- A pronoun must agree with its antecedent
in number, person, and case.
- If the antecedent of the pronoun is a collective
noun and the collective noun has, earlier in the sentence, agreed
with a singular verb, the pronoun must be singular.
- A pronoun must have a single clear antecedent;
the same pronoun, used twice in a sentence, must refer to only
one antecedent.
- Use "he or she,'' "him or her,''
or "his or her'' to refer to singular antecedents of indefinite
gender.
- As a normal pronoun, "this" requires a clear reference; yet, in speech we use it loosely. Especially beware of sentences beginning with "This" and moving straight to the verb; what "this" refers to is clear only about half of the time. If you suspect that your "this" reference is not entirely clear, replace "This . . ." with "This (whatever it is) . . ."
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==>Guidelines ==>Conventions
==>Grammar