them

them
them
1. see they.
2. Use of them as a demonstrative pronoun and adjective is non-standard or dialectal in current English:

• Them's my sentiments —E. M. Forster, 1924

• I didn't know much about planes in them days —P. McCabe, 1992.

————————
they, them, their
These three pronouns have all been used since the 16c to refer back to a singular pronoun, especially an indefinite pronoun such as anyone, everyone, nobody, someone, etc.:

• If someone walks across it, they interrupt the beam —P. Niesewand, 1979

• It could be you, your sister or your girlfriend who tries to abandon their child next —Big Issue, 1998

• Before you entrust your children to a babysitter, ask them into your home so that you can talk over what's involved in the job —BUPA Factsheet, 2004 [OEC].

The value of this device has been enhanced in recent years by its validity as a gender-neutral option in place of more awkward conventions such as he or she, his or her, etc. For a fuller discussion of this issue see gender-neutrality.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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