BY: JOE MARTIN AND MOODY Pronoun Reference

Pronouns Pronouns are substitute for nouns. Short hand  Instead of saying the object or the person’s name that is the subject of the sentence try saying “it”, or “he”, or “she”.(G3 b, pg. 190, Writer’s Reference) The word a pronoun refers to is called a antecedent.

Examples After Tom caught the ball and scored a touchdown he then spiked it on the turf.  Replaced Tom with “he”, and ball with “it”. After Tom got a drink of water he later threw it back up on the next play.  Again we have replace Tom with “he”, and water with “it”.

Ambiguous Reference Ambiguous pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to two possible antecedents.(G3 b, pg. 190, A Writer’s Reference)

Examples While Tom was running after the ball, his shoe came off and he then proceeded to pick it up.  What did Tom pick up—the ball or the shoe?  While Tom was running after the ball, his shoe came off. He then proceeded to put on his shoe and resume his chase of the ball.  We now have clarified that Tom was picking up his shoe and then proceeded to chase the ball.

Examples Cont. When Tom kicked the football with his shoes untied, they went through the goal posts.  What went through the goal posts—the shoes or the ball?  When Tom kicked the football with his shoes untied, the shoe followed the ball through the goal posts.  By doing this we have clarified that both the ball and the shoe went through the goal posts.

Implied Reference A pronoun must refer to a specific antecedent, not to a word that is implied but not present in the sentence.(G3 b, pg. 191, A Writer’s Reference)

Examples After Tom scored a touchdown, John proceeded to spike it to the turf.  What is “it” referring to?  We can imply that by the term “scored a touchdown” a ball was being spiked to the turf, but the word ball was not used.  The correct way to write this sentence is:  After Tom scored a touchdown, John proceeded to spike the ball to the turf.

Examples Cont. In Tom’s shoe was a rock, he then got it out by taking his shoe off.  The pronoun “he” cannot refer logically to the possessive modifier Tom’s.(G3 b, pg. 191, A Writer’s Reference)  In Tom’s shoe was a rock, Tom then took off his shoe and shook the rock out.  The revision substitute the noun Tom’s for the pronoun “it”, thereby eliminating the problem.

Broad Reference of this, that, which, and it For clarity, the pronouns this, that, which, and it should ordinarily refer to specific antecedents rather than to whole ideas or sentences. When a pronoun’s reference is needlessly broad, either replace the pronoun with a noun or supply an antecedent to which the pronoun clearly refers.(G3 b, pg. 191, A Writer’s Reference)

Examples Time after time, the football team is finding ways to win close games by a couple of points. They have learned to accept this style.  The correct way to rewrite this:  Time after time, the football team is finding ways to win close games by a couple of points. They have learned to expect close games because it results in victory.  For clarity we substituted (close games) for the pronoun (this), which referred broadly to the idea expressed in the sentence. (G3 b, pg. 191, A Writer’s Reference)

Examples Cont. Tom and John were both to old to play anymore, which resulted in retirement.  The correct way to write this:  Tom and John were both to old to play anymore, an unwanted reality that resulted in retirement.  For clarity we substituted (unwanted reality) for the pronoun (which), which referred broadly to the idea expressed in the sentence. (G3 b, pg. 191, A Writer’s Reference)

Why is this Important? It is important to clarify and specify the subjects of the sentence in order to not leave the reader hanging and wondering what is happening. Pronouns can be used so nouns do not have to be repeated and also make the sentence flow better.

Thank you for listening and actively participating. This concludes our presentation of Pronoun References.