his or her
fixed phr..fixed phr.. A phrase used to show something belongs to a person when you don't know if they are a man or a woman. It includes both possibilities.
fixed phr.. A coordinated determiner phrase indicating possession by a singular antecedent of unspecified gender. It is a formal, gender-explicit alternative to the singular 'their'.
Each student needs his or her book.
The winner will have his or her name engraved on the trophy for everyone to see.
Every signatory to the agreement is bound by its terms and must fulfill his or her obligations accordingly.
This phrase is common in formal or legal writing; singular 'their' is often preferred in everyday speech.
Contrast 'his or her' with the increasingly common singular 'their,' explaining that the former is more traditional and formal while the latter is more modern and efficient.
Each person must do his and her part.Each person must do his or her part.The conjunction must be 'or', not 'and', because it refers to one person of either gender.