2024年8月13日 · Let’s take a look at four examples of unclear antecedents that are the result of an unstated antecedent. We’ll feast our eyes upon a potential fix for each one, too: Example 1

2022年12月19日 · An antecedent is placed near a pronoun to make it clear who or what the pronoun is referring to. The phrase “He needs to go outside” has little meaning because it’s unclear if he refers to a dog or to a person who’s been stuck in the house all day.

The best way to test for unclear antecedents of this type is, therefore, to first identify all of the pronouns with unstated antecedents in your writing. Then ask a reader (ideally, a member of your target audience) to look through your paper and explain what any unspecified pronouns refer to.

Unclear pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun (often "it," "this," "that," or "they") could refer to more than one antecendent in a sentence. An antecedent is simply the word (or words) that a pronoun refers to.

If the link between your pronoun and its antecedent is unclear, you will – at best – cause your readers to stall. At worst, they will misinterpret your text. To portray yourself as a clear thinker, you must ensure the antecedents of your pronouns are obvious.

Question: How do we catch unclear pronoun reference outlaws? The clues: Find the pronoun and replace it with the antecedent. If the pronoun reference is clear, the sentence should make sense. 1. Pronouns should clearly refer to a specific noun (antecedent). We should know to what each pronoun refers. A. Eliminate ambiguity. Outlaw

If the first sentence did not exist, it would be unclear what “it” is. “The box” precedes the pronoun “it.” If a pronoun is used in a dependent clause, the antecedent will always be in the independent clause.

When a sentence does not clearly identify which noun a subsequent pronoun refers to, the error is referred to as an unclear antecedent. (The Latin antecedent of that word, which is a synonym for precedent — ante means “before” — is antecedens, “what precedes.”)

Recognize pronouns and antecedents; clear vs. unclear reference; examine common errors when multiple nouns are present.

Unclear Antecedent A pronoun's antecedent must be clear. Incorrect: I never go to that place because they have stale bread. (What does they refer to? Both I and place are singular.) Correct: I never go to that place because it has stale bread.