ticoAg/ChineseCorpus-Kaggle-fanti huggingface dataset:
* Caesar: "No, Cleopatra. ''No man'' goes to battle to be killed."
: Cleopatra: "But ''they'' do get killed"
:—Shaw,  ''Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1901);引用自《Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage》。
* "''A person'' can't help ''their'' birth."— W. M. Thackeray, ''Vanity Fair'' (1848);引用自《Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage》。
同時，除了使用they，使用代詞he作為（據稱的）性別中性代詞也被認可，如下所述：
* "Suppose the life and fortune of ''every one of us'' would depend on ''his'' winning or losing a game of chess."— Thomas Huxley, ''A Liberal Education'' (1868);引自Baskervill.
* "If ''any one'' did not know it, it was ''his'' own fault."— George Washington Cable, ''Old Creole Days'' (1879);引自Baskervill.
* "''No one'' shall be arbitrarily deprived of ''his'' nationality nor denied the right to change ''his'' nationality."— Article 15, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
在威廉·梅克比斯·薩克雷的著作中，兩個都出現過：
* "''A person'' can't help ''their'' birth."—Rosalind in W. M. Thackeray,  ''Vanity Fair'' (1848);引用自《牛津英語詞典》于Curzan在《Gender Shifts in the History of English》。
* "''Every person'' who turns this page has ''his'' own little diary."— W. M. Thackeray,  ''On Lett's Diary'' (1869);引用自Baskervill, 《An English Grammar》。
并且威廉·卡克斯頓寫道：
* "''Eche of theym'' sholde . . . make ''theymselfe'' redy."— Caxton,  《Sonnes of Aymon》 (c.&nbsp;1489)
* "''Who'' of thise wormes shall be byten, ''He'' must have triacle; Yf not that, ''he'' shall deye."— Caxton,  《Dialogues in French and English》 (c.&nbsp;1483).
在非正式英語中使用he而非they的用法的倡導，可以在18世紀中葉找到，在的《A New Grammar》中寫道：
1895年的語法（Baskervill, W.M.與Sewell, J.W.的《An English Grammar for the Use of High School, Academy and College Class》）標記了單數they的通用的用法，但是推薦用性別通用he，基于數協議：
Baskervill給出了知名作家的使用單數they的一些例子，包括
* "''Every one'' must judge according to ''their'' own feelings."— Byron, ''Werner'' (1823), quoted as "''Every one'' must judge of sic  ''their'' own feelings."
* "Had the Doctor been contented to take my dining tables as ''any body'' in ''their'' senses would have done . . ."— Austen, ''Mansfield Park'' (1814);
* "If the part deserve any comment, every considering ''Christian'' will make it to ''themselves'' as ''they'' go . . ."— Defoe, ''The Family Instructor'' (1816);
* "''Every person's'' happiness depends in part upon the respect ''they'' meet in the world . . ."— Paley,
但是他更喜歡使用he：
—Baskervill,  An English Grammar
1850年，英國議會通過了一個法案，其中說了，在議會的法案中使用的時候“陽性詞必須被視為包括女性”。
據稱的性別中性的he的用法直到至少20世紀60年代還能用，雖然有一些he的用法后來因笨拙或愚蠢而被批評，例如指代：
** "the ideal that ''every boy and girl'' should be so equipped that he shall not be handicapped in ''his'' struggle for social progress . . ."— C.C. Fries,  ''American English Grammar'', (1940).
** "She and Louis had a game—who could find the ugliest photograph of himself."— Joseph P. Lash,  ''Eleanor and Franklin'' (1971)
* 或者明顯可以假設為女人的不確定的人：
** ". . . ''everyone'' will be entitled to decide for ''himself'' whether or not to have an abortion."— Albert Bleumenthal,  N.Y. State Assembly (1975).
當代著作在指代性別通用或不確定的前面出現的詞的時候，有時還是可以看到使用he。
有時指代的人幾乎可以確定為男的，例如
* "The patient should be informed of his therapeutic options."— 關于前列腺癌的文本 (2004)
有時前面出現的詞指代的人''很可能''只是男的或者這種職業傳統上只有男性人員：
* "It wouldn't be as if ''the lone astronaut'' would be completely by ''himself''." (2008)
* "Kitchen table issues . . .  are ones ''the next president'' can actually do something about if ''he'' actually cares about it. More likely if she cares about it!"— Hillary Rodham Clinton (2008)
還有其它情況，前面的詞可能指代：
* 一個不確定的人，兩個性別都有可能：
** "Now, a writer is entitled to have a Roget on ''his'' desk."—Barzun (1985); quoted in ''Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage''
** "Theyre going to appoint a new manager. Well I hope ''he'' does a better job than the present one."
** "A Member of Parliament should always live in ''his'' constituency."
甚至在2010年，還是可以發現性別通用he的建議：
: " . . . 當不定代詞在前面使用時，需要一個''單數''的主格、賓格與物主代詞 . . ."
:* "''Everyone'' did as ''he'' pleased" . . .
: "在非正式口語中，復數代詞經常被用于當前面的詞不確定的時候。但是這種結構現在一般不合適用于正式發言或者書面上。
::: 非正式： ''Somebody'' should let you borrow ''their'' book.
:::: 正式： ''Somebody'' should let you borrow ''his'' book."
::&nbsp;—Choy, Basic Grammar and Usage
在20世紀的下半個世紀，女權主義者關注“性別歧視主義”的男性導向式語言。不但包括man性別通用，而且包括he作為性別通用代詞。
爭論點是he不能明智地作為性別通用代詞，包括男人與女人。
William Safire在他的《紐約時報》的 On Language 專欄上贊同了性別通用he，提及口訣“男性包羅女性”。
Brooklyn的C. Adendyck對《紐約時報》寫了一個回復：
1980年，運動受到廣泛支持，許多組織，包括絕大多數出版社，都發行了性別中性語言的使用指南。
在一些情況，可能知道個體但卻用they來指代，因為性別未知或者因為他/她偏愛使用they，例如社會媒體應用，可能允許賬號持有者來選擇非常規性別例如性別酷兒或雙性別和一個代詞，包括他們可能愿意使用的they/them。
自從20世紀60年代以來，在書面語和口語中使用陽性通用名詞和代詞的頻率就在一減少。20世紀90年代在澳大利亞收集的自發講話語料庫中，單數''they''變最頻繁使用的通用代詞。單數''they''的使用上升的原因，至少是部分原因，是性別中性語言的使用的增長。一百年前的作者用''he''作為不確定性別的指代時可能沒有顧慮，但是如今的作者經常會感覺這么用不自在。在正式場合的一種方案通常是寫''he or she''或者其它類似的，但是過度使用這種方式感覺很別扭，或者感覺很政治正確，或者都有。
當代用法中，單數''they''常被用于指定性別不確定的先行詞，至少有一些人這么用，例如當先行詞的性別或數量不確定、未知或未揭露的時候。
例子包括不同類型的用法。
單數先行詞可以是一個代詞，例如everybody、someone、anybody或者疑問代詞例如who：
* 先行詞為''everybody''、''everyone''等等：
** "''Everybody'' was crouched behind the furniture to surprise me, and ''they'' tried to. But I already knew ''they'' were there." Garner提供的例子。
** "''Everyone'' promised to behave ''themselves''." Huddleston等人提供的例子。
** "''Everyone'' returned to ''their'' seats." Pinker提供的例子。
*  先行詞為''nobody''或''no one''：
** "''Nobody'' was late, were ''they''?" Swan提供的例子。
** "''No one'' put ''their'' hand up." Huddleston等人提供的例子。
** "''No one'' felt ''they'' had been misled." Huddleston等人提供的例子。
* 先行詞為''somebody''或''someone''：
** "I feel that if ''someone'' is not doing ''their'' job it should be called to ''their'' attention." —— 一份美國的報紙（1984），Fowler引用。
* 先行詞為''anybody''或''anyone'':
** "If ''anyone'' tells you that America's best days are behind her, then ''theyre looking the wrong way." 喬治·布什總統, 1991年國情咨文; quoted by Garner
** "''Anyone'' can set ''themselves'' up as an acupuncturist."——Sarah Lonsdale "Sharp Practice Pricks Reputation of Acupuncture." 《觀察者》1991年12月15日，Garner引用。
** "If ''anybody'' calls, take ''their'' name and ask ''them'' to call again later." Swan提供的例子。
* 甚至在性別已知或者可以假定的情況下：
** "Under new rules to be announced tomorrow, it will be illegal for ''anyone'' to donate an organ to ''their'' wife." Ballantyne, "Transplant Jury to Vet Live Donors", 《星期日泰晤士報》（倫敦）1990年3月25日，Garner引用。 (1990年，妻子可以假定為女性)
** "''Who'' thinks ''they'' can solve the problem?". Huddleston等人提供的例子， 《劍橋英語語法》（''The Cambridge Grammar of the English language''）。
單數先行詞也可以是一個名詞，例如''person''（個人）、''patient''（病人）或''student''（學生）：
* 先詞先為名詞（例如person、student或patient），泛稱使用（例如表示這個類型中的任意一位成員的含義的時候，或者筆者不知道指定的某一個成員）
** ". . . if ''the child'' possesses the nationality or citizenship of another country, ''they'' may lose this when ''they'' get a British passport." 來自英國護照申請表，Swan引用。
** "cognitive dissonance: "a concept in psychology that describes the condition in which ''a person's'' attitudes conflict with ''their'' behaviour"——《麥克米倫商業管理學詞典》（Macmillan Dictionary of Business and management） (1988年版)， Garner引用。
** "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.— Ronald Severn. "Protecting the Secretary Bird". 《金融時報》，1992年1月6日，Garner引用。
* 先行詞代表前面提及的一類人的泛稱，并且是單數形式
** "I had to decide: Is ''this person'' being irrational or is he right? Of course, ''they'' were often right."——Robert Burchfield，《美國新聞與世界報道》（U.S. News & World Report），1986年8月11日，《韋氏簡明英語用法詞典》（Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage）引用
*甚至指代的一類人是已知性別的，有時也用''they''
** "I swear more when I'm talking to ''a boy'', because I'm not afraid of shocking ''them''" 引自一個訪談
** "''No mother'' should be forced to testify against ''their'' child''".
* ''They''也可以用于混合性別的先行詞：
** "Let me know if ''your father or your mother'' changes ''their'' mind." Huddleston提供的例子。
** "Either ''the husband or the wife'' has perjured ''themself''."這里''themself''被部分人接受，''themselves''似乎不那么被接受，''himself''是不可接受的。Huddleston等人提供的例子。
* 甚至對于確定的已知性別的已知的人，''they''也可以用于忽略或隱藏性別。
** "I had ''a friend'' in Paris, and ''they'' had to go to hospital for a month."（確定的人，但沒指明身份）
* ''themself''一詞有時也被使用：
** "''Someone'' has apparently locked ''themself'' in the office."接受度值得懷疑
有些人比其他人有更大的被接受度，在某些情況下嘗試用（形態上）單數代詞來替換''they''會得到荒唐的結果，可以用上面的例子驗證。
雖然性別通用''he''和性別通用''they''作為單數代詞使用有很長的一段歷史了，并且它們至今都依然還在使用中，但是它們還是一直被部分人群系統化地避免使用。
防止表述偏袒任何一方的風格指引有時建議把這些通用的表達重新表述為復數形式來避免被任何一方指責。
單數''they''的使用在英國英語中比在美國英語中更加被廣泛接受 or vice versa.
一性用法指引我們接受被建議''they''的單數用法并不是僅僅是用于語義復數的單數詞例如everyone，而且也用于前面指代的不確定的“個人”，這些用法的例子甚至常出現在正式演講中。例如，Casey Miller和Kate Swift，在《無性別歧視寫作手冊》（The Handbook of Non-Sexist Writing）， Ronald Reagan引用：
* "You must identify ''the person'' who has the power to hire you and show ''them'' how your skills can help ''them'' with ''their'' problems."
''Garner's Modern American Usage'' (2003)推薦小心使用單數''they''，并且盡可能避免使用，因為這么用有點別扭。
* "如果名詞–代詞不一致性可以避免，盡量避免。如果不可以避免，盡可能小心使用，因為有人會懷疑你的文化水平 . . .".
Garner認為單數''they''的使用在英國英語中的接受度更大一些：
* "美國英語使用者比英國英語使用者更不能接受這種變化，美國人覺得不確定的''they''已經是越來越不標準化。"
并且美國英語使用者顯然抵制這種變化:
* "它讓許多有文化的美國人望而卻步，這不幸地對問題的最終解決方案造成了障礙。"
他將使用單數they和everyone，anyone和somebody等先行詞的趨勢視為不可避免的:
* "盡管這些發展對純粹主義者來說可能令人不安，但它們是不可逆轉的。 語法學家所說的一切都不會改變它們。"
In the 14th edition (1993) of ''The Chicago Manual of Style'', the University of Chicago Press explicitly recommended use of singular use of ''they'' and ''their'', noting a "revival" of this usage and citing "its venerable use by such writers as Addison, Austen, Chesterfield, Fielding, Ruskin, Scott, and Shakespeare."
From the 15th edition, this was changed. In Chapter 5 of the 16th edition, now written by Bryan A. Garner, the recommendations are:
: "The singular ''they''. A singular antecedent requires a singular referent pronoun. Because ''he'' is no longer accepted as a generic pronoun referring to a person of either sex, it has become common in speech and in informal writing to substitute the third-person plural pronouns ''they'', ''them'', ''their'', and ''themselves'', and the nonstandard singular ''themself''. While this usage is accepted in casual context, it is still considered ungrammatical in formal writing."
: "Gender bias. . . . On the one hand, it is unacceptable to a great many reasonable readers to use the generic masculine pronoun (''he'' in reference to no one in particular). On the other hand, it is unacceptable to a great many readers (often different readers) either to resort to non-traditional gimmicks to avoid the generic masculine (by using ''he/she'' of ''s/he'', for example) or to use ''they'' as a kind of singular pronoun. Either way, credibility is lost with some readers."
According to ''The American Heritage Book of English Usage'', many Americans avoid use of ''they'' to refer to a singular antecedent out of respect for a "traditional" grammatical rule, despite use of singular ''they'' by modern writers of note and mainstream publications:
:*"Most of the Usage Panel rejects the use of ''they'' with singular antecedents as ungrammatical, even in informal speech. Eighty-two percent find the sentence ''The typical student in the program takes about six years to complete their course work'' unacceptable. . . . panel members seem to make a distinction between singular nouns, such as ''the typical student'' and ''a person'', and pronouns that are grammatically singular but semantically plural, such as ''anyone'', ''everyone'' and ''no one''. Sixty-four percent of panel members accept the sentence ''No one is willing to work for those wages anymore, are they?''"
The ''Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association'' explicitly reject the use of singular ''they'' and gives the following example as "incorrect" usage:
* "''Neither'' the highest scorer nor the lowest scorer in the group had any doubt about ''their'' competence."
while also specifically taking a stand that generic ''he'' is unacceptable. The APA recommends using ''he or she'', recasting the sentence with a plural subject to allow correct use of ''they'', or simply rewriting the sentence to avoid issues with gender or number.
Strunk & White, the authors of ''The Elements of Style'' find use of ''they'' with a singular antecedent unacceptable:
: "They. Not to be used when the antecedent is a distributive expression, such as ''each'', ''each one''. ''everybody'', ''every one'', ''many a man''. Use the singular pronoun. . . .  A similar fault is the use of the plural pronoun with the antecedent ''anybody'', ''anyone'', ''somebody'', ''someone'' . . .  The use of ''he'' as pronoun for nouns embracing both genders is a simple, practical convention rooted in the beginnings of the English language. "
Their assessment, in 1979, was
: "''He'' has lost all suggestion of maleness in these circumstances. . . . It has no pejorative connotation; it is never incorrect."
Joseph M. Williams, who wrote a number of books on writing with "clarity and grace", discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various solutions when faced with the problem of referring to an antecedent such as ''someone'', ''everyone'', ''no one'' or a noun that does not indicate gender and suggests that this will continue to be a problem for some time. He "suspects that eventually we will accept the plural ''they'' as a correct singular" but states that currently "formal usage requires a singular pronoun".
According to ''The Little, Brown Handbook'', most experts—and some teachers and employers—find use of singular ''they'' unacceptable:
: "Although some experts accept ''they'', ''them'', and ''their'' with singular indefinite words, most do not, and many teachers and employers regard the plural as incorrect. To be safe, work for agreement between singular indefinite words and the pronouns that refer to them . . . "
It recommends using ''he or she'' or avoiding the problem by rewriting the sentence to use a plural or omit the pronoun.
The ''Purdue Online Writing Lab'' (OWL) maintains that singular ''they'' is incorrect:
: "Remember: the words ''everybody'', ''anybody'', ''anyone'', ''each'', ''neither'', ''nobody'', ''someone'', ''a person'', etc. are singular and take singular pronouns."
In the first edition of ''A Dictionary of Modern English Usage'' (published in 1926) it is stated that singular ''they'' is disapproved of by grammarians and should be avoided in favour of  the generic ''he''. Examples of its use by eminent writers are given, but it is suggested that "few good modern writers would flout grammarians so conspicuously as Fielding and Thackeray", whose sentences are described as having an "old-fashioned sound".
In the second edition of Fowler's, ''Fowler's Modern English Usage'' (edited by Sir Ernest Gowers and published in 1965), it is stated that  singular ''they'' is disapproved of by grammarians and, while common in colloquial speech, should preferably be avoided in favour of  the generic ''he'' in prose.  Numerous examples of its use by eminent writers are given, but it is still suggested that "few good modern writers would flout grammarians so conspicuously as Fielding and Thackeray".
According to the third edition of Fowler's (''The New Fowler's Modern English Usage'', edited by Burchfield and published in 1996)  singular ''they'' has not only been widely used by good writers for centuries, but is now generally accepted, except by some conservative grammarians, including the Fowler of 1926, who ignored the evidence:
: "Over the centuries, writers of standing have used ''they'', ''their'', and ''them'' with anaphoric reference to a singular noun or pronoun, and the practice has continued in the 20C. to the point that, traditional grammarians aside, such constructions are hardly noticed any more or are not widely felt to lie in a prohibited zone. Fowler (1926) disliked the practice . . . and gave a number of unattributed 'faulty' examples . . .  The evidence presented in the ''OED'' points in another direction altogether."
''The Complete Plain Words'' was originally written in 1948 by Sir Ernest Gowers, a civil servant, in an attempt by the British civil service to improve "official English". A second edition, edited by Sir Bruce Fraser, was published in 1973. It refers to ''they'' or ''them'' as the "equivalent of a singular pronoun of common sex" as  "common in speech and not unknown in serious writing " but "stigmatized by grammarians as usage grammatically indefensible. The books advice for "official writers" (civil servants) is to avoid its use and not to be tempted by its  "greater convenience", though "necessity may eventually force it into the category of accepted idiom".
A new edition of '' Plain Words'', revised and updated by Sir Ernest Gowers' great granddaughter, Rebecca Gowers,  was published in 2014.
It notes that singular ''they'' and ''them'' have become much more widespread since Gowers' original comments, but still finds it "safer" to treat a sentence like 'The reader may toss their book aside' as incorrect "in formal English", while rejecting even more strongly sentences like
* "There must be opportunity for the individual boy or girl to go as far as his keennness and ability will take him."
''The Times Style and Usage Guide'' (first published in 2003 by ''The Times'' of London) recommends avoiding sentences like
* "If someone loves animals, they should protect them."
by using a plural construction:
* "If people love animals, they should protect them."
''The Cambridge Guide to English Usage" (2004) finds singular ''they'' "unremarkable":
: "For those listening or reading, it has become unremarkable—an element of common usage.
It expresses several preferences.
*"Generic/universal ''their'' provides a gender-free pronoun, avoiding the exclusive ''his'' and the clumsy ''his/her''. It avoids gratuitous sexism and gives the statement broadest reference . . .  ''They'', ''them'', ''their'' are now freely used in agreement with singular indefinite pronouns and determiners, those with universal implications such as any(one), every(one), no(one), as well as each and some(one), whose reference is often more individual . . ."
''The Economist Style Guide'' refers to the use of ''they'' in sentences like
* "We can't afford to squander anyone's talents, whatever colour their skin is."
as "scrambled syntax that people adopt because they cannot bring themselves to use a singular pronoun".
''The New Hart's Rules'' is aimed at those engaged in copy editing, and the emphasis is on the formal elements of presentation including punctuation and typeface, rather than on linguistic style but—like ''The Chicago Manual of Style''—makes occasional forays into matters of usage.
It advises against use of the purportedly gender-neutral ''he'', and suggests cautious use of ''they'' where ''he or she'' presents problems.
: ". . . it is now regarded. . . as old-fashioned or sexist to use ''he'' in reference to a person of unspecified sex, as in ''every child needs to know that he is loved.'' The alternative ''he or she'' is often preferred, and in formal contexts probably the best solution, but can become tiresome or long-winded when used frequently. Use of ''they'' in this sense (''everyone needs to feel that they matter'') is becoming generally accepted both in speech and in writing, especially where it occurs after an indefinite pronoun such as ''everyone'' or ''someone'', but should not be imposed by an editor if an author has used ''he or she'' consistently."
The 2011 edition of the ''New International Version Bible'' uses singular ''the''y instead of the traditional ''he'' when translating pronouns that apply to both genders in the original Greek or Hebrew. This decision was based on research by a commission that studied modern English usage and determined that singular ''they'' (''them''/''their'') was by far the most common way that English-language speakers and writers today refer back to singular antecedents such as ''whoever'', ''anyone'', ''somebody'', ''a person'', ''no one'', and the like."
The Australian ''Federation Press Style Guide for use in preparation of book manuscripts'' recommends "Gender-neutral language should be used", stating that use of ''they'' and ''their'' as singular pronouns is acceptable.
According to ''A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language'' (1985):
: "The pronoun ''they'' is commonly used as a 3rd person singular pronoun that is neutral between masculine and feminine. . . . At one time restricted to informal usage. it is now increasingly accepted in formal usage, especially in American English.
''The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language'' discusses the prescriptivist argument that ''they'' is a plural pronoun and that the use of ''they'' with a singular "antecedent" therefore violates the rule of agreement between antecedent and pronoun, but takes the view that ''they'', though ''primarily'' plural, can also be singular in a secondary ''extended'' sense, comparable to the purportedly extended sense of ''he'' to include female gender.
Use of singular ''they'' is stated to be "particularly common", even "stylistically neutral" with antecedents such as ''everyone'', ''someone'', and ''no one'', but more restricted when referring to common nouns as antecedents, as in
* "''A friend of mine'' has asked me to go over and help ''them'' . . ."
Use of the pronoun ''themself'' is described as being "rare" and "acceptable only to a minority of speakers", while use of the morphologically plural ''themselves'' is considered problematic when referring to ''someone'' rather that ''everyone'' (since only the latter implies a plural set).
There are also issues of grammatical acceptability when reflexive pronouns refer to singular noun phrases  joined by ''or'', the following all being problematic:
* "Either the husband or the wife has perjured ''himself''." ungrammatical
* "Either the husband or the wife has perjured ''themselves''." of questionable grammaticality
* "Either the husband or the wife has perjured ''themself''." typically used by only some speakers of Standard English.
On the motivation for using singular ''they'', ''A Student's Introduction to English Grammar'' states
: "this avoidance of ''he'' can't be dismissed just as a matter of political correctness. The real problem with using ''he'' is that it unquestionably colours the interpretation, sometimes inappropriately. . . ''he'' doesn't have a genuinely sex-neutral sense".
The alternative ''he or she'' can be "far too cumbersome", as in
* "''Everyone'' agreed that he or she would bring his or her lunch with ''him or her''.
or even " flatly ungrammatical", as in
* "''Everyone's here, isn't ''he or she''?
"Among younger speakers", use of singular ''they'' even with definite noun-phrase antecedents finds increasing acceptance, "sidestepping any presumption about the sex of the person referred to", as in
* "You should ask ''your partner'' what ''they''  think."
* "''The person'' I was with said ''they'' hated the film." Example given by Huddleston et al.
Steven Pinker suggests that "singular" ''they'' and plural ''they'' can be regarded as a pair of homonyms&nbsp;— two words with different meanings but the same spelling and sound.  However, this analysis is not extended to ''you'', another originally plural pronoun that has come to have singular use.
Distributive constructions apply a ''single'' idea to ''multiple'' members of a group.
They are typically marked in English by words like ''each'', ''every'' and ''any''. The simplest examples are applied to groups of two, and use words like ''either'' and ''or''—"Would you like tea or coffee?". Since distributive constructions apply an idea relevant to each individual in the group, rather than to the group as a whole, they are most often conceived of as singular, and a singular pronoun is used.
* "England expects that every man will do his duty."—Nelson (1806, referring to a fleet crewed by male sailors)
* "Every dog hath his day."&nbsp;—John Ray  ''A Collection of English Proverbs'' (1670), originally from Plutarch, ''Moralia'', c. 95 AD, regarding the death of Euripides.
However, many languages, including English, show ambivalence in this regard. Because distribution also requires a group with more than one member, plural forms are sometimes used.