LESSON 1.29
Unclear Pronouns
Not being clear to readers is another form of discourtesy. That is not a big problem when we speak, because the listener can ask for clarification, but readers do not have that opportunity.
It
The word it is often unclear. We need to be certain readers know what it refers to.
Unclear: My cat and dog sleep on my bed, but it hates me.
Clear: My cat and dog sleep on my bed, but the cat hates me.
Unclear: Take the frame from the picture and sell it.
Clear: Sell the picture after you take off the frame.
Unclear: After playing her valuable records many times, Mabel sold it.
Clear: After playing her valuable records many times, Mabel sold the collection.
Unclear: The bowl was empty, but we were sick of eating it anyway.
Clear: The bowl was empty, but we were sick of eating the soup anyway.
Unclear: Ms. Williams is a great athlete, but she is wasting it.
Clear: Ms. Williams is a great athlete, but she is wasting her skills.
They
The word they also is often unclear. We need to be certain readers know what it refers to.
Unclear: Canine flu is a big problem, but they’re working on it.
Clear: Canine flu is a big problem, but scientists are working on it.
Unclear: They’re putting in a building over on Jefferson.
Clear: The City is putting in a building over on Jefferson.
Unclear: They’re working on a ship down at the docks.
Clear: The Navy is having work down on a ship down at the docks.
Unclear: They’re certain to win the drama-queen competition.
Clear: Those five girls in Ms. Belton’s class are certain to win the drama-queen competition.
Other Unclear Pronouns
Make sure that what you write is what you intended. For example:
Unclear: Randi was supposed to meet Lorena for basketball practice, but she never showed up.
Clear: Randi was supposed to meet Lorena for basketball practice, but Lorena never showed up.
Unclear: Juan and Karl won the three-legged race, but he did not want a trophy.
Clear: Juan and Karl won the three-legged race, but Juan did not want a trophy.
This
This is singular and therefore cannot refer to two things.
Incorrect: Greta has a great voice and can dance beautifully. This should help her with her career in Broadway shows.
Correct: Greta has a great voice and can dance beautifully. Those should help her with her career in Broadway shows.
Even Better: Greta has a great voice and can dance beautifully. Those talents should help her with her career in Broadway shows.
Advanced Concept:
When to Use Which and When to Use That
Let’s say a phrase could begin with which or that. If the information is needed for the sentence to be clear, then use that. If the information is not necessary, then use which.
If you use which, put a comma at the beginning and at the end of the phrase.
Necessary information: Joe’s cats that were in the show were all white.
(Joe has some cats that were not in the show.)
Information not necessary: Joe’s cats, which were in the show, were all white.
(All of Joe’s cats were in the show, so we could delete the phrase, and the important information remains the same: Joe’s cats were all white.)
Small Group Activity
Fix problems having to do with pronouns. Don’t assume the sentence is incorrect.
- Jonica went into Raybelle’s bedroom and tried on her new dress.
- Global warming and child slavery are huge problems. Hopefully, they can solve it.
- Blanchard began drilling out the inflamed tooth. Beatrice said it was very painful.
- Randi was worried about his street’s sewer system but was told they are working on it.
- Susan Androi’s agent told her she had what it takes to break into show business.
- I took my three dogs for a walk, but he wouldn’t mind me.
- No one scored the minimum number of points in the contest, so they couldn’t decide what to do with the trophy.
- Maxwell came up with three great plays. We’ll have to ask Coach about it.
- Weeba brainstormed an idea which no one else on the team had considered.
- Jackson had a date, that was unusual, last Friday.
