Send an invitation and let the user create their own password
In this sentence user is singular, and their is plural. So I am confused whether this sentence is correct or not.
Is this sentence correct? If not how can I correct it?
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tchrist
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Gunaseelan
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This is a case of singular "their". A good post about this is http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/48/is-there-a-correct-gender-neutral-singular-pronoun-his-versus-her-versus . Another good place to look is Language Log http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=89 the link I'm providing isn't perfect but searching around on LL will find you many more examples. In summary singular they/their used as a gender neutral pronoun is perfectly acceptable according to most linguists. There are some grammarians that might still object though. – DRF Aug 21 '15 at 12:24
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Your premise that their must be “plural” is completely incorrect, and whatever book you read that in should be consigned to the pyre. It is utterly common to use their with a singular referent, just as it is utterly common to use your with a singular referent — as you yourself I’m sure will clearly see. – tchrist Aug 21 '15 at 12:43
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You is also "plural" (and takes plural verb agreement), but somehow we forgot to notice that about 300 years ago. Silly us. – John Lawler Aug 21 '15 at 13:06