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play video his or her
Usage Notes

Is singular 'they' a better choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'


"Everyone should do his or her best in whatever situations he or she happens to find himself or herself in?" That's awkward. Perhaps everyone should just do their best in the situations they find themselves in. Even if their best involves they as a singular pronoun.

Up next

play video his or her
Is singular 'they' a better choice?

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play video who vs whom
Who vs. Whom

 

Good news for those who feel stuffy saying 'whom.'

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The Serial Comma Explained

 

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

play there theyre their video
There, They're, Their

 

There, there. We'll sort it out.

play how to use a dictionary
How to Use a Dictionary

 

The best way to find information in the dictionary

play serenity carr next to an illustration of a refrigerator with the letter d in it
Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

 

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.