diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/nounspicker/utils/DatabaseManager.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/nounspicker/utils/DatabaseManager.java
index 8c1922e..37da3f2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/nounspicker/utils/DatabaseManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/nounspicker/utils/DatabaseManager.java
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager
             logger.log("Database connection established!");
             return true;
         } catch (SQLException e) {
-            logger.err(e.getMessage());
+            e.printStackTrace();
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager
                     dbConnection.close();
                 }
             } catch (SQLException e) {
-                logger.err(e.getMessage());
+                e.printStackTrace();
                 return false;
             }
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager
                 // execute the statement
                 stmt.execute(sql);
             } catch (SQLException e) {
-                logger.err(e.getMessage());
+                e.printStackTrace();
                 return false;
             }
         }
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager
             }
         } catch (SQLException e)
         {
-            logger.err(e.getMessage());
+            e.printStackTrace();
         }
 
         return -1;
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager
             return true;
         } catch (SQLException e)
         {
-            logger.err(e.getMessage());
+            e.printStackTrace();
         }
 
         return false;
@@ -163,9 +163,10 @@ public class DatabaseManager
 
         try (Statement stmt = dbConnection.createStatement()) {
             ResultSet rSet = stmt.executeQuery(query);
+            if(rSet.isClosed()) return -1;
             return rSet.getInt("id");
         } catch (SQLException e) {
-            logger.err(e.getMessage());
+            e.printStackTrace();
         }
 
         return -1;
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager
             preparedStatement.setString(1, pronoun);
             preparedStatement.execute();
         } catch (SQLException e) {
-            logger.err(e.getMessage());
+            e.printStackTrace();
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ public class DatabaseManager
             try(Statement stmt = dbConnection.createStatement()) {
                 stmt.executeUpdate(q);
             } catch (SQLException e) {
-                logger.err(e.getMessage());
+                e.printStackTrace();
                 return false;
             }
         }
@@ -214,9 +215,25 @@ public class DatabaseManager
 
     public boolean setPlayerPronouns(String playerName, String mainPronoun, String secondaryPronoun) {
 
+        // if the player is not in the table, add them
+        if(!hasPronouns(playerName))
+        {
+            String query = "INSERT INTO players (player) VALUES (?);";
+
+            try(PreparedStatement pStatement = dbConnection.prepareStatement(query)) {
+                pStatement.setString(1, playerName);
+                pStatement.executeUpdate();
+            } catch (SQLException e) {
+                e.printStackTrace();
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // get pronouns ids
         int mainPronounId = getPronounId(mainPronoun);
         int secondaryPronounId = getPronounId(secondaryPronoun);
 
+        // update player values in the table
         String query = "UPDATE players " +
                 "SET (main_pronoun_id, secondary_pronoun_id) = (?,?) " +
                 "WHERE player = ?;";
@@ -228,27 +245,47 @@ public class DatabaseManager
             pStatement.executeUpdate();
             return true;
         } catch (SQLException e) {
-            logger.err(e.getMessage());
+            e.printStackTrace();
         }
 
         return false;
     }
 
     public String getPronounFormat(int pronounId) {
-        String query = "SELECT format FROM pronouns" +
+        String query = "SELECT format FROM pronouns " +
                 "WHERE id = " + pronounId + " " +
                 "LIMIT 1;";
 
         try (Statement stmt = dbConnection.createStatement())
         {
             ResultSet rSet = stmt.executeQuery(query);
-            return rSet.getString("id");
+            return rSet.getString("format");
         } catch (SQLException e) {
-            logger.err(e.getMessage());
+            e.printStackTrace();
         }
 
         return null;
     }
 
+    public boolean hasPronouns(String playerName) {
+        String query = "SELECT player FROM players " +
+                "WHERE player = ? " +
+                "LIMIT 1;";
+
+        try (PreparedStatement pStatement = dbConnection.prepareStatement(query)) {
+            pStatement.setString(1, playerName);
+            ResultSet rSet = pStatement.executeQuery();
+            if(rSet.isClosed()) return false;
+            while(rSet.next())
+            {
+                if(rSet.getString("player").equals(playerName)) return true;
+            }
+        } catch (SQLException e) {
+            e.printStackTrace();
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
 
 }