Clear Pronoun Reference
A pronoun stands for a word or word group called its antecedent. The antecedent to which a pronoun refers must be clear in order for readers to understand a pronoun’s meaning.
EXAMPLE
- After Leslie painted the old dresser, it looked much better. [The pronoun it clearly refers to its antecedent, dresser.]
Ambiguous Reference
Avoid an ambiguous reference, which occurs when any one of two or more words could be a pronoun’s antecedent.
To revise an ambiguous reference, replace the pronoun with a specific noun or rewrite the sentence to eliminate the ambiguous reference.
AMBIGUOUS
- When Tammy saw Joy at the wedding, she was dancing. [The antecedent of she is unclear. Is Tammy or Joy dancing?]
CLEAR
- When Tammy saw Joy at the wedding, Tammy was dancing. [The ambiguous pronoun she is replaced with the specific noun Tammy.]
CLEAR
- When Joy was dancing at the wedding, she saw Tammy. [The sentence is rewritten to eliminate the ambiguous reference. Now, the pronoun she clearly refers to its antecedent, Joy.]
General Reference
A pronoun must refer to a specific antecedent, not a general idea.
Avoid a general reference, which is the use of a pronoun that refers to a general idea rather than to a specific antecedent.
The pronouns it, that, this, and which are often used in general references. To revise a general reference, use a specific noun or rewrite the sentence to eliminate the general reference.
GENERAL
- I once found an arrowhead. That was exciting. [That does not have a specific antecedent. Instead, it refers to the general idea of finding an arrowhead.]
CLEAR
- I once found an arrowhead. That find was exciting. [The word group That find is clearer and more specific.]
CLEAR
- Finding an arrowhead was exciting. [The sentence is rewritten to avoid the general reference.]
Weak Reference
Avoid a weak reference, which occurs when a pronoun refers to an antecedent that has been suggested but not expressed.
To revise a weak reference, replace the pronoun with a specific noun or rewrite the sentence to eliminate the weak reference.
WEAK
- Nate’s brother plays professional basketball, but I haven’t met any. [What is the antecedent of any? It is not stated.]
CLEAR
- Nate’s brother plays professional basketball, but I haven’t met his teammates. [His teammates replaces the pronoun any.]
CLEAR
- Nate’s brother plays professional basketball with his teammates, but I haven’t met any. [The sentence was rewritten to eliminate the weak reference. Now any clearly refers to teammates.]
Indefinite Reference
Avoid an indefinite reference—the use of a pronoun that refers to no particular person or thing and that is unnecessary to the structure and meaning of a sentence.
The pronouns it, they, and you are often used in indefinite references. To revise a sentence with an indefinite reference, remove the unnecessary pronoun and rewrite the sentence.
INDEFINITE
- On the radio it said that a new high school will open next year. [It does not refer to a particular person or thing. It is not needed in the sentence.]
CLEAR
- The radio announcer said that a new high school will open next year. [It is removed, and the sentence is rewritten.]
INDEFINITE
- In Elizabethan England, they valued a knowledge of Latin. [They does not have a clear antecedent.]
CLEAR
- In Elizabethan England, a knowledge of Latin was valued. [They is removed, and the sentence is rewritten.]