Grammar Tip: The Vague Antecedent
Sometimes authors get into the habit of using the pronouns this, that, it, or
which to refer to a noun or clause (called an antecedent) in the previous sentence.
Using these pronouns is not necessarily wrong—as long as the reference is clear. If the reference is not
obvious, however, readers may hesitate and go back over the previous sentence to understand what an author is
trying to say.
A pronoun should clearly refer to one specific antecedent. A vague pronoun antecedent occurs when a pronoun
refers to one or more groups of words and the reference is not clear. In this grammar tip, let's take a look
at how to avoid vague antecedents in your writing.
Examples
In the first example, the pronoun this is vague because it could refer to any noun
in the previous sentence or even to the entire sentence. What diminishes over time:
the latent infection? the need to be monitored? the risk of developing active disease? all of these
things?
Example
Patients with a latent infection may need to be monitored for several months because they are at risk of
developing the active form of the disease. This diminishes over time.
Several solutions are possible. In the first correction, the added noun risk turns
this into an adjective and makes the meaning clear. In the second correction, a noun
phrase (the need to monitor these patients) replaces the original pronoun. The
third correction is the most extensive revision.
Correction 1
Patients with a latent infection may need to be monitored for several months because they are at risk
of developing the active form of the disease. This risk diminishes over time.
Correction 1
Patients with a latent infection may need to be monitored for several months because they are at risk
of developing the active form of the disease. The need to monitor these patients diminishes
over time.
Correction 1
Patients with a latent infection may need to be monitored for several months because they are at risk
of developing the active form of the disease. As the risk diminishes over time, so too does
the need to monitor these patients.
Now suppose that in the example sentence, the original pronoun was replaced with the pronoun
which, as follows:
Example
Patients with a latent infection may need to be monitored for several months because they are at risk of
developing the active form of the disease, which diminishes
over time.
Would this substitution change the vagueness of the antecedent? No, the same strategies that were used in the
original example need to be applied here.
Quick Tips: The Vague Antecedent
- Be especially careful with the pronouns this, that, it, and which to ensure
that the reader will be able to identify the antecedent.
- Correct vague pronoun antecedents by turning the pronoun into an adjective, replacing the pronoun with a noun
or noun phrase, or revising the sentence more extensively.
Do you have a question or comment about this grammar tip? Simply contact
me online and I'll be pleased to help.
