Using Pronouns Correctly

Learning Objectives

  • Correctly match pronouns and antecedents

Antecedent Clarity

Two squares with arrows between them, insinuating that one square is being replaced by the other.

Figure 1. Always ensure that the identity of your antecedent is clear before replacing it with a pronoun.

We’ve already defined an antecedent as the noun (or phrase) that a pronoun is replacing.

When an antecedent is unclear, it can lead to confusion. The phrase “antecedent clarity” simply means that it should be clear who or what the pronoun is referring to.

Let’s examine two examples where ambiguity creates a problem and see how they can be revised for clarity.

Example: Clear Antecedents

Example 1: Jason thanked Gautam after he helped him move.

  • Who does he refer to? Did Jason help Gautam move, or did Gautam help Jason? The antecedent is unclear.

Revised Example 1: Jason thanked Gautam after Gautam helped him move.

  • Now it’s clear that Gautam was the one who helped.

Example 2: To keep the students from using their cell phones in school, keep them in a plastic bag.

  • What does them refer to? The sentence could be mistakenly interpreted as keeping the students in a plastic bag instead of their phones.

Revised Example 2: To prevent students from using their cell phones in school, the phones should be kept in a plastic bag.

As you write, keep these two things in mind:

  • Make sure your pronouns always have antecedents.
  • Make sure that it’s clear what their antecedents are.

Try It

Let’s take a look at an example:

Rafael told Matt to stop eating his cereal.

When you first read this sentence, is it clear whether the cereal is Rafael’s or Matt’s? Is it clear when you read the sentence again? Not really, no.

How would you best revise the sentence above about Rafael and Matt? Type your ideas in the text frame below, and then look at the suggested revisions.

Try It

Person and Number

One of the trickiest grammar rules in English involves matching pronouns with indefinite pronouns (words like everyone, somebody, each). These words are singular, but they often refer to people in a general way.

How Pronoun Agreement Has Changed

Traditionally, indefinite pronouns were always paired with singular pronouns.

  • Every student should do his best on this assignment. (Assumes all students are male.)
  • If nobody lost his scarf, then where did this come from?

Later on, to be more inclusive to women, “his or her” became a common alternative.

  • Every student should do his or her best on this assignment.
  • If nobody lost his or her scarf, then where did this come from?

Today, “they”, “them”, or “their” (referring to a singular person) are now widely used in everyday speech and writing.

  • Every student should do their best on this assignment.
  • If nobody lost their scarf, then where did this come from?
PRO TIP: The singular “they” is now recognized by major grammar authorities, including the APA (2019) and the Chicago Manual of Style[1]. However, some instructors or style guides may still prefer “his or her,” so when in doubt, check their preferences.

They/them are often used as personal pronouns when the gender of the person is unknown (for example, you do not know who the person is) or because they do not identify strictly as male or female. In this case, using they as a singular pronoun is gender-neutral, as well as grammatically correct and respectful. For example:

  • Jordan said they would bring snacks to the meeting.
  • Casey texted me that they accidentally locked their keys in their car, so they will be late to swim practice today. 
  • Someone forgot their notebook in class.

A Simple Trick to Avoid Confusion

If you find sentences with indefinite pronouns awkward, you can rewrite them in plural form to make agreement easier.

  • Awkward: Each student should submit his or her assignment on time.
  • Better: Students should submit their assignments on time.

This method avoids the need for a singular “they” and keeps the sentence natural.

Again, you should know that many of the words below are singular and “technically” require the singular pronoun (his or her).

anybody anyone anything each either every
everybody everyone everything neither no one nobody
nothing one somebody someone something
  • Technically correct: Anyone going on this hike should plan on being in the canyon for at least seven hours; he or she should prepare accordingly.
  • Now acceptable: Anyone going on this hike should plan on being in the canyon for at least seven hours; they should prepare accordingly.

Remember, there are workarounds.

  • Clunky, but correct: The way each individual speaks can tell us so much about him or her.
  • The workaround: The way individuals speak can tell us so much about them.

Try It

Here’s a paragraph that uses “he or she” liberally:

Every writer will experience writer’s block at some point in his or her career. He or she will suddenly be unable to move on in his or her work. A lot of people have written about writer’s block, presenting different strategies to “beat the block.” However, different methods work for different people. Each writer must find the solutions that work best for him or her.

How would you best revise this paragraph? Type your ideas in the text frame below, and then look at the suggested revisions.

You and I versus You and Me

Some of the most common pronoun mistakes occur with the decision between “you and I” and “you and me.”  People will often say things like, “You and me should go out for drinks.” Or—thinking back on the rule that it should be “you and I”—they will say, “Siobhan assigned the task to both you and I.” However, both of these sentences are wrong. There’s a pretty easy way to figure this out without having to understand pronoun cases.

Example: You and I vs. YOu and ME

Let’s take a closer look at those examples:

Incorrect: You and me should go out for drinks.
Incorrect: Me should go out for drinks. (remove the You and)
Correct: I should go out for drinks.
Correct: You and I should go out for drinks. (put You and me back in)

Incorrect: Siobhan assigned the task to both you and I.
Incorrect: Siobhan assigned the task to I. (remove both you and)
Correct: Siobhan assigned the task to me.
Correct: Siobhan assigned the task to both you and me. (put both you and back in)

Note: This rule is likely to change soon. Former President Barack Obama often makes this particular error, saying things like, “This is a very special moment to Michelle and I.” That’s incorrect. It should be Michelle and me!

Try It

Review what you’ve learned about pronoun agreement and check your understanding in the following interactive.

  1. The University of Chicago Press. "Grammar & Usage: Singular 'they'. Chicago Manual of Style, 2017, p. 241. ↵