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Noun Reference

The document discusses clear pronoun reference in writing. It defines what a pronoun is and provides examples of common English pronouns. It emphasizes that pronouns should refer unambiguously to a single noun (the antecedent) and should appear close to the antecedent to minimize confusion. Examples demonstrate faulty pronoun reference when a pronoun has multiple potential antecedents or no clear antecedent at all. The document provides tips for ensuring clear pronoun reference such as substituting nouns when needed and avoiding second-person pronouns without direct address.

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Waseem Akram
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35 views

Noun Reference

The document discusses clear pronoun reference in writing. It defines what a pronoun is and provides examples of common English pronouns. It emphasizes that pronouns should refer unambiguously to a single noun (the antecedent) and should appear close to the antecedent to minimize confusion. Examples demonstrate faulty pronoun reference when a pronoun has multiple potential antecedents or no clear antecedent at all. The document provides tips for ensuring clear pronoun reference such as substituting nouns when needed and avoiding second-person pronouns without direct address.

Uploaded by

Waseem Akram
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Clear Noun Reference

What is a pronoun?

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun in a sentence. Common


pronouns in the English language include : he, she, it, they, we, you, I, that, this,
who, and which. Using pronouns adds some variety to a sentence: it means a writer
need not repeat the same noun repeatedly. However, using pronouns properly
means making clear to what the pronoun refers. The noun that a pronoun refers to
in a sentence is called the pronoun's antecedent.

In general, pronouns should always appear as close to their antecedent as possible,


and should refer only to a single antecedent to minimize confusion.

Recognize pronoun reference


Every pronoun you write should refer clearly and unmistakably to one particular
noun.  We call this noun the antecedent (A word or phrase that is represented by
another word such as a pronoun).

Look at the following example:

After buying some plates, Jenny put them in the cabinet

The pronoun "them" clearly refers to the noun plates. Plates is the antecedent for the


pronoun them.

Unfortunately, it is very easy to create a sentence that uses a pronoun without a clear,
unmistakable noun antecedent.

Look at the following example:

After putting the plates in the cabinet, Jenny sold it.

 The pronoun it does not have a clear noun antecedent.

As a result, the reader cannot know for sure whether Jenny sold the plates or
the cabinet. The pronoun reference is faulty here because the
pronoun it has two antecedents.
Look at the following Example:

Although Mr. Smith was wealthy, he made poor use of it.

This is another example of a pronoun without any antecedent at all. In this example,
the pronoun it has no antecedent to which it can refer. 

The reader knows that Mr. Smith is "wealthy," but it cannot refer to wealthy because
wealthy is not a noun.

To correct this replace the pronoun with a noun.

Although Mr. Smith was wealthy, he made poor use of his money.

With a noun (money) in the place of the pronoun (it), no antecedent is needed.

Such errors, called faulty or vague pronoun reference, can confuse readers and


obscure the intended meaning. When you fail to confirm that a pronoun has a
single, clear antecedent, you lose control of the picture you want the words to
create in your readers' minds.

Too many antecedents                     


A pronoun should have only one antecedent (the noun it refers to).That antecedent
must be clear and unmistakable. Look at this sentence.

Take the radio out of the car and fix it.

Not anyone who reads this sentence would know which item was to be fixed.

Does it refer to the radio or the car? 

The answer is unclear. In the above example, faulty pronoun reference occurs because
the pronoun it has two possible noun antecedents:  radio and car.

You can repair this error by substituting a noun for the pronoun.

Take the radio out of the car and fix the radio, Or Take the radio out of the car and fix
the car.
Be careful when you have two singular antecedents with the
same gender.
Pronoun confusion is common when a sentence contains two or more antecedents
with the same gender.

Look at the following Example:

When Sara was talking to Martha, she was very disturbed.

Sara and Martha are examples of two gender-specific antecedents in the same


sentence.

Use the pronoun they with precision.

Tim and Harry went to meet the players; they told that they have no
time for them.
It is not clear from the example that who were busy; Tim and Harry or
the players.
For this reason, substitute a specific noun for an unclear they.

Make sure that the pronouns who, which, and that refer to


the right types of nouns.
Confirm that the pronouns  this, that, and which have single, clear
antecedents .

The relative pronouns who, which, and that should each refer to
specific types of nouns. Use who when you refer to people, famous
animals or named pets.

Example
My little brothers most resemble the Tom and Jerry character, Tom who cannot sit
still for more than a few seconds
Use which for non-living objects and unnamed animals.
The parrot, which my roommate rescued, can say hello in three languages.

Use that to refer to anything unnamed (though who is traditional and


preferred for people).
An alligator bit a boy that was fishing at the lake.

Use second-person pronouns only for direct address.


I never ride roller coasters because they make you throw up.

I never ride roller coasters because you throw up. If you were the one who
vomited, 

Replace the second-person pronouns to fix the problems:

I never ride roller coasters because they make me throw up.

Using clear pronoun with passive forms


A pronoun that does not specifically refer to a noun or other pronoun can confuse
the reader. If the antecedent for a pronoun is implied but not made explicit, the
reader is left to guess at the antecedent. This sort of broad reference is more typical
with pronouns like that, this, it, and which, when they are used to refer to an idea
or concept expressed in the previous paragraph, clause, or sentence.

 Sally and Bill made repeated visits to the Writing Centre and always started
written assignments early, resulting in improved grades by the end of the semester.
This was soon copied by other students. (Pronoun this has no clear antecedent)

 Sally and Bill made repeated visits to the Writing Centre and always started
written assignments early, resulting in improved grades by the end of the semester.
This strategy was soon copied by other students. (Clearer)

 Sally and Bill made repeated visits to the Writing Centre and always started
written assignments early, resulting in improved grades by the end of the semester.
Making efforts to improve writing skills was a strategy soon copied by other
students. (Clearest)
Pronouns must agree in number (i.e. singular or plural) and in person (i.e. first
person, third person, etc.) with their antecedent.

 If a student fails a course, they must take the course again. (Pronoun they does not
agree in number with the antecedent student)
 If a student fails a course, he or she must take the course again. (Correct)

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