McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins and Paul Harris, Camden County College Camden County College

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 2 ąWriters 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. Example: –The photographs meant a great deal to him because they belonged to his grandmother. –[Photographs is the antecedent of they, which is third person plural.]

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 3 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?

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 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: 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?

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 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.

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 6 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 often misses some of the action.

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 7 Avoid sexismAvoid sexism –Be consistent in use of gender. –Avoid sexist pronouns. To avoid sexism use alternatives to the generic he.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 sexismAvoid sexism –Be consistent in use of gender. –Avoid sexist pronouns. To avoid sexism use alternatives to the generic he.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. 2. The people who planned this exhibit knew what they were doing. 3. The people who planned this exhibit did an excellent job.

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved 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.

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9 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.

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Compound antecedents require a plural pronoun. The zoom lens and the wide-angle lens require special situations for their use.

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 11 Anyone can be successful in school if they makes the right choices.Anyone can be successful in school if they makes the right choices. Revision:Revision: –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:Revision: –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

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 When students do not understand what they read, they should note their questions and find answers.When students do not understand what they read, they should note their questions and find answers. Correct

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 13 Students should realize that education supports your long term goals.Students should realize that education supports your long term goals. The pronoun “your” does not refer to students.The pronoun “your” does not refer to students. Revision:Revision: –Students should realize that education supports their long term goals. The pronoun “your” does not refer to students.The pronoun “your” does not refer to students. Revision:Revision: –Students should realize that education supports their long term goals. Incorrect

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 14 Libraries are important for students because they provide information. Incorrect Does THEY refer to students or libraries?

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 15 Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and you should review these notes within 24 hours.Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and you should review these notes within 24 hours. Incorrect:Incorrect: –The subject shifts to you when the subject was students. Revision:Revision: –Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and they should review these notes within 24 hours. Incorrect:Incorrect: –The subject shifts to you when the subject was students. Revision:Revision: –Students should copy the material that the instructor writes on the board, and they should review these notes within 24 hours. Incorrect

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 16 Each of us must take responsibility for the quality of their own life.Each of us must take responsibility for the quality of their own life. Incorrect:Incorrect: –Each is singular. Revision: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:Incorrect: –Each is singular. Revision: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

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 17 When students join clubs and organizations, they increase their chances of staying in school. Correct

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 18 The most important thing a student can do is to organize your time.The most important thing a student can do is to organize your time. Incorrect:Incorrect: –Students is plural. Revision:Revision: –The most important thing that students can do is to organize their time. Incorrect:Incorrect: –Students is plural. Revision:Revision: –The most important thing that students can do is to organize their time. Incorrect

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 19 Jamie dropped the heavy camera on her foot and broke it.Jamie dropped the heavy camera on her foot and broke it. Incorrect:Incorrect: –Did the camera break or did her foot? Revision:Revision: –The camera broke when Jamie dropped it on her foot. Incorrect:Incorrect: –Did the camera break or did her foot? Revision:Revision: –The camera broke when Jamie dropped it on her foot. Incorrect

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 20 Any questions?