herhistheir

Herhistheir is a neologism used in discussions of gender and language to describe an inclusive approach to pronouns that foregrounds fluid or multi-faceted gender identities. The term combines three commonly used personal pronouns—her, his, and their—to signal that a single individual’s pronoun usage may not fit a single fixed form. In some accounts it is presented as a triadic or flexible pronoun framework rather than a single replacement pronoun.

Origin and scope: The coinage appears in contemporary debates on inclusive language and neopronouns, with references in academic articles, style discussions, and online communities. It is not recognized by major language authorities or standard style guides, and usage varies widely among communities and individuals.

Usage and practice: Advocates describe herhistheir as a tool to acknowledge gender diversity and to reduce prescriptive constraints on pronouns. Critics argue that it can introduce ambiguity, hinder readability, and complicate reference tracking, especially in formal writing. In practice, discussions emphasize consent and explicit acknowledgment of an individual’s preferred pronouns.

Examples: In discussions, writers illustrate the concept by presenting scenarios where pronoun choice may evolve or be shared among contexts, rather than enforcing a single form for every circumstance. Writers may also discuss how such frameworks interact with existing pronoun systems like they/them and he/she.

See also: Pronouns, Gender-neutral language, Neopronouns.