✅ What is Pronoun Reference?

A pronoun reference means a pronoun must clearly refer to a specific noun (called the antecedent). If the reference is unclear, the sentence becomes confusing.

PRONOUN REFERENCE: THE ANTECEDENT

An antecedent is the noun to which a pronoun refers. A pronoun gains meaning only through its antecedent. Because you want your writing to be clear, it is important that your pronouns have an antecedent, and that the reference to the antecedent be recognizable. VAGUE

ANTECEDENTS: When you use pronouns, be sure they refer to a specific noun and that the reference is clear. Pronouns usually refer to the closest preceding noun, but sometimes that relationship can be confusing. Review the following examples of the relationship.

Incorrect Example: Paul told Jake he had a test on Friday.

Who has the test? Is it Paul or Jake? Do we really know?

Correct Example: Paul told Jake, “You have a test on Friday.” OR Paul told Jake that Jake had a test on Friday

Now we know that Jake has the test! Often, we must repeat the noun in order to avoid a pronoun error.

Incorrect Example: The debate between Paul and Jake began when he made the decision to give up smoking.

Who gave up smoking? Was it Paul or Jake?

Correct Example: The debate between Paul and Jake began when Jake made the decision to give up smoking. Now it is quite clear who quit smoking, isn’t it.

MISSING ANTECEDENTS: Watch out for no antecedent at all! Sometimes, we write pronouns that do not refer to any noun. This is called a missing antecedent.

Incorrect Example: Paul was an artist, but he never sold any of them.

Paul never sold what? Drawings, paintings, sculptures?

The pronoun them has no antecedent; it does not refer to any noun.

Correct Example: Paul was an artist, but he never sold any of his paintings.

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✅ RULE 1: Pronoun must agree in number (singular/plural)

✔ Singular noun → singular pronoun
✔ Plural noun → plural pronoun

✅ Correct:

• The boy lost his book.

• The boys lost their books.

❌ Incorrect:

• The boy lost their book.

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✅ RULE 2: Pronoun must agree in gender

✔ Masculine → he / him / his
✔ Feminine → she / her / hers
✔ Neutral or unknown → it / they / their

✅ Correct:

• My sister said she would come.

• The dog wagged its tail.

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✅ RULE 3: Pronoun must agree in person

✔ First person: I, we
✔ Second person: you
✔ Third person: he, she, they

✅ Correct:

• If a student wants success, he or she must study.
  (or “they” for modern use)

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✅ RULE 4: The antecedent must be clear (no ambiguity)

❌ Incorrect:

• When Sarah talked to Emma, she was angry. (Who was angry?)

✅ Correct:

• When Sarah talked to Emma, Sarah was angry.
  (or)

• When Sarah talked to Emma, Emma was angry.

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✅ RULE 5: Avoid pronouns without a stated antecedent

❌ Incorrect:

• They say it will rain. (Who are “they”?)

✅ Correct:

• The weather forecast says it will rain.

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✅ RULE 6: Place pronoun close to its antecedent

❌ Incorrect:

• John went to the party after talking to Robert, and he had a great time. (Who had a great time?)

✅ Correct:

• After talking to Robert, John went to the party and had a great time.

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✅ RULE 7: Be careful with this / that / which / it

These pronouns must refer to a specific noun, not an idea.

❌ Incorrect:

• He failed the exam, which made him sad. (Which = failing or the exam?)

✅ Correct:

• Failing the exam made him sad.

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✅ RULE 8: Each / Everyone / Anyone = singular

Even though they sound plural, they take singular pronouns.

✅ Correct:

• Each student must bring his or her book.
  (or modern: their book)

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✅ RULE 9: Collective nouns depend on meaning

✔ If the group acts as one → singular
✔ If individuals act separately → plural

✅ Correct:

• The team won its match. (as a unit)

• The team argued among themselves. (individual members)

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✅ RULE 10: Do not use it incorrectly

❌ Incorrect:

• In the bag was some money and a key. It was old. (What was old?)

✅ Correct:

• In the bag was some money and a key. The key was old.

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✅ RULE 11: Avoid unnecessary pronouns

❌ Incorrect:

• My mother, she is a teacher.

✅ Correct:

• My mother is a teacher.

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✅ RULE 12: Pronoun must match in meaning

❌ Incorrect:

• The children played in the park, and he was happy.

✅ Correct:

• The children played in the park, and they were happy.

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Special points to remember about pronoun reference:

 

1. Avoid using pronouns that are particularly vague- it, they, and you. People tend to overuse these pronouns in speech and seldom state the noun to which they refer.

You may have heard people say, “What are they wearing this year?” in reference to the new styles from the fashion industry.

But, of course, we really have no idea to whom “they” refers.

Notice how the following sentences are improved when a clarifying noun is added to replace the vague pronouns.

Example: It says on the label that this medicine has no side effects.

Correct Example: The bottle label states that this medicine has no side effects.

At this point, you may be tempted to think that being so specific is being very picky. However, the more specific we become in speech and writing, the more we avoid miscommunication. Additionally, many professions, such as engineering, law, and medicine, are dependent on specificity. “Almost right” or “you know what I mean” doesn’t work in these professions.

Look at one more example. Example: On our bus route, they arrive at strange hours. Corrected Example: The buses on our route arrive at strange hours.

2. Never shift from one pronoun form to another in the same sentence. Pronouns are classified as first person, second person, or third person. Avoid shifting from one person to another, such as a shift from first person to third person.

Example: We have reached the point where one must make a decision.

Do you see the pronoun problem in this sentence? The first person pronoun, we, shifted to the third person pronoun, one. Not only does the pronoun shift sound awkward, it leaves unanswered who is to make the decision. The corrected version clarifies who should make the decision.

Corrected Example: We have reached the point where we must make a decision.

3. Avoid using the second person pronoun “you” in formal writing. Using a noun and the third person pronoun–he, she, it, they, and them–clarifies the meaning of the sentence. Example: In this school, you can choose your instructors.

Corrected Example: In this school, students can choose their instructors.

Example:

Inc: After putting the gold in the almirah, Sharmin locked it.

Here Pronoun “it” is not clear where as it is indicate gold or Almirah.

Corr: After putting the gold in the almirah, Sharmin locked the almirah.

Inc: Take the radio out of the car and fix it.

Corr: Take the radio out of the car and fix the radio.

Or   : Take the radio out of the car and fix the car.

Inc: The ice cream box was empty, but we were tired of eating it.

Corr: Te ice cream box was empty but we were tired of eating ice cream.

Basic Rules of Pronoun Reference

1. Pronoun is always used according to his noun’s number. If noun is singular pronoun will be singular and noun is plural pronoun will be plural.

Inc: Everyone is trying their best to do well in the exam.

Cor: Everyone is trying his/her best to do well in the exam.

2. Pronoun must be according to it’s person.

Inc: If a person works hard, you will succeed.

Cor: If a person works hard, he/she will succeed.

3. Pronoun never indicates any possessive noun. Because when noun is possessive it is worked as adjective. So it is not possible to use any pronoun instead of any possessive.

Inc: In the teacher’s attitude he was very impartial.

Cor: The teacher’s attitude was very impartial.

Or : The teacher was very impartial in his attitude.

4. Antecedent must be Explicit.

Inc: In case of reducing pollution they opined that public awareness is a must.

Cor: In case of reducing pollution the experts opined that public awareness is at must.

5. Relative pronoun sometimes indicates clause.

Inc: You kill time which is unwanted.

Cor: You kill time and that is unwanted.

6. Who indicates the person where as which/ that indicates the animal or things.

Inc: I met the boy that is your friend.

Cor: I met the boy who is your friend.

7. One antecedent is used for a singular noun.

Inc: Azim has invited Azad to his house. Now Azim and Azad are going to their house.

Cor: Azim has invited Azad to his house. Now Azim and Azad are going to Azim’s house.

✅ BONUS TIP: Modern English often uses they/them as gender-neutral singular pronouns:

✅ Example:

• If someone calls, tell them I’m busy.

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✅ Summary Table: