Pronoun reference: Overview

Pronouns substitute for nouns; they are a kind of shorthand. The word a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.

When one word, such as a pronoun, points to another word, the relation is called reference. Pronoun reference problems can arise when pronouns don’t point clearly to their antecedents.

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

If a pronoun points to a word that is implied but not present in the sentence, the result is implied reference.

When the pronoun this, that, which, or it points to a whole sentence or an idea, the pronoun’s reference is needlessly broad.

When a pronoun points to something or someone who has not been specifically mentioned, the problem is indefinite reference.

Exercise: Pronoun reference 1

Exercise: Pronoun reference 2

Exercise: Pronoun reference 3

Exercise: Pronoun reference 4