Common Errors with Pronouns

A PRONOUN (like I, it, you, him, her, this, themselves, someone, who, which) is used to replace another word—its antecedent—so the antecedent does not have to be repeated.


Check each pronoun to make sure that it agrees with its antecedent in gender and number. Remember that words like each, either, neither, and one are singular; when they are used as antecedents, they take singular pronouns. 


Antecedents made up of two or more parts joined by or or nor take pronouns that agree with the nearest antecedent. Collective-noun antecedents (audience, team) can be singular or plural depending on whether they refer to a single unit or a group of individuals.

Wrong:	Every one of the puppies thrived in their new home.
Right:	Every one of the puppies thrived in its new home.

Wrong:	Neither Jane nor Susan felt that they had been treated fairly.
Right:	Neither Jane nor Susan felt that she had been treated fairly.

Wrong:	The team frequently changed its positions to get varied experience
Right:	The team frequently changed their positions to get varied experience.

As noted above, most indefinite pronouns (like each, either, neither, or one) are singular; therefore, they take singular verbs. A relative pronoun, like who, which, or that, takes a verb that agrees with the pronoun’s antecedent.

Wrong:	Each of the items in these designs coordinate with the others.
Right:	Each of the items in these designs coordinates with the others.

Wrong:	He is one of the employees who works overtime regularly.
Right:	He is one of the employees who work overtime regularly.

(In this example, the antecedent of who is employees, and therefore the verb should be plural.)

A vague pronoun reference occurs when readers cannot be sure of a pronoun’s antecedent. If a pronoun could refer to more than one antecedent, or if the antecedent is implied but not explicitly stated, revise the sentence to make the antecedent clear.

Wrong:	Before Mary assaulted Mrs. Turpin, she was a judgmental woman.
Right:	Before Mary assaulted Mrs. Turpin, the latter was a judgmental woman.

(In the first sentence, she could refer to either Mary or Mrs. Turpin.)

Wrong:	They believe that an egg is as important as a human being, but it can’t be proved.
Right:	They believe that an egg is as important as a human being, but such an assertion can’t be proved.

(In the first sentence, the antecedent of it is unclear.)

source: Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN