In the sentence "Every student should submit (his or her, their) assignment on time," which pronoun is appropriate?

The use of "his or her" in the sentence "Every student should submit (his or her) assignment on time" is appropriate because it aligns with the singular noun "student." This pronoun construction is recognized for indicating that each student, regardless of gender, is responsible for submitting their assignment.

Using "his or her" ensures that the sentence remains grammatically correct while being inclusive of all students. This choice respects the singularity of "every student" and adheres to traditional grammatical standards regarding agreement between nouns and pronouns. It effectively communicates the intended message without ambiguity regarding the student’s gender.

In contrast, contemporary language usage often allows for "their" as a singular pronoun to promote inclusivity. However, some traditional grammar rules may still favor "his or her" in formal writing. The other options do not fit the context or grammatical structure required here, as "its" is typically used to refer to objects or non-human subjects, and "her" does not account for male students.