Office Settings & Configuration

Why Microsoft Word Does Not Recognize Singular They and Them

Bushra Parveen Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

Microsoft Word's grammar checker flags the singular use of 'they' and 'them' as grammatical errors.

Why Microsoft Word Does Not Recognize Singular They and Them

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Writing documents using modern gender-neutral pronouns.
Observed behavior: The grammar checker incorrectly identifies singular 'they' and 'them' as errors and prompts the user to correct them.

Before you start

Understand that language usage evolves faster than software rules. Singular 'they' is grammatically correct in modern English, so you will need to manually bypass these software warnings.

Solution 1Recommended

Ignore the Warning and Submit Feedback

Since this is a limitation in Word's built-in grammar rules, the best approach is to ignore the incorrect flag and report the issue to the developers.

Software grammar engines rely on rigid rulesets that often lag behind modern style guides (like APA or Chicago) which endorse singular 'they'. By providing feedback, you help prioritize updates to the grammar checker.

Review the suggestion

When Word underlines 'they' or 'them' in blue or red, right-click the underlined word to review the grammar correction suggested by the software.

Ignore the rule

Select 'Ignore Once' or 'Ignore Grammar' from the context menu to remove the error underline, acknowledging that the singular usage is intentional.

Submit feedback to Microsoft

Go to 'Help' > 'Feedback' in the top ribbon and select 'I have a suggestion'. Request better support for singular gender-neutral pronouns so the development team can improve future updates.

Evolution of Grammar: English usage changes over time. Until the grammar engine is fully updated to contextualize singular they/them, ignoring the rule is the standard workaround.

Solution 2

Adjust Grammar and Refinement Settings

You can customize Word's grammar checker to stop checking for specific pronoun agreement rules if the flags become too disruptive to your writing flow.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is singular 'they' grammatically correct in formal writing?

Yes. In modern English usage, singular 'they' and 'them' are widely accepted by major style guides, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, especially when referring to a person whose gender is unknown or who prefers gender-neutral pronouns.

Will Microsoft update Word to recognize singular 'they'?

Microsoft continuously updates its grammar engine based on user feedback and evolving language standards. Using the Help > Feedback tool directly alerts the development team to prioritize these language updates.

Can I turn off the grammar checker completely in Word?

Yes. You can disable it by going to File > Options > Proofing and unchecking 'Mark grammar errors as you type'. This stops Word from placing blue or green squiggly lines under words.

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