1. College Writing Skills, 6E and College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E John Langan Pronoun Reference and Agreement Chapter Twenty-Nine

2. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Writers often use to take the place of nouns.Writers often use pronouns to take the place of nouns. If you do this, you must be certain that each pronoun agrees with the noun it refers to.If you do this, you must be certain that each pronoun agrees with the noun it refers to. Example:Example: –The photographs meant a great deal to him because they belonged to his grandmother. –[Photographs is the of which is third person plural.] –[Photographs is the antecedent of they, which is third person plural.] Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

3. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Pronoun Reference If a pronoun does not refer to a specific word, it may be unclear.If a pronoun does not refer to a specific word, it may be unclear. –Example: Mark told Todd that he needed to buy film.Mark told Todd that he needed to buy film. Did Mark or Todd need to buy film?Did Mark or Todd need to buy film?

4. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E If a pronoun does not refer to a specific word, it may be unclear.If a pronoun does not refer to a specific word, it may be unclear. –Example: The editor told the staff members not to mail the photographs because they were too important.The editor told the staff members not to mail the photographs because they were too important. What does they refer too?What does they refer too? Pronoun Reference

5. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Pronouns and antecedents must agree in person and number. Error in Person: If a person wants to become a portrait photographer, you must have the proper equipment for lighting. equipment for lighting. Revised: If a person wants to become a photographer, he must have the proper equipment for lighting. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

6. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Pronouns and antecedents must agree in person and number. Error in Number: When a student videotapes a sporting event, they often miss some of the action. Revised:When a student videotapes a sporting event, he he often misses some of the action. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

7. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Avoid sexism –Be consistent in use of gender. –Avoid sexist pronouns. To avoid sexism, use alternatives to the generic he. 1-Use masculine and feminine pronouns together. 2-Revise the sentence by using the plural. 3-Reconstruct to eliminate the pronoun. Avoid sexism –Be consistent in use of gender. –Avoid sexist pronouns. To avoid sexism, use alternatives to the generic he. 1-Use masculine and feminine pronouns together. 2-Revise the sentence by using the plural. 3-Reconstruct to eliminate the pronoun. Examples: 1. The person who planned this exhibit knew what he or she was doing. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

8. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E everybody or something 1. An indefinite pronoun such as everybody or something is usually singular. Anyone who has developed his own film must be familiar with dark rooms. Each of the photographers bought his or her camera. Checkpoints

9. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E The collection on display is in the gallery. 2. A collective noun which refers to a group as one unit is usually singular. The group will have its meeting this Friday. Checkpoints

10. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E 3. Compound antecedents require a plural pronoun. The zoom lens and the wide-angle lens require special situations for their use. Checkpoints

11. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Anyone can be successful in school if they make the right choices.Anyone can be successful in school if they make the right choices. Revision: can be successful in school if –Anyone can be successful in school if she makes the right choices. Or –Students can be successful in school if they make the right choices. Revision: can be successful in school if –Anyone can be successful in school if she makes the right choices. Or –Students can be successful in school if they make the right choices. Incorrect

12. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E When students do not understand what they read, they should note their questions and find answers. Correct

13. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Students should realize that education supports your long term goals. The pronoun “your” does not refer to students. Revision: –Students should realize that education supports their long term goals. The pronoun “your” does not refer to students. Revision: –Students should realize that education supports their long term goals. Incorrect

14. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Libraries are important for students because they provide information. Incorrect Does THEY refer to students or libraries?

15. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and you should review these notes within 24 hours. Incorrect: –The subject shifts to you when the subject was students. Revision: –Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and they should review these notes within 24 hours. Incorrect: –The subject shifts to you when the subject was students. Revision: –Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and they should review these notes within 24 hours. Incorrect

16. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Each of us must take responsibility for the quality of their own life. Incorrect: –Each is singular. Revision: –Each of us must take responsibility for the quality of her life. Or… –Individuals must take responsibility for the quality of their own lives. Incorrect: –Each is singular. Revision: –Each of us must take responsibility for the quality of her life. Or… –Individuals must take responsibility for the quality of their own lives. Incorrect

17. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E When students join clubs and organizations, they increase their chances of staying in school. Correct

18. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E The most important thing a student can do is to organize your time. Incorrect: –Students is plural. Revision: –The most important thing that students can do is to organize their time. Incorrect: –Students is plural. Revision: –The most important thing that students can do is to organize their time. Incorrect

19. ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 29. College Writing Skills/ College Writing Skills with Readings, 6E Jamie dropped the heavy camera on her foot and broke it. Incorrect: –Did the camera break or did her foot? Revision: –The camera broke when Jamie dropped it on her foot. Incorrect: –Did the camera break or did her foot? Revision: –The camera broke when Jamie dropped it on her foot. Incorrect