As a copy editor, it`s important to know the ins and outs of grammar rules, especially when it comes to pronoun and antecedent agreement. Making simple mistakes in these areas can reflect poorly on your credibility and the message you are trying to convey. In this article, we`ll go over the basics of pronoun and antecedent agreement rules, so you can ensure that your writing is both clear and grammatically correct.
First, let`s define what pronouns and antecedents are. A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun, and an antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces. For example, in the sentence “Jane loves her job,” “her” is the pronoun and “Jane” is the antecedent.
Now, let`s dive into the rules for pronoun and antecedent agreement:
Rule 1: Make sure that the pronoun agrees in number with its antecedent.
This means that if the antecedent is singular, the pronoun that replaces it should also be singular. For example, in the sentence “The boy loves his dog,” “his” is a singular pronoun that agrees with the singular antecedent “boy.”
If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun that replaces it should also be plural. For example, in the sentence “The girls love their dolls,” “their” is a plural pronoun that agrees with the plural antecedent “girls.”
Rule 2: Make sure that the pronoun agrees in gender with its antecedent.
If the antecedent is female, the pronoun used to replace it should also be female. For example, in the sentence “Linda loves her hair,” “her” is a female pronoun that agrees with the female antecedent “Linda.”
If the antecedent is male, the pronoun used to replace it should also be male. For example, in the sentence “Tom loves his car,” “his” is a male pronoun that agrees with the male antecedent “Tom.”
Rule 3: Make sure that the pronoun agrees in person with its antecedent.
If the antecedent is in the first person (I), the pronoun that replaces it should also be in the first person. For example, in the sentence “I love my job,” “my” is a first-person pronoun that agrees with the first-person antecedent “I.”
If the antecedent is in the second person (you), the pronoun that replaces it should also be in the second person. For example, in the sentence “You love your job,” “your” is a second-person pronoun that agrees with the second-person antecedent “you.”
If the antecedent is in the third person (he, she, they), the pronoun that replaces it should also be in the third person. For example, in the sentence “He loves his job,” “his” is a third-person pronoun that agrees with the third-person antecedent “he.”
In conclusion, pronoun and antecedent agreement rules are important to follow to ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and clear. Remember to check for number, gender, and person agreement when replacing a noun with a pronoun. By following these rules, you can write with confidence and communicate effectively with your audience.
