[Grammar] they

[tkacka15]

"A leader is not necessarily an expert in everything they need to be an expert in to lead." [From The Guardian.]

Does the pronoun "they" mean "he or she" in the above sentence?

Is "an expert in" a compound noun in the clause "they need to be an expert in to lead"?

Thank you.

 

[Raymott]

Yes, it's a version of "he or she".
No, how is it a compound noun? The noun is "expert". The 'in' plays the same role as it does earlier in the sentence.

The sentence sounds self-contradictory.

 

[tkacka15]

No, how is it a compound noun? The noun is "expert". The 'in' plays the same role as it does earlier in the sentence.

If so, is it then "everything" ellipted in "they need to be an expert in to lead"?

 

[Raymott]

No. Imagine this conversation:
A: What do you need to be an expert in to lead?" (To lead, what do you need to be an expert in? In what do you need to be an expert?)
B: You need to be an expert in leading."
A: "And what are you an expert in?" (In what are you an expert?)
B: "In teaching"
A: "Do you need to be an expert in teaching to lead?" (To lead, do you need to be an expert in teaching?)