The best another word for they depends on who “they” refers to. For a group of people, use people, individuals, the team, the members, those involved, or the participants. For a single person whose gender you don’t know, use he or she, the person, the individual, or one. For a formal essay, replace “they” with the specific noun it stands for, such as researchers, respondents, the authors, or the committee.
“They” is a third-person plural pronoun, so no single synonym works everywhere. This guide gives you the right replacement for each situation, with examples you can copy.
Quick Answer: Another Word for They
| If “they” means… | Use instead | Example |
|---|---|---|
| People in general | people, individuals, folks, others, those people | People tend to avoid change. |
| A specific group | the team, the group, the members, the committee | The committee approved the plan. |
| Study subjects | participants, respondents, subjects, the sample | Participants completed the survey. |
| Writers or experts | the authors, researchers, scholars, analysts | The authors argue that… |
| Customers or users | customers, clients, users, buyers, consumers | Customers prefer faster delivery. |
| Workers | employees, staff, workers, the workforce | Staff received the update. |
| One person, gender unknown | he or she, the person, the individual, one | The applicant must submit the form. |
| Things (not people) | these, those, such items | These are the best options. |
What Is Another Word for They?
“They” replaces a plural noun that has already been mentioned. Because it is so flexible, the alternative is almost always the noun it refers to or a more specific pronoun-like phrase.
The most common substitutes fall into four groups:
- Plural nouns: people, individuals, members, participants, employees, students, residents
- Collective nouns: the team, the group, the crowd, the committee, the staff, the board
- Demonstrative pronouns: these, those (used for people or things)
- Descriptive phrases: the former, the latter, the others, the ones who, those who
Why Replace “They” at All?
You don’t need to avoid “they” completely. It is correct and natural. But replacing it helps in these cases:
- Unclear reference. If two groups appear in a sentence, “they” may be ambiguous. The managers told the staff they would get bonuses. Who gets the bonuses?
- Repetition. Starting four sentences in a row with “They” sounds flat.
- Formal or academic writing. Teachers and editors often prefer the named subject so the argument stays precise.
- Added meaning. “The critics” or “the victims” carries information that “they” does not.
Another Word for They in an Essay
In academic writing, the safest replacement is the specific noun. Compare:
| Weak (vague) | Stronger (specific) |
|---|---|
| They argue that climate policy has failed. | Environmental economists argue that climate policy has failed. |
| They found a link between sleep and memory. | The researchers found a link between sleep and memory. |
| They believe the law is unfair. | Critics of the law believe it is unfair. |
| They say the results are reliable. | The authors say the results are reliable. |
A useful rule for essays: if the reader would have to look back more than one sentence to know who “they” is, replace it.
Another Word for They in a Sentence
Here is the same idea written five ways:
- They worked late to finish the project.
- The team worked late to finish the project.
- Everyone involved worked late to finish the project.
- The engineers worked late to finish the project.
- Those on the project worked late to finish it.
Choose the version that gives the reader the most useful information, not the longest one.
Another Word for They + Verb (They Are, They Were, They Have and More)
Searchers often want a replacement for a full phrase, not just the pronoun. Swap the subject, then check that the verb still agrees.
| Phrase | Alternatives | Example |
|---|---|---|
| They are | these are, those are, the members are, the group is | The members are ready to vote. |
| They were | those were, the participants were, the team was | The participants were tested twice. |
| They have | the group has, the company has, these individuals hold | The company has three offices. |
| They had | the team had, those involved had | The team had no prior experience. |
| They will | the committee will, the staff will, everyone will | The committee will meet Friday. |
| They do | the employees do, the staff perform | The staff perform daily checks. |
| They should | the board should, residents ought to | Residents ought to register early. |
| They can | users can, members are able to | Members are able to cancel anytime. |
Watch the verb. With a collective noun, American English usually takes a singular verb (the team is), while British English often accepts a plural verb (the team are). Pick one and stay consistent.
Another Word for They Said, They Believe and They State
When “they” is followed by a reporting verb, you can change both words at once. The new verb should match how strongly the source speaks.
| Instead of | Try | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| They said | the speakers stated, officials noted, residents reported | Neutral |
| They believe | the authors argue, many hold that, the public assumes | Shows reasoning or opinion |
| They state | the report states, respondents indicated, the policy specifies | Formal, factual |
| They say (it’s true) | critics contend, supporters maintain, experts assert | Marks a position |
Be careful with “claim.” Saying they claim can suggest you doubt the statement. Use state, report or note when you want to stay neutral.
Another Word for They Also (Adding Information)
“They also” is often a connector problem, not a pronoun problem. These options keep the flow without repeating it:
- The staff are trained. In addition, they are certified.
- Members get discounts and likewise receive early access.
- Furthermore, the volunteers organized transport.
- The students passed, and the teachers as well.
Phrases Built Around “They”
Some searches use “they” inside a longer phrase. Here are natural alternatives for each:
| Phrase | Alternatives |
|---|---|
| What they want | their goals, their wishes, their needs, their desires, their expectations |
| Get what they want | achieve their aims, get their way, reach their goals, have their way |
| What they do | their work, their role, their occupation, their conduct, their practice |
| Who they are | their identity, their character, their true selves, their background |
| What they didn’t know | the unknown, the unforeseen, their blind spots, what remained hidden, what escaped them |
Choose by tone. Get their way is casual and can sound negative. Achieve their aims is neutral and professional.
Another Word for They When Referring to One Person
Many people look for another word for “they” because they are not sure whether it can refer to one person. It can.
- Singular “they” has been used in English for a very long time, as in Someone left their umbrella.
- Merriam-Webster named “they” its 2019 Word of the Year, reflecting its use for a nonbinary person, and its dictionary includes that sense.
- APA style (7th edition) endorses singular “they” in scholarly writing.
If you still want an alternative, these are the options:
| Option | Best for | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| he or she | Formal documents | Excludes nonbinary people and gets clunky when repeated |
| the person / the individual | Policies, reports | Repetitive if overused |
| one | Formal, general statements | Can sound stiff |
| you | Instructions and advice | Changes the viewpoint |
| rewrite in plural | Almost anything | Needs a small rewrite |
Never replace a person’s chosen pronouns with “he or she” or “the individual” when you know which they use. Using someone’s stated pronouns is basic accuracy, not a style choice.
A Simple 4-Step Swap Test
Use this workflow when you are editing a sentence that has “they”:
- Find the antecedent. Who or what does “they” point to?
- Check for ambiguity. Could it point to two different groups? If yes, name the one you mean.
- Pick the right level of detail. People is broad. Registered voters is precise. Use the most specific noun your sentence supports.
- Check agreement. Make sure the verb, any other pronouns (their, them), and the tone still match.
Before and After Example
Before:
The doctors told the patients they needed more rest, and they agreed they would follow the plan.
After:
The doctors told the patients to rest more, and the patients agreed to follow the plan.
The “after” version removes three uses of “they” and removes the confusion over who needed rest.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With Another Word for They
- Switching number halfway. If you replace “they” with the team, don’t continue with their and they in the next clause unless you are sure it is consistent.
- Overusing “the latter” and “the former.” They force the reader to count back through the sentence.
- Using “people” for a specific group. People complained is weaker than Tenants complained.
- Using “one” too often. A paragraph full of one should sounds unnatural.
- Swapping meaning by accident. They said and they claimed are not equal. See the reporting-verb table above.
- Treating “they” as always wrong. It is standard English. Replace it for clarity, not out of fear.
FAQs About Another Word for They
Can “these” or “those” replace “they”?
Yes, as long as the reader already knows who or what you mean. These are the winners works. For people, those who is usually clearer than those alone.
Is “they” ever used for one person?
Yes. Singular “they” is widely accepted, including by Merriam-Webster and APA style. See the section above for when to choose another option.
What is another word for “them” and “their”?
For them, use the noun again (the members) or those people. For their, use the noun with an apostrophe (the team’s plan) or the group’s.
Should I avoid “they” in a resume or cover letter?
Resumes normally avoid pronouns entirely. Start bullets with action verbs (Managed, Led, Trained) and name teams directly. In a cover letter, the hiring team or your organization reads better than they.
Thank You For Reading Another Word for They!
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