Making Pronoun References Clear Pronouns refer back to a noun or replace nouns in a sentence. If it is not clear what specific noun a given pronoun refers to, the sentence becomes confusing. Following are examples of how writers may unintentionally create unclear pronoun references. Ambiguous pronoun references occur when a pronoun used in the second half of a sentence could refer to more than one noun in the first part of the sentence. For example: Although the vase fell on the chair, it did not break. In the sentence above, it is not clear whether the vase or the chair did not break. A better sentence would look like this: Although the vase fell, it did not break when it hit the chair. In this sentence, it clearly refers to the vase. Implied pronoun references refer to a word that is not actually present in the sentence. For example: In Lisa’s essay, she presents the advantages of hybrid vehicles. A reader might assume that the pronoun she refers to Lisa, but the word Lisa’s functions as a possessive modifier of the noun essay; therefore, the pronoun she illogically refers to the word Lisa’s. It is also incorrect to use pronouns such as they or them when referring to persons who have not been named. For example: Last week, they decided to cancel classes due to the snowstorm. In this case, it is unclear who they are. While the reader may imply that they are teachers or professors, the writer should never assume that the reader knows what has not been clarified. Broad use of the pronouns this, that, which, and it should also refer to specific nouns or ideas. For example: Sam is forced to walk his sister to school every day. He accepts this begrudgingly. The pronoun this is a vague reference to the first sentence in its entirety. For clarity, consider the following: Sam is forced to baby-sit his sister after school every day. He accepts his responsibility begrudgingly. By substituting the phrase his responsibility for the pronoun this, there is no question as to what Sam accepts begrudgingly. Sources: Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference: with Writing About Literature. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2007.
