Pronoun Reference Errors, Solutions & Exceptions

Rule: Every pronoun should have a clear and specific antecedent

So…what’s wrong with the examples below?

1. Albert told his uncle that his money had been stolen. (Whose money? "His" is vague)

1. The fix: Albert told his uncle that Albert's money had been stolen.
2. The better fix: Albert said to his uncle, "My money has been stolen."

2. The dog was almost hit by the car that had run out of the house. (Where do you keep your car?)

1. The fix: Move the misplaced clause or reword the sentence.

3. I am nice to police officers, which gets me out of speeding tickets. ("being nice" is implied but not stated.)

a. The Fix: Reword, supply a clear antecedent or a substitute for the pronoun.

ie. Being nice to police officers is a habit that gets me out of tickets.

ie. Being nice to police officers gets me out of tickets.

4. He talked about visiting Argentina, and this was interesting. (His "talking", right?)

a. The fix: His talk about visiting Argentina was interesting.

5. My mother is a good golfer. She has been doing this for only two years. (This?)

a. The fix: My mom is a good golfer. She has been playing for only two years.

b. Although my mom's been playing golf for only two years, she's good.

6. While my sister washed the doghouse, it stayed inside barking. (It?)

The fix: While my sister washed the doghouse, the dog stayed inside barking.

Why are these correct? It looks like rain.

It is two PM.

It is three miles to the nearest movie-theater.

7. You need to know grammar if you want to survive sophomore English.

The fix: Avoid using YOU and YOUR as impersonal pronouns.

8. When a man overeats, you shouldn’t exercise for a while.

9. All those who ate the salmon mousse should call your doctors.

Practice: Circle any pronouns that have reference problems (broad reference, weak reference, ambiguous reference, improper personal usage). Then rewrite the sentence, effectively eliminating the problem. If the sentence is correct as is, write “C”.

1. The Patriots may win the Super Bowl, which will make New England happy.
2. I bought season tickets to the Patriots in the early 80’s, and this was a big mistake.
3. I bought season tickets to the Bruins, which I can’t use this year.
4. Tom Brady told Matt Cassell that he’d lost his cleats.
5. The students brought their parents to class, and they were quite happy.
6. I laughed at the television show even though it was muted, which woke the baby.

Now For a Few Exceptions:

• Don’s great grandfather had made millions producing railroad ties and his grandfather had doubled their fortune manufacturing train parts. But his own father had taken a “soft” job teaching at an Ivy League college, and this paved the way for Don to become an academic as well.
• She was dating our handsome but neurotic student body president, which contributed greatly to her mediocre grades.
• Everyone stared at the splint on my discolored finger, which made it throb even more.
• The salamander escaped from its aquarium, which may explain why last week's soufflé tasted so strange.

Bad grammar or poetic license? You decide. When presenting, work in an academic or professional setting, however, one usually tries to demonstrate her writing skills, as well as the quality of her training, by following the rules of Standard English.