Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference?
Several competent city council members have been elected in Newport, but the mayor's office has prevented the council members from significantly influencing policy. The citizens of Newport have elected several competent city council members, but the mayor's office has prevented them from significantly influencing policy.
When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The second answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun them could refer to the citizens or several competent city council members.
The citizens of Newport have elected several competent city council members, but the mayor's office has prevented them from significantly influencing policy.
The first answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. The text has been rewritten so that the meaning is clear.
Several competent city council members have been elected in Newport, but the mayor's office has prevented the council members from significantly influencing policy.