Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?

• A. Each student submitted their assignment on time.
• B. Each student submitted his or her assignments on time.
• C. Each student submitted his or her assignment on time.
• D. Each student submitted his or their assignment on time.

Answer: (C)

When a determiner like each signals a single item at a time, the pronoun that refers back to the noun must also be singular. Here, each student is a single person, so the pronoun should match in number and not assume gender. Using his or her keeps the pronoun singular and gender-neutral, while keeping the noun it refers to as singular as well with assignment. Using their would treat the pronoun as plural, which clashes with the singular idea of each student. Using assignments would make the object plural, changing the meaning from one assignment per student to multiple assignments per student. Mixing he or their also breaks the agreement by combining a singular subject with a nonmatching pronoun. So the sentence that uses his or her with a singular assignment correctly aligns the pronoun with the antecedent and preserves number throughout the sentence.

When a determiner like each signals a single item at a time, the pronoun that refers back to the noun must also be singular. Here, each student is a single person, so the pronoun should match in number and not assume gender. Using his or her keeps the pronoun singular and gender-neutral, while keeping the noun it refers to as singular as well with assignment.

Using their would treat the pronoun as plural, which clashes with the singular idea of each student. Using assignments would make the object plural, changing the meaning from one assignment per student to multiple assignments per student. Mixing he or their also breaks the agreement by combining a singular subject with a nonmatching pronoun.

So the sentence that uses his or her with a singular assignment correctly aligns the pronoun with the antecedent and preserves number throughout the sentence.