A pronoun is vague
when it’s unclear which noun the pronoun refers to
. To correct a vague pronoun, replace the pronoun with its noun antecedent. Vague: As soon as Belinda saw Hannah, she waved hello.
Which sentence has a vague pronoun?
* Harry was always late for class, and this drove his teacher crazy
. * Harry was always late for class, which drove his teacher crazy. That problem is vague pronoun reference. It, this, and which are pronouns, and they need to refer back to a specific noun, not to the whole idea of a previous statement.
Which is a vague pronoun?
A vague pronoun reference might include
words such as it, that, this, and which, and can leave the reader wondering
what or to whom the pronoun refers. Writers who strive for clarity in their work should be certain that each pronoun has a specific antecedent.
How do you get rid of vague pronouns?
The easiest way to avoid using vague pronouns in your writing is to ensure that you are clear and specific about what you are referring to, which is best accomplished by using
demonstrative pronouns
as adjectives that modify a more descriptive term (e.g., “This inconsistency” or “These findings”).
What makes a pronoun vague?
A pronoun is considered to be vague
when it is difficult to determine what the pronoun refers to (the antecedent)
. Ambiguity or confusion can occur when demonstrative pronouns, such as ‘this’ or ‘it’ (which have no clear antecedents), are used to begin a sentence.
What is a vague word?
1a :
not clearly expressed
: stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. b : not having a precise meaning a vague term of abuse. 2a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct only a vague notion of what’s needed also : slight a vague hint of a thickening waistline hasn’t the vaguest idea.
What is a vague pronoun error?
Faulty / vague pronoun reference errors also
occur when the pronoun’s antecedent functions as an adjective rather than a noun
. In such cases, the true antecedent is “hidden” or obscured from the reader because it has been subordinated to another noun. Thus, we call this kind of faulty antecedent a hidden antecedent.
Which sentence has a vague pronoun error?
Another kind of faulty/vague pronoun reference error occurs when
a writer uses a pronoun without supplying the antecedent
. Incorrect: “The witness called the television station, but they didn’t answer.” In this example, the pronoun “they” has no antecedent to which it can refer.
What is vague reference?
Vague reference is
a common problem in sentences where
“this,” “it,” “which” or other such words don’t refer back to any one specific word or phrase, but a whole situation. … There are lots of ways to reorganize this sentence to avoid the vague reference.
What every pronoun needs?
Pronouns
must agree in number, in gender, and person with their antecedents
. Additionally, pronouns should also agree with the antecendent in number, gender, and person.
What is a vague or ambiguous pronoun?
The noun which a pronoun substitutes for or refers to.
Ambiguous
Pronoun Reference. A pronoun with multiple, possible antecedents. Vague Pronoun Reference. A pronoun without a specific antecedent.
What is a vague word in a sentence?
Vague language is
words and phrases that aren’t very exact or precise
. You might want to use these phrases if you aren’t sure of all the details of something, to speak informally in a friendly way, or perhaps just to save time in a conversation!
What is an example of vague?
The definition of vague is something unclear, hazy or uncertain. An example of vague would be
directions to a house that don’t include street names
. Lacking definite shape, form, or character; indistinct. Saw a vague outline of a building through the fog.
What are some examples of vague words?
- Vague Words Tables. In the English language, writers commonly overuse certain words. …
- Very. Clearly, Considerably, …
- A Lot. Time: Often, Oftentimes, …
- Big. Above average, Ample, …
- Small. Dinky, Faint, Light, Limited, …
- Good/ Great. …
- Bad. Cheap, Dissatisfactory, …
- Confused Amazed, Astonished, Baffled, Bewildered, Disoriented,
