Pronoun-antecedent agreement is one of the most important grammatical concepts that every writer, editor, and copy editor should understand. This concept refers to the relationship between a pronoun and the noun or noun phrase that it refers to, which is called the antecedent. Pronouns are words that replace nouns or noun phrases, such as he, she, it, they, etc. Antecedents are the words that pronouns refer to.
When a pronoun does not agree in number, person, or gender with its antecedent, it can lead to confusion and misunderstandings in written communication. In this article, we will discuss the rules and examples of pronoun-antecedent agreement that every writer should follow.
Number Agreement
Number agreement refers to the matching of a singular or plural pronoun with its corresponding antecedent. For example:
– Incorrect: All of the students lost their book. (The pronoun “their” is plural, while the antecedent “students” is singular.)
– Correct: All of the students lost his or her book. (Using the singular “his or her” correctly matches the singular antecedent.)
Person Agreement
Person agreement refers to the matching of a pronoun with its antecedent in terms of first, second, or third person. For example:
– Incorrect: Jane told you that she is going to the party. (The pronoun “she” refers to Jane, who is in the third person, while “you” is in the second person.)
– Correct: Jane told me that she is going to the party. (Using the first person pronoun “me” correctly matches the first person antecedent.)
Gender Agreement
Gender agreement refers to the matching of a pronoun with its antecedent in terms of male, female, or neutral gender. For example:
– Incorrect: The doctor said he will see you now. (The pronoun “he” assumes the gender of the antecedent “doctor” to be male.)
– Correct: The doctor said they will see you now. (Using the neutral pronoun “they” correctly avoids assuming the gender of the antecedent.)
In conclusion, pronoun-antecedent agreement is an essential concept that every writer, editor, and copy editor must understand to ensure clear and effective communication. Always make sure that your pronouns match their antecedents in number, person, and gender to avoid confusion and misunderstandings. By following these simple rules, you can improve the quality of your writing and make it more professional and effective.