pronoun a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it, this).
Used in discussions of group dynamics and social behavior
Used as a gender-neutral pronoun to refer to individuals of unspecified gender
Used in subject-verb agreement to indicate a plural subject
Used as a pronoun to refer to a group of people or things
In the field of writing, 'they' is used as a gender-neutral pronoun to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or unspecified. For example, 'The author said they would be signing books at the event.'
Psychologists may use 'they' when discussing case studies or hypothetical scenarios in order to maintain confidentiality and anonymity. For instance, 'If a client is feeling overwhelmed, they may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.'
Teachers may use 'they' when referring to a student whose gender is unknown or when discussing general classroom situations. For example, 'If a student needs extra help, they can schedule a tutoring session.'
Doctors may use 'they' when discussing patient cases in a gender-neutral way. For instance, 'If a patient is experiencing symptoms, they should schedule an appointment for further evaluation.'
Engineers may use 'they' when discussing a colleague's work or when referring to a hypothetical individual in a technical context. For example, 'If a team member is responsible for the design, they should ensure it meets the project requirements.'