ELA

Using a Vague Pronoun Reference

Students use a pronoun like it, they, this, or which when the reader cannot tell exactly what noun the pronoun means.

Quick check

Why students make it

Students often know what they mean in their own heads, so they assume the reader can identify the pronoun too. The problem happens when more than one noun could be the antecedent, or when the pronoun points to a whole idea instead of a clear noun.

The rule done right

A pronoun must clearly refer to one specific antecedent. If the reference is unclear, replace the pronoun with the exact noun or rewrite the sentence.

Related resources

pronounsgrammarclarity