How do you correct vague pronouns in a sentence?
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.
Why are vague pronouns a problem in writing?
Pronouns are frequently used in academic writing, but the use of ‘vague pronouns’ can be problematic. 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 are vague pronouns examples?
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent. They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
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 are vague pronoun words?
What is a vague pronoun reference? A pronoun is a part of speech that can replace a noun; its antecedent is the person, place, or thing to which the pronoun refers. 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.
What are vague nouns?
vagueness. (uncountable) The condition of being unclear; vague. (countable) Something which is vague, or an instance or example of vagueness.
What is vague sentence?
She has been vague about her plans for college. We had only a vague idea of where we were. I think I have a vague understanding of how it works. He longed in some vague way for something different. She felt a vague sense of uneasiness when she was around him.
What are examples of vague words?
Common vague expressions include:
- and that kind of thing and stuff like that.
- and that sort of thing and stuff.
- and that type of thing and so on.
- and things like that and this, that and the other.
- and the like.
What is an example of a vague statement?
Examples of very vague terms: “Many,” (“A lot,” “Lots”) How many is many? There’s no precise cut-off. Some numbers clearly aren’t ‘many,’ some clearly are, but some numbers may or may not count as ‘many.
What 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.
What is careful pronoun use and why is it important?
Careful pronoun usehelps writers avoid confusion and miscommunication. When pronoun reference is vague or ambiguous, it means that the noun (or antecedent) that the pronoun refers to is not clear. Susan Thurman, in The Only Grammar Book You’ll Ever Need, says that after verbs, pronouns cause the most problems with writers.
What is the pronoun she refers to?
Here, the pronoun she refers to the noun Shirley (it’s antecedent). In the following example, however, the reference is not as clear: Billy Joe invited Darrell to the ranch because he enjoyed horseback riding. Here there are two possible nouns or antecedents the pronoun he could refer to: Billy Joe and Darrell.
Which noun does the pronoun ‘it’ replace?
The pronoun ‘it’ is the vague pronoun.The sentence must be revised to show which noun the pronoun ‘it’ replaces. Examples:The car was not damaged even though it backed into the wall.The wall was not damaged even though the car backed into it. Correct the vague pronoun reference.