he or she vs he/she

Both "he or she" and "he/she" are correct constructions used to refer to a person of unspecified gender. They are interchangeable and can be used based on personal preference or the context of the sentence.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 176 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a person of unspecified gender.

"he or she"

This phrase is used when the gender of the person being referred to is unknown or when the speaker wants to be inclusive of all genders.

Examples:

When a student submits their assignment, he or she should make sure to follow the guidelines.
He or she who hesitates is lost.
The winner will be he or she who finishes the race first.
He or she must be present at the meeting to discuss the project.
Each participant must bring his or her own materials to the workshop.

Show examples from the web [+]

Whatever he or she fears most.
Maybe he or she, then.
Now he or she is piggybacking her murder onto what happened to your parents.
If you engage an Active, then he or she...
Never accuse the depressed that he or she pretends to be sick or lethargic.
When he or she is assassinated.
When he or she rises to the occasion, audiences know it.
If your veterinarian suspects pituitary dwarfism, he or she may test adrenal and thyroid function.
If the employee needs income commensurate with a forty-hour week, he or she must sometimes take another job.
I think everybody in this world gets what he or she deserves.
Because he or she will get away with murder.
Only he or she knows for sure what has happened.
If only one person files, he or she is automatically the nominee.
If so, he or she receives the point.
Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task... he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands.
A lot, probably, if he or she is good.
Through the act of killing he or she compensates... their own lack of celebrity of importance.
Listen, if anyone commits a crime, no matter who you are, he or she should pay for it.
What he or she chooses to do, and how he or she chooses to do it, will matter a great deal to people everywhere.
And in many cases in case he or she does not, it may be better ones for the two of you if he or she survived longer.

Alternatives:

they
he/she/they
he or she or they
he or she/they
he or she/they/it

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a person of unspecified gender.

"he/she"

This phrase is used when the gender of the person being referred to is unknown or when the speaker wants to be inclusive of all genders.

Examples:

He/she who dares wins.
The candidate should bring his/her resume to the interview.
The winner will be he/she who completes the challenge first.
He/she must be present at the event to receive the award.
Each participant should bring his/her own lunch to the picnic.

Show examples from the web [+]

When a player runs out of money, or only has enough to see a portion of the stake, he/she can play all-in for the pot in which he/she made the bets.
when must he/she submit the thesis?
In particular, he/she shall ensure a balance between economic and non-economic interests.
This way, he/she will work more comfortably.
9.2. The User agrees that he/she is solely responsible for all use of the Service under his/her Login Credentials and that he/she shall not disclose the Login Credentials to any person whatsoever.
Likewise he/she shows a great appreciation for anything relating to Lasallian spirituality.
he/she must complete compulsory military or community service
A third-country national should not constitute any threat to the country where he/she is resident.
Upon request, he/she provides also financial data of the entity.
flight instruction in aircraft when he/she holds:
In duly warranted circumstances, he/she may open accounts in currencies other than the euro.
If not, he/she shall take the appropriate measures.
Each time he/she strikes a virtual key, a corresponding sound will be played.
Each time a climber completes the sequence he/she adds on another move.
Even if the viewer behaves reluctantly or even leaves, he/she continues participating actively.
Communicate to FAMI S.r.l. whether he/she wants to receive marketing information.
Automatically starts to monitor the user when he/she logs in.
Each Full Poster member may create polls as he/she likes.
the European Data Protection Supervisor if he/she considers that his/her rights
Should the contractual partner breach this condition, he/she shall lose his/her right of recourse.

Alternatives:

he or she
they
he/she/they
he or she or they
he or she/they/it

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he or she vs he/she

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