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Is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams?



 
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Is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams? #1 (permalink) Thu Jan 14, 2010 14:30 pm   Is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams?
 

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #703 "Pronoun Agreement (1)", question 3

Nobody should ever give up on ......... dreams.

(a) their
(b) our
(c) his/her

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #703 "Pronoun Agreement (1)", answer 3

Nobody should ever give up on his/her dreams.

Correct answer: (c) his/her

Your answer was: incorrect
Nobody should ever give up on their dreams.
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So you're saying it is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams?
VioletaNicoleta
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Is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams? #2 (permalink) Fri Jan 15, 2010 8:19 am   Is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams?
 

I'm afraid that the test writer thinks so. Unfortunately, it is no longer true. 'Their' is an acceptable singular pronoun without gender bias in all but the most formal composition, which this is not.
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Is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams? #3 (permalink) Fri Jan 15, 2010 9:32 am   Is correct to say: Nobody should give up on her dreams?
 

Hi VioletaNicoleta,

This seems to be to me a feminist answer to the test. You can just about imagine this being said to an audience of women only. Aside from that and also to avoid this his/her absurdity, I agree with Charles that 'their' is the acceptable choice.

Alan
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