As a copy editor, one of the most important grammar rules that I come across is pronoun-antecedent agreement. If you`re wondering what pronoun-antecedent agreement means, it`s simply the agreement between a pronoun and its antecedent or the noun that the pronoun replaces.

Why is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Important?

Pronoun-antecedent agreement is essential in writing because it helps to ensure that your sentences are clear, concise, and easy to understand. When the pronoun that you use matches its antecedent in number, gender, and person, it makes your writing more readable, and it prevents misunderstandings.

Examples of Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Let’s look at a few examples to illustrate how pronoun-antecedent agreement works in practice:

1. Incorrect: Each student must bring their own textbooks.

Correct: Each student must bring his or her own textbooks OR Each student must bring their own textbook (using the singular “they”)

In this example, there is a disagreement between the singular “each student” and the plural pronoun “their.” To fix this error, we can either use a gender-neutral pronoun like “their” or rewrite the sentence to use a singular pronoun like “his or her.”

2. Incorrect: The boy who won the race, he was very happy.

Correct: The boy who won the race was very happy.

In this example, the pronoun “he” is unnecessary because “the boy who won the race” already identifies the person being discussed.

3. Incorrect: The company offered its employees a bonus if they finish their work on time.

Correct: The company offered its employees a bonus if they finish their work on time.

In this example, the pronoun “they” refers to “employees,” which is plural, so it is correct.

How to Ensure Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

To ensure that your writing has proper pronoun-antecedent agreement, here are a few tips to follow:

1. Identify the antecedent before using a pronoun. Make sure you know which noun the pronoun refers to in the sentence.

2. Use the appropriate pronoun for the antecedent. This means using the same number (singular/plural), gender (masculine/feminine), and person (first/third) as the antecedent.

3. Be cautious with gender-neutral pronouns. While they are becoming more commonly used, some readers may still find them confusing.

In conclusion, pronoun-antecedent agreement is a crucial grammar rule that every writer should be aware of. By following the guidelines above, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand, while avoiding any confusion or misunderstandings.