Which version uses gender-neutral language?

Which version uses gender-neutral language?

• A. A presidential candidate will usually focus more of his attention on swing states.
• B. A presidential candidate will usually focus more of his attention on swing states for both parties.
• C. A presidential candidate will usually focus more of their attention on swing states.
• D. A presidential candidate will usually focus more of his attention on swing states and spend more money.

Answer: (C)

Using gender-neutral language means choosing pronouns that don’t specify a gender. In this sentence, replacing a gendered pronoun with a neutral one lets the statement apply to any candidate, whether male, female, or nonbinary. The singular pronoun their (as in their attention) is widely accepted in modern English to refer to a single person when gender is unknown or general. This keeps the sentence inclusive without changing the meaning. The other versions still rely on his, which signals male gender and excludes others. One option also adds extra information about spending money, which isn’t about making the language inclusive. The key idea is that their provides gender neutrality while keeping the sentence coherent.

Using gender-neutral language means choosing pronouns that don’t specify a gender. In this sentence, replacing a gendered pronoun with a neutral one lets the statement apply to any candidate, whether male, female, or nonbinary. The singular pronoun their (as in their attention) is widely accepted in modern English to refer to a single person when gender is unknown or general. This keeps the sentence inclusive without changing the meaning.

The other versions still rely on his, which signals male gender and excludes others. One option also adds extra information about spending money, which isn’t about making the language inclusive. The key idea is that their provides gender neutrality while keeping the sentence coherent.