HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 4
Mechanics
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PRONOUNS
Pronouns refer back to or take the place of nouns. They should:
1.
Incorrect:_If_the_student_passes_this_course,_they_will_graduate._Correct'>Agree in number
A singular pronoun must be used for a singular noun.
Incorrect:
If
the student passes this course,
they will graduate.
Correct:_Kim_spends_all_his_time_reading_and_playing_soccer._Too_much_soc-_cer_isn’t_good_for_him;_he_should_play_some_basketball,_too._Incorrect'>Correct:
If
the student passes this course,
she will graduate.
2.
Agree in person
Do not switch back and forth in your writing from the first person (
I) to the sec-
ond (
you) or third (
he, she, they, it).
First person pronouns:
I, me, we, us
Second:
you
Third:
he, she, him, her, they, them
Incorrect:
When
a person comes to class,
you should
have your homework
ready.
Correct:
When
a person comes to class,
he should have his homework ready.
3.
Be a specific reference to a noun
It should be obvious to your reader to which noun the pronoun refers.
Incorrect:
Kim spends all his time
reading and playing soccer, but it isn’t
good for him.
(What isn’t good for him? Reading, playing soccer, or both?)
Correct:
Kim spends all his time reading and playing soccer. Too much soc-
cer isn’t good for him; he should play some basketball, too.
Incorrect:
It has
been years since they spent money on new textbooks.
Who is they?
Correct:
It has been years since the school board spent money on new
textbooks.
Incorrect:
I went on
the trip with Emily and Nancy, and we took her
laptop.
(Whose laptop?)
Correct:
I went on the trip with Emily and Nancy, and we took Nancy’s
laptop.
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