Pronoun Clarity

​Pronoun clarity is the idea that a pronoun must clearly refer to a logical antecedent.

An antecedent is the noun that a pronoun replaces.

Essentially, pronoun clarity is asking you to determine if the pronoun (he, she, they, etc.) is clear, and, if not, select the answer that clearly identifies an antecedent.

​Pronoun Clarity

One difference between apples and oranges is that they have a peel.

This is incorrect because it is unclear what the pronoun is referring to. They could be apples or oranges.

One difference between apples and oranges is that oranges have a peel.

This is correct because it is clear.

Alice and Mary couldn’t find her tennis racket.

This is incorrect because it is unclear what the pronoun is referring to. Who is her?

Alice and Mary couldn’t find Mary’s tennis racket.

This is correct because it is clear.​

​Pronoun Clarity Examples

​Top tip: Find the antecedent

To recognize pronoun clarity errors, we must be able to identify the antecedent of the pronouns in question.

Ask yourself: what noun is this pronoun logically replacing?

If you find multiple possible antecedents, or if you find no possible antecedents, then you’ve found a pronoun clarity error.

Top tip: Get specific

Pronoun clarity errors often show up in questions that ask you to revise the underlined portion of a sentence.

The easiest way to fix an error like this is usually to replace the unclear pronoun with the specific noun it was meant to represent.

​Top Tips for Pronoun Clarity

Multiple Choice

Though both typewriters and computers can be used for word processing, few people used them by the end of the 20th century.

• NO CHANGE

• one

• that

• typewriters

Multiple Choice

The Dormouse sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat to the Mad Hatter three times over the course of tea. Each time, he falls asleep while singing.

• NO CHANGE

• the Dormouse

• the character

• one

Multiple Choice

The industrial processing of orange juice—which involves pasteurization and up to a year of storage—results in a product with very little flavor, so they add “flavor packs” just prior to bottling.

• NO CHANGE

• manufacturers

• they have to

• consumers

Multiple Choice

Harold and his brother Justin went to the gym together. Each challenged the other to bench-press his own weight, but only he succeeded.

• NO CHANGE

• the other

• the brother

• Justin

Multiple Choice

They frequently advise college undergraduates to pursue internships because the career specific learning provided is often even more valuable than lessons learned in the classroom.

• NO CHANGE

• Many frequently advise college undergraduates to

• College counselors often advise undergraduates to

• Because of those that advise them, college undergraduates often