Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement with 'each'?

Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement with 'each'?

• A. Each student must bring their notebook.
• B. Every student must bring his notebook.
• C. Each student must bring his or her notebook.
• D. Each student must bring their notebooks.

Answer: (C)

When a sentence uses each or every, the pronoun referring back must be singular to match the singular subject. So the natural choice is to pair the singular antecedent with a pronoun that covers any gender. Therefore, each student must bring his or her notebook. Here, “each student” is singular, and “notebook” is singular, so the pronoun must be singular as well; “his or her” achieves this while remaining gender-inclusive. Using a plural pronoun like their would clash with the singular subject in traditional grammar, and making the pronoun gender-specific (his) excludes either gender. Choosing notebooks instead of notebook would also introduce a mismatch in number for a sentence built around a single item per student.

When a sentence uses each or every, the pronoun referring back must be singular to match the singular subject. So the natural choice is to pair the singular antecedent with a pronoun that covers any gender. Therefore, each student must bring his or her notebook. Here, “each student” is singular, and “notebook” is singular, so the pronoun must be singular as well; “his or her” achieves this while remaining gender-inclusive. Using a plural pronoun like their would clash with the singular subject in traditional grammar, and making the pronoun gender-specific (his) excludes either gender. Choosing notebooks instead of notebook would also introduce a mismatch in number for a sentence built around a single item per student.