Title: Pronouns Author: WordPress.org Published: March 2, 2021 Last modified: April 5, 2021 --- # Pronouns ## In this article * [Personal pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#personal-pronouns) * [Pronouns and genders](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#pronouns-and-genders) * [Relative pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#relative-pronouns) * [Pronouns and collective nouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#pronouns-and-collective-nouns) * [Possessive pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#possessive-pronouns) * [Ambiguities using pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#ambiguities-using-pronouns) [↑ Back to top](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target) **Highlight:** Ensure that a pronoun clearly refers to its antecedent. A pronoun is a word that is used as a substitute for a noun or a noun phrase, which are contextually understood. Pronouns are used so that a particular noun isn’t repeatedly used. ## 󠀁[Personal pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#personal-pronouns)󠁿 Avoid using personal pronouns such as _I, we, us, our,_ and _ours_ except in the following contexts: * Questions in FAQs. * A document whose author makes comments in the first person. * Using _we_ to refer your organization or team, after using its name for the first time. Use second person (_you_) instead of first-person pronouns. ## 󠀁[Pronouns and genders](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#pronouns-and-genders)󠁿 Don’t use gender-specific pronouns unless the person being referred actually uses that gender. If you’re unsure which gender-specific pronoun to use, rewrite the sentence using second person (_you_). Use gender-neutral pronouns while particularly avoiding binary pronouns such as _he, him, she, her,_ or renditions like _s/he, he/she,_ or _(s)he_. Instead, use _they_ as a gender-neutral pronoun. First try to rewrite the sentence—for example, by using the plural form, omitting the pronoun, replacing the pronoun with an article, or repeating the noun. **Examples** **Not recommended:** Contact the administrator using his or her email address. **Recommended (Using the plural form):** Contact the administrator using their email address. **Recommended (Omitting the pronoun):** Contact the administrator by email address. **Recommended (Replacing pronoun with article):** Contact the administrator using an email address. **Recommended (Repeating the noun):** Contact the administrator using the administrator’s email address. If revising a sentence isn’t feasible, use _they, their,_ or _them_ as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. **Not recommended:** Once a visitor submits his or her comment, WordPress follows your preferences and either holds the comment for your approval or posts it immediately. **Recommended:** Once a visitor submits their comment, WordPress follows your preferences and either holds the comment for your approval, or posts it immediately. Whether used as singular or plural, _they_ always takes the plural verb. **Recommended:** When visitors comment on your blog, they too get cookies stored on their computer. For more guidelines about writing using gender-neutral pronouns, see [Writing about genders](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/general-guidelines/inclusivity/#writing-about-genders) and [they, their, them](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/word-list/t/#they-their-them). ## 󠀁[Relative pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#relative-pronouns)󠁿 Be careful while using relative pronouns such as _who, that_, and _which_. _That_ and _which_ don’t mean exactly the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. **Examples** **Not recommended:** The folder that is blue can be used. This sentence describes a specific blue folder that can be used. _That_ introduces a restrictive clause and isn’t preceded by a comma. **Recommended:** The folder, which is blue can be used. This sentence describes a blue folder from a group of folders can be used. _Which_ introduces a non-restrictive clause and is preceded by a comma. Use _who_ while referring to people instead of _that_. The possessive of _who_, _whose_ can also be used for people, animals, and things. **Examples** **Not recommended:** Contact the developer that fixed the error. **Recommended:** Contact the developer who fixed the error. **Recommended:** Refer the guide whose elements are cited. ## 󠀁[Pronouns and collective nouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#pronouns-and-collective-nouns)󠁿 Avoid using pronouns like _they_ for collective nouns. For example, _team_ would take a singular pronoun. Rewrite the sentence using the appropriate pronouns. ## 󠀁[Possessive pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#possessive-pronouns)󠁿 Don’t use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns. **Examples** **Not recommended:** The website is your’s. **Recommended:** The website is yours. ## 󠀁[Ambiguities using pronouns](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#ambiguities-using-pronouns)󠁿 Ensure that the pronoun you’re using is referencing its antecedent (the noun that it’s replacing) clearly. **Examples** **Not recommended:** Create a new post with the pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party.. You can see it on the blog page. **Recommended:** Create a new post with the pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party., You can see the post on the blog page. **Not recommended:** The WordPress codebase can be accessed using SubversionSVN Apache Subversion (often abbreviated SVN, after its command name svn) is a software versioning and revision control system. Software developers use Subversion to maintain current and historical versions of files such as source code, web pages, and documentation. Its goal is to be a mostly compatible successor to the widely used Concurrent Versions System (CVS). WordPress core and the wordpress.org released code are all centrally managed through SVN. https://subversion.apache.org/. and GitGit Git is a free and open source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. Git is easy to learn and has a tiny footprint with lightning fast performance. Most modern plugin and theme development is being done with this version control system. [https://git-scm.com/](https://git-scm.com/). Its repository is located at git://develop.git.wordpress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. [https://wordpress.org/](https://wordpress.org/)/. **Recommended:** The WordPress codebase can be accessed using SubversionSVN Apache Subversion (often abbreviated SVN, after its command name svn) is a software versioning and revision control system. Software developers use Subversion to maintain current and historical versions of files such as source code, web pages, and documentation. Its goal is to be a mostly compatible successor to the widely used Concurrent Versions System (CVS). WordPress core and the wordpress.org released code are all centrally managed through SVN. https://subversion.apache.org/. and GitGit Git is a free and open source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. Git is easy to learn and has a tiny footprint with lightning fast performance. Most modern plugin and theme development is being done with this version control system. [https://git-scm.com/](https://git-scm.com/). The git repository is located at git://develop.git.wordpress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. [https://wordpress.org/](https://wordpress.org/)/. **Not recommended:** Toggle this to _on._ **Recommended:** Toggle this button to _on._ Use optional pronouns, such as that and who, to avoid ambiguity and clarify meaning in sentences. **Examples** **Not recommended:** Create the new post you want to see on the blog page. **Recommended:** Create the new post that you want to see on the blog page. **Not recommended:** Select the file you want to copy. **Recommended:** Select the file that you want to copy. First published March 2, 2021 Last updated April 5, 2021 Edit article [ Improve it on GitHub: [article_title] ](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fdocs%2Fstyle-guide%2Flanguage-grammar%2Fpronouns%2F&locale=en_US) Changelog [ See list of changes: [article_title] ](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/pronouns/?output_format=md#) [ Previous: Prepositions](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/prepositions/) [ Next: Tense](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/style-guide/language-grammar/tense/)