Why 'their' doesn't match 'each player' and how to fix pronoun agreement in that sentence

Pronouns under the microscope: when “each” meets “their”

Let me ask you something simple: how often do you notice tiny word choices that change the clarity of a sentence? A lot of the time, it’s just a matter of pronouns following the noun they stand in for. Here’s a classic example that pops up in everyday writing and in PACT-style prompts:

• The coach asked each player to get their soccer ball.

Think about it for a moment. What’s off here, if anything? The backbone of the sentence is solid—the subject is “each player,” it’s clear who’s involved, and the action is straightforward. The part that trips people up is the pronoun “their.” Is it the right number and the right reference for “each player”?

The short answer: in traditional grammar, “each” is a singular subject. It wants a singular pronoun that matches in number and sense. “Their” is plural, so it feels like it doesn’t agree with the singular idea of “one player at a time.” So, many grammars flag this as a mismatch—the kind of detail that can slip past you in quick writing but stands out on closer inspection.

That said, there’s a nuance worth naming up front. In modern usage, many writers use singular they (they/them/their) to refer to a person when the gender is unknown or when the goal is casual clarity. Some style guides embrace this; others prefer a strictly singular pronoun like his or her. The upshot: the “correctness” of “their” here depends on the style you’re following and the tone you want. If you’re aiming for formal, traditional agreement, his or her is the cleanest match. If you’re aiming for natural, inclusive everyday language, singular they is a practical option. In everyday writing, many readers don’t bat an eyelash at either approach.

Let’s unpack this a bit more and connect it to broader writing habits.

Two clean ways to fix that sentence

If you want the sentence to read as grammatically tight in a formal sense, you’ve got a couple of straightforward routes:

• Use a singular pronoun that mirrors each player:

The coach asked each player to get his or her soccer ball.

This keeps number agreement crystal clear and avoids ambiguity.

• Rework the sentence to keep pronoun use plural (or remove the pronoun entirely):

The coach asked the players to get their soccer balls.

This switches the subject to a plural one, so “their” naturally fits.

You also have a more concise rewrite that stays in the same spirit:

• The coach asked each player to get a soccer ball.

This one sidesteps the pronoun entirely by making the object singular, which often reads smoothly in everyday writing.

Now, what about singular they? If you’re writing for a medium that accepts contemporary usage and you want to avoid gendered phrasing, you can write:

• The coach asked each player to get their soccer ball.

Here, “their” acts as a gender-neutral singular pronoun. It can be perfectly acceptable, especially in less formal contexts. The key is consistency: if you start using singular they, keep that choice steady throughout the piece.

A quick note on tone and audience

In the world of PACT-style prompts and real-world writing tasks, you’ll encounter pronoun decisions at many scales—from a single sentence in a memo to a paragraph in a student essay. The choice between his or her, singular they, or a structural rewrite often hinges on two things: the audience and the level of formality you’re aiming for.

• For professional or academic contexts where precision matters, many editors favor the traditional singular pronoun (his or her) or a rewrite that eliminates ambiguity.

• For blogs, newsletters, or conversational essays, singular they can be a practical, inclusive choice—so long as you’re consistent and clear.

In practice, readers tend to forgive a small deviation if the meaning remains crystal clear and the tone is appropriate.

A few more examples to illustrate the idea

Practice makes better, right? Here are some similar sentences showing how pronouns line up with their nouns. See how the number and gender cues guide the pronoun choice:

• Each student must bring their own device. (informal, using singular they)

• Each student must bring his or her device. (formal, singular pronoun)

• The team submitted its report on time. (collective noun with singular possessive)

• The teams submitted their reports on time. (plural teams)

Notice how the underlying principle stays steady: the pronoun should reflect the noun it stands in for. If the noun is singular, the pronoun should be singular—or you should rewrite to remove the pronoun altogether.

Common traps to watch for in everyday writing

• Double-check the antecedent. If you start with “each,” “every,” or “one,” pause to confirm whether a singular or plural pronoun is more natural for your audience.

• Don’t let a mixed group trip you up. If you’ve got a sentence like “The committee have decided…” you’ll notice a clash between a plural verb and a singular or plural sense. A quick swap to “The committee has decided” resolves it.

• Don’t assume readers infer gender. If you can avoid implying gender, you’ll often keep sentences smoother and more inclusive.

A small exercise you can try

Here are four quick prompts. Pick the option that keeps subject-pronoun agreement clean, then compare with how you’d phrase the sentence if you were aiming for a more casual tone.

1. The coach asked each player to get his or her soccer ball. A) each player B) their C) to get D) soccer ball

2. The librarian asked each patron to return their book by noon. A) each B) patron C) their D) book

3. The referee explained that each team must present its plan. A) Each B) team C) its D) plan

4. The teacher handed out worksheets to each student to finish their assignment. A) each B) student C) their D) assignment

If you picked the singular pronoun options in 1 and 3, you’re aligning with traditional grammar. If you chose “their” in 2 or 4 and your audience accepts singular they, you’re leaning into contemporary usage. Either path can work, depending on your goals and readers.

Ways to sharpen your pronoun sense in daily writing

• Read aloud to spot rhythm and flow. If a sentence sounds oddly heavy or repetitive, a pronoun swap might help.

• When in doubt, rewrite to reduce pronoun use. Sometimes replacing a pronoun with a noun or reshaping the sentence is the clearest fix.

• Keep a mental dictionary of pronoun rules. The basic idea is simple: let the pronoun agree with the noun it replaces in number and, when relevant, gender.

Why this tiny detail matters

Pronoun choice matters because it shapes clarity and trust. Readers shouldn’t have to pause to figure out who or what a pronoun refers to. In many contexts, a straightforward pronoun-antecedent match is the unsung hero of crisp writing. And yes, a small choice like this—whether to use their or his or her—can ripple through a paragraph, then through an essay, and finally into the impression a reader walks away with.

A nod to real-world usage

In classrooms, on campus pages, and in community newsletters, you’ll see a mix of approaches. Some editors still prefer classic agreement; others adopt inclusive language as a default. The best approach is to know your audience, pick a consistent standard, and apply it with care. When you do that, your writing becomes more predictable—and predictability is a good thing when you want your ideas to land.

Let me connect the dots, nicely

• The sentence about the coach and the soccer ball is a perfect case study in subject-pronoun agreement. It’s a reminder that small words carry big responsibility for clarity.

• The fix isn’t a punishment or a trick; it’s a choice. You can honor traditional agreement with his or her, adopt inclusive singular they for a modern tone, or restructure to avoid pronouns altogether.

• The key is consistency and audience-awareness. A sentence that’s clear to a high school reader might still feel stiff to a professional editor, and vice versa.

A few final reflections

Pronouns aren’t flashy punctuation. They’re the signposts that guide readers through what you’re trying to say. In sports analogies, they’re the players on the field—every one of them has a role, and when one is out of place, the play loses its flow. In writing, when a pronoun doesn’t quite match its antecedent, readers feel that tiny stumble before they catch the meaning again.

If you’re ever unsure, try these quick checks:

• Identify the main noun (the antecedent) and ask, “Is it singular or plural?”

• Pick a pronoun that matches in number (and consider gender if you’re aiming for formal accuracy).

• If the sentence feels clunky, rewrite to trim pronouns or reframe the sentence.

The coach and the ball, the players and their balls, the student and their device—these are everyday scenarios where pronoun choices matter. By paying attention to number, consistency, and audience expectations, you’ll write with greater clarity and confidence.

If you want to keep exploring this topic, you’ll find more examples like this in the PACT-inspired prompts and related writing tasks. The more you notice these small-but-important details in real-world sentences, the more natural your own writing will sound—and that kind of fluency is what separates good writing from really good writing.