What are pronouns and why are they important?

Pronouns are words used to refer to a person other than their name: they, she and he. In English, some pronouns are gendered or imply a gender: she/ her or he/ him.

When a trans person comes out they may have new pronouns they want to use that best reflects them.

If you don’t know someone’s name or their pronouns, just ask! Using pronouns like they/ them and themselves is a safe bet until you know.

Using a person’s name and their correct pronouns respects their identity. It can take a bit of getting used to, but it’s important to get pronouns right. If you make a mistake, apologise and correct yourself.

Here’s Minus18’s guide on what pronouns are, why they matter, and how to use some new ones!