https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/proref.

htm

https://afterschoolhelp.com/pages/topics/topicoverview/818/

PRONOUN REFERENCE (CLARITY)

a. Avoid ambiguous or remote pronoun reference CAMILA

Ambiguous pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to two possible antecedents.

1. The supervisor told the workers that they would receive a bonus.
- The supervisors told the workers to expect a bonus.
- The supervisors told the workers that they themselves were expecting a bonus.

Remote pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun is too far away from its antecedent for easy
reading.

2. John had just assembled an overstuffed sandwich when he spotted a cockroach on the
table. He smashed it with his open palm before he ate.
- John had just assembled an overstuffed sandwich when he spotted a cockroach on the
table. He smashed the insect with his open palm before he ate.

b. Avoid broad references of this, that, which, and it. PAULA

3. I did not attend the rally, which was very unpatriotic of me.
- I did not attend the rally. My actions were very unpatriotic.
- By not attending the rally, I was unpatriotic.
- Because I did not attend the rally, I was very unpatriotic.
- Not attending the rally was very unpatriotic of me.

For clarity, the pronouns this, that, which, and it should ordinarily refer to specific antecedents
rather than to whole ideas or sentences.

4. Meg telephoned Howard yesterday to explain why she had not attended the meeting
the day before. This made Howard angry.
- Meg telephoned Howard yesterday to explain why she had not attended the meeting
the day before. Meg’s absence made Howard angry.
- Meg’s telephone call yesterday to explain why she had not attended the meeting the
day before made Howard very angry.

c. Do not use a pronoun to refer to an implied antecedent CAMILA

A pronoun should refer to a specific antecedent, not to a word that is implied but not present in
the sentence.

5. The witness called the television station, but they didn’t answer.
- The witness called the television stations, but the reporters didn’t answer.
- The witness called the television reporters, but they didn’t answer.
 6. Although, Mrs. Smith was wealthy, she made poor use of it.
- Although, Mrs. Smith was wealthy, she made poor use of her wealth.
- Although, Mrs. Smith had a lot of money, she made poor use of it.

d. Avoid indefinite use of they, it and you. PAULA

The word it should not be used indefinitely in constructions such as It is said on television . . . or In
the article, it says that. . . .

7. It says in the paper that the legislation was passed.

- The paper says that the legislation was passed.
- According to the paper, the legislation was passed.

They should always refer to a specific antecedent.

8. In Australia, they have a very distinct dialect.

- Australians have a very distinct dialect.

The pronoun you is appropriate only when the writer is addressing the reader directly. “You”
should not be used to mean “anyone in general.” Use a noun instead.

9. In Newfoundland, you don’t have to look far to find long waiting lists for counselling.
- In Newfoundland, one doesn’t have to look far to find long waiting lists for counselling.

e. To refer to persons, use who, whom, or whose, not which or that CAMILA

In most contexts, use who, whom, or whose to refer to persons, and use which or that to refer to
animals or things. Which is reserved only for animals or things, so it is impolite to use it to refer to
persons.

Although that is sometimes used to refer to persons, many readers will find such references
dehumanizing. It is more polite to use a form of who—a word reserved for people.

10. Lord Thompson, that is 76, has just retired.

- Lord Thompson, who is 76, has just retired.

11. The man which called yesterday was rather rude.

- The man who called yesterday was rather rude.
- The man that called yesterday was rather rude.