Editing Singular they (section)

====Use with a generic noun as antecedent====
The singular antecedent can also be a noun such as ''person'', ''patient'', or ''student'':
* With a noun (e.g. person, student, patient) used generically (e.g. in the sense of any member of that class or a specific member unknown to the speaker or writer)
{{blockquote|"cognitive dissonance: "a concept in psychology [that] describes the condition in which ''a person's'' attitudes conflict with ''their'' behaviour".|source=''Macmillan Dictionary of Business and Management'' (1988), as cited by Garner.{{sfn|Garner|2003|p=175}}}}
{{blockquote|"A starting point would be to give more support to ''the company secretary''. ''They'' are, or should be, privy to the confidential deliberations and secrets of the board and the company.|author=Ronald Severn|source="Protecting the Secretary Bird". ''Financial Times'', 6 January 1992; quoted by Garner.{{sfn|Garner|2003|p=175}}}}
* With representatives of a class previously referred to in the singular
{{blockindent|"I had to decide: Is ''this person'' being irrational or is he right? Of course, ''they'' were often right."|author=Robert Burchfield|source=''U.S. News & World Report'' 11 August 1986, as cited in ''Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage''{{sfn|Merriam-Webster|2002|p=734}}}}
Even when referring to a class of persons of known sex, ''they'' is sometimes used:{{sfn|Newman|1998}}
{{blockindent|"I swear more when I'm talking to ''a boy'', because I'm not afraid of shocking ''them''". From an interview.{{sfn|Swan|2009|loc=§528}}}}
{{blockindent|"''No mother'' should be forced to testify against ''their'' child".}}
''They'' may also be used with antecedents of mixed genders:
{{blockindent|"Let me know if ''your father or your mother'' changes ''their'' mind." Example given by Huddleston et al.{{sfn|Huddleston|Pullum|2002|p=493}}}}
{{blockindent|"Either ''the husband or the wife'' has perjured ''themself''." Here ''themself'' might be acceptable to some, ''themselves'' seems less acceptable, and ''himself'' is unacceptable. Example given by Huddleston et al.{{sfn|Huddleston|Pullum|2002|p=493}}}}
Even for a definite known person of known sex, ''they'' may be used in order to ignore or conceal the sex.
{{blockindent|"I had ''a friend'' in Paris, and ''they'' had to go to hospital for a month." (definite person, not identified){{sfn|Swan|2009|loc=§528}}}}
The word ''themself'' is also sometimes used when the antecedent is known or believed to be a single person.
{{blockindent|"''Someone'' has apparently locked ''themself'' in the office."[acceptability questionable]{{sfn|Huddleston|Pullum|2002|p=493}}}}