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.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Doris decided to follow up surgery for tumor removal with chemotherapy. This reduces the potential for metastatic cancer. Revised sentence: Doris decided to follow up surgery for tumor removal with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy reduces the potential for metastatic cancer.

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