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?
* 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 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.
Which sentence has a pronoun error?
In sentence D, “
nobody” is singular
while the pronoun “they” is plural. In this sentence, the pronoun “they” refers back to “nobody” as its antecedent. but “nobody” is a singular indefinite pronoun. Thus, there is an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement.
What type of pronoun is 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.
How do you fix 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. Corrected: As soon as Belinda saw Hannah, Belinda waved hello.
What is a vague sentence?
not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed
: vague promises. indefinite or indistinct in nature or character, as ideas or feelings: a vague premonition of disaster.
How do you identify vague pronouns?
A vague pronoun reference occurs
when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent
. When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief. The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
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 pronoun error example?
Pronoun agreement errors occur
when the pronoun you are using to “stand in” for a noun does not agree with that noun in number, place, or gender
. Clara needs to pick up her book. Using the singular pronoun her does agree with Clara.
What are common pronoun errors?
- No pronoun: Employees can view the employees' paychecks online.
- Pronoun: Employees can view their paychecks online.
- No pronoun: My computer broke, so tech support fixed my computer.
- Pronoun: My computer broke, so tech support fixedit.
- If one wants to achieve a dream, one must make a goal.
What is a pronoun error in English?
Pronoun-antecedent errors
happen when a pronoun does not agree with its antecedent, which can create confusion in your writing
. Pronouns are generic noun replacements such as him, her, it, and them. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces.
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 is a faulty pronoun?
In traditional grammar, faulty pronoun reference is
a catch-all term for a pronoun (often a personal pronoun) that doesn't refer clearly and unambiguously to its antecedent
. Here are three common types of faulty pronoun reference: Ambiguous reference occurs when a pronoun can refer to more than one antecedent.
What is the difference between a pronoun and an antecedent?
A personal pronoun takes the place of a noun. An antecedent is the word, phrase, or
clause
to which a pronoun refers.
