The Grammar Doctor

Q. I know someone who claims it is not correct to say, for example: All the people in the building must take their seats. This person insists it is correct to say -all the people in the building must take his or her seat.

A. "All the people in the building must take their seats" is correct. "All the people in the building must take his or her seat" is not correct. "All" is a plural, so the pronoun that refers to it must also be plural (their).

If we change "all" to "each," then it would be correct to say, "Each of the people in the building must take his or her seat."


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