His-Or-Her-Their | Commonly Confused Words

His or her

/hɪz ɔːr hɜːr/

A phrase used to indicate possession or relation involving both genders when the precise gender is unknown or unspecified.

/ðer/

Belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified

Their cat is fat.He awoke refreshed, and they continued their journey.I shall never forget the kind way their hands explored me.

This word has no antonyms

Use his or her when referring to an individual with a known gender that is male or female, but not both.
Their is used when the gender of the person is unknown or when referring to people of any gender in a singular context.
Their is widely accepted in modern English as a singular pronoun to promote gender neutrality.
While his or her may be more formal, their serves as a simpler, more inclusive option for mixed-gender groups.
Their is also useful in sentences where repeated gender-specific pronouns could become cumbersome.