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.
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.
Which sentences have vague pronouns?
Each of these sentences has the same problem:
* Harry was always late for class, and it drove his teacher crazy.
* 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.
How do you identify a vague pronoun?
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.
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 words are 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.
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.
How do you fix vague writing?
How to Avoid Vague Writing. – Use
descriptions
if you need to convey your impression of an object, scene, or person. Instead of saying, “My new boss has a weird appearance,” for instance, you could write: “My new boss has purple hair and dark-red lipstick, and instead of a business suit, she wore jeans and a singlet.”
How do you fix ambiguous pronouns?
When a pronoun and its antecedent are separated by other words, the pronoun reference may be unclear. To avoid this issue, rewrite the sentence in order to
place the pronoun closer to the antecedent to which it refers
. Let’s take a look at an example: When Elizabeth dropped her computer on the table, it broke.
Is when a vague pronoun?
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when
they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent
. … The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
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.
What is a pronoun and give examples?
Definition. A pronoun (I, me, he, she, herself, you, it, that, they, each, few, many, who, whoever, whose, someone, everybody, etc.) is
a word that takes the place of a noun
. In the sentence Joe saw Jill, and he waved at her, the pronouns he and her take the place of Joe and Jill, respectively.
Can an antecedent be a pronoun?
What is an antecedent? An antecedent is a
noun or pronoun to which another noun or pronoun refers
. It usually goes before the pronoun (“ante” means before).
How do I stop being vague?
In both conversational and formal English, avoid vagueness.
Never use a pronoun that may refer to two or more ideas
; don’t leave your reader or listener wondering what you mean.
What are Appositives in grammar?
An appositive is
a noun or pronoun — often with modifiers — set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it
. Here are some examples of appositives (the noun or pronoun will be in blue, the appositive will be in red).
What is an ambiguous sentence?
An ambiguous sentence
has two or more possible meanings within a single sentence or sequence of words
. This can confuse the reader and make the meaning of the sentence unclear.
