct when used appropriately. Pro Tip: Choosing precise, inclusive pronouns improves clarity and demonstrates strong professional communication skills.
