13.4.4: Pronoun Reference

ENG-001A: Composition and Reading · LibreTexts

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    Pronoun Reference

    Pronoun reference errors also make the list because pronouns seem to give a lot of beginning writers some trouble. A pronoun reference error occurs when you use a pronoun like "he" or "she", and it’s not clear what that pronoun refers to. Here is an example:

    • When Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker were battling with their light sabers, he became angry.

    Who does "he" refer to? It isn’t clear. A pronoun should clearly refer to its antecedent (the word it replaces), so if the antecedent is not clear, you need to revise. Here’s an example of how you might correct the pronoun reference error:

    • When Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker were battling with their light sabers, Luke became angry.

    13.4.4: Pronoun Reference is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.