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Old 01-Nov-2005, 20:00
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Default plural gender-neutral pronoun referent for an impersonal antecedent

Which of the following are correct standard English? -

(1) Someone who enters a church should remove their hat/hats.

(2) Everyone who enters a church should remove their hat/hats.

(3) Upon entering a church, someone should remove their hat/hats.

(4) Upon entering a church, everyone should remove their hat/hats.
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Old 02-Nov-2005, 03:08
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Default Re: plural gender-neutral pronoun referent for an impersonal antecedent

1&3- I'd use the singular
2&4 Again I'd use the singular, but in British English, where we worry less than the Americans about singular and plural, the plural would be fine.
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Old 17-May-2007, 06:10
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Default Re: plural gender-neutral pronoun referent for an impersonal antecedent

Since both everyone and someone are singular, I think the pronoun should be his.
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