Pronoun Agreement, Collective Nouns

Jared Aragona

Pronoun agreement, collective nouns: Collective nouns suggest more than one person but are usually considered singular.

The committee must submit their response in writing. (Incorrect)

The committee must submit its response in writing. (Correct)

 

Schools are responsible for providing their students with accurate grades. (Incorrect)

Schools are responsible for providing its students with accurate grades. (Correct)

 

The committee expects to vote on their rules of engagement tonight.  (Incorrect)

The committee expects to vote on its rules of engagement tonight.  (Correct)

 

The Johnson family has their specials recipes that go back generations. (Incorrect)

The Johnson family has its specials recipes that go back generations. (Correct)

The MLCKRB (Master List Code Key and Rule Book): An English Grammar & Style Handbook by Jared Aragona, CC BY 4.0

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