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Vague Pronoun Reference

Vague Pronoun Reference. By Gia Campbell and Elia Hernandez. What is Vague or Ambiguous pronoun reference ?. Pronoun: a pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun, noun phrase, or another pronoun. A Vague pronoun: is a pronoun that doesn’t have an explicit antecedent.

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Vague Pronoun Reference

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  1. Vague Pronoun Reference By Gia Campbell and Elia Hernandez

  2. What is Vague orAmbiguous pronoun reference? • Pronoun: a pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun, noun phrase, or another pronoun. • A Vague pronoun: is a pronoun that doesn’t have an explicit antecedent. • Examples: This, They, These, Those, That, Some, and It

  3. Example Sentences • Ex: When Mr. Rivera applied for a loan, they outlined the procedures for him. • Revised: When Mr. Rivera applied to bank officials for a loan, they outlined the procedure for him. • Explain: The “they" in the first sentence is ambiguous, in the second sentence the “they" refers to the bank officials; giving a clear subject.

  4. Second Example • Ex: Organizations ranging from the National Institute of Child Health to the American Cancer Society have issued warnings about the dangers of alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, these have not gotten much attention in the media. • Revised: Organizations ranging from the National Institute of Child Health to the American Cancer Society have issued warnings about the dangers of alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, the warnings have not gotten much attention in the media. • Explain: Note that these in the firstsentence is ambiguous. Does it refer to warnings, or to dangers? Either is a possible referent

  5. Avoid using vague pronouns • Refer clearly to a specific noun • Ask yourself who they, this these…etc is referring to • Examples: NOT: I don't think they should show violence on TV. (Who are "they"?) • NOT: Vacation is coming soon, which is nice. (What is nice, the vacation or the fact that it is coming soon?) • NOT: George worked in a national forest last summer. This may be his life's work. (What word does "this" refer to?) • NOT: If you put this sheet in your notebook, you can refer to it. (What does "it" refer to, the sheet or your notebook?)

  6. Ways to Correct • Rule: You could combine the two parts into a single statement: • Example: The fact that Harry was always late drove his teacher crazy. • Corrected: Harry’s habitual lateness drove his teacher crazy. • Rule: You could replace “it”with a noun: • Example:Harry was always late for class, and it drove his teacher crazy. • Corrected: Harry was always late for class, and his habitual lateness drove his teacher crazy. • Rule: You could add a noun to “this”: • Example: Harry was always late for class , and this drove his teacher crazy. • Corrected: Harry was always late for class, and this habit of his drove his teacher crazy.

  7. Works Cited • Websites: • http://www.unh.edu/writing/cwc/handouts/grammar/grammar-vaguepronouns.pdf • http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/595/01/ • http://wps.ablongman.com/long_faigley_penguinhb_1/0%2C7325%2C506590-%2C00.html • Book: • Raimes, Ann and Maria Jerskey. Keys for Writers. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011, 453. Print.

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