Broad reference of this, that, which, and it

For clarity, the pronouns this, that, which, and it should usually refer to specific antecedents rather than to whole ideas or sentences. When a pronoun’s reference is needlessly broad, you have two options for revision:

1. Replace the pronoun with a noun.

For clarity, the writer substituted a noun (chemotherapy) for the pronoun this, which referred broadly to the idea expressed in the preceding sentence.

2. Supply an antecedent to which the pronoun clearly refers.

Exercises:

Pronoun reference 1

Pronoun reference 2

Pronoun reference 3

Pronoun reference 4