1. Plural Nouns:
* Example: The students are going on a trip. They packed their bags.
2. Unspecified Gender:
* Example: Someone left their phone on the table. (You don't know if it's a man's or a woman's phone)
3. Singular Nouns With Unknown Gender:
* Example: The person who won the lottery is taking their family on vacation.
4. Pronoun Use With "Each", "Everyone", "Someone", etc.:
* Example: Each student has to submit their own essay.
5. Singular Nouns that Represent Groups of People:
* Example: The team is celebrating their victory.
6. Use of "They" as a Singular Pronoun:
This is a relatively new usage, but it's gaining acceptance. It's used when someone identifies as non-binary or when you don't want to assume a person's gender.
* Example: The new employee requested a meeting with their supervisor.
Key Point: The use of "they" and "their" for a singular noun is becoming more common, especially in formal writing. However, it's important to be aware of the context and your audience's expectations.