Indefinite Pronoun Reference and Ambiguous Pronoun Reference Seen

Indefinite Pronoun Reference and Ambiguous Pronoun Reference (Seen on an advertisement for a vacuum cleaner): Don't kill your wife with work. Do it with electricity.

Indefinite Pronoun Reference o Indefinite means not clear. o To avoid any confusion for the reader, every personal pronoun should refer clearly to a definite antecedent. n n Indefinite: It says in the paper that a strike is probable. p What is it? Better: The paper says that a strike is probable. Indefinite: Harry wants to run for office because it is exciting. p What is exciting? Better: Harry wants to run for office because politics is exciting.

Indefinite Pronoun Reference and “You” o The pronoun “you” is sometimes used when it is not meant to refer to the person being spoken to. The effect is often confusing. o Rather than use “you, ” use a third person pronoun. n n Indefinite: In that course you have fewer exams. Better: In that course there are fewer exams. Indefinite: From a single corn kernel you can grow a plant. Better: From a single corn kernel one may grow a plant.

Ambiguous Pronoun Reference o Ambiguous means “having two or more possible meanings. ” o If the pronoun could refer to more than one word in the sentence, it is an ambiguous reference. o This often occurs when a noun or pronoun falls between a pronoun and its true antecedent.

Ambiguous Reference Practice o Ambiguous: n Take the books off the shelves and dust them. p o Better: n o Dust the books after you take them off the shelves. Ambiguous: n Vince told Jeff he won the prize. p o Vince told Jeff, “I’ve won the prize. ” Ambiguous: n Before they could get the rocket off the pad, it had to be repaired. p o Who won the prize? Vince? Jeff? Better: n o Dust what? The books? The shelves? What has to be repaired? The pad? The rocket? Better: n They had to repair the rocket before they could get it off the pad.