He definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
anyone (without reference to sex); that person
the male person or animal being discussed or last mentioned; that male
USAGE
Traditionally, the masculine singular pronouns
he
1
,
his
, and
him
have been used generically to refer to indefinite pronouns like
anyone, everyone
, and
someone
(
Everyone who agrees should raise his right hand
) and to singular nouns that can be applied to either sex (
painter, parent, person, teacher, writer
, etc.):
Every writer knows that his first book is not likely to be a bestseller.
This generic use is often criticized as sexist, and people developed various ways
of avoiding it. One is to use
he
/
she
or
she
/
he
(or
he or she
or
she or he
) or the appropriate case forms of these pairs:
Everyone who agrees should raise his or her
(or
her or his
or
his/her
or
her/his
)
right hand.
Forms blending the feminine and masculine pronouns, as
s/he
, have not been widely adopted, probably because of confusion over how to say them.
Another solution is to change the antecedent pronoun or noun from singular to plural
so that the plural pronouns
they
,
their
, and
them
can be used:
All who agree should raise their right hands. All writers know that their first books
are not likely to be bestsellers.
See also
Traditionally, the masculine singular pronouns, andhave been used generically to refer to indefinite pronouns like, and) and to singular nouns that can be applied to either sex (, etc.):This generic use is often criticized as sexist, and people developed various ways of avoiding it. One is to useor(oror) or the appropriate case forms of these pairs:(orororForms blending the feminine and masculine pronouns, as, have not been widely adopted, probably because of confusion over how to say them. Another solution is to change the antecedent pronoun or noun from singular to plural so that the plural pronouns, andcan be used:See also they
