What pronouns are encouraged in references?

• A. Skip a line
• B. They
• C. You
• D. We

Answer: (A)

Using inclusive language means choosing pronouns that don’t assume gender when referring to people in references. The recommended option is the singular they, used for a person when gender is unknown or when writing about people in general. This keeps the writing respectful and clear and aligns with contemporary style guides. Other pronouns like you or we shift the focus to the reader or to the author, which isn’t appropriate for referring to an individual or to people in general in this context. Gendered pronouns (he or she) can be inaccurate or exclusionary when gender isn’t specified. When possible, name the person or use a role (the engineer, the author) to avoid pronoun issues altogether. In practice, you might say: The reviewer explained the process, and they described the steps in detail. This demonstrates how they serves as a flexible, inclusive choice for references.