You can occasionally use he or she, him or her and his or her as an alternative to pluralising the subject and verb, but overuse can seem pedantic. Therefore, not
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The average student is worried about his or her marks. |
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The applicant must demonstrate his or her ability to work independently. |
but
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Students are worried about their marks. |
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Applicants must demonstrate their ability to work independently. |
In some instances, the pronoun adds nothing. Simply remove it or use an article.
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The average student is worried about marks. |
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The applicant must demonstrate an ability to work independently. |
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