English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

Agreement of Pronouns and Antecedents
Chapter 5 Agreement: Matching Sentence Parts
Part 2 Usage and Abusage

Like subjects and verbs, pronouns and antecedents (the words to which they refer) must agree. Follow these rules to make sure that your pronouns and antecedents match.

1. A pronoun agrees (or matches) with its antecedent in number, person, and gender.

Hortense gave half her cupcake to Shirley.

Both the antecedent Hortense and the pronoun her are singular in number, in the third person, and feminine in gender.

Errors often occur when there are incorrect shifts in person and gender.

Error:  Hortense will eat her bran flakes and tofu, which you need to stay healthy.

Correct:  Hortense will eat her bran flakes and tofu, which she needs to stay healthy.

2. Use a singular personal pronoun with a singular indefinite pronoun.

If anyone questions the edict, refer him or her to the boss.

The singular pronouns him or her refer to the singular pronoun anyone.

3. Use a plural pronoun when the antecedents are joined by and. This is true even if the antecedents are singular.

Since the two singular antecedents dog and cat are joined by and, use the plural pronoun their. This is a case of 1 + 1 = 2 (one dog + one cat = two pets).

4. Antecedents joined by or, nor, or correlative conjunctions such as either... or, neither.. . nor agree with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.

Use the plural pronoun their to agree with the plural antecedent cats.

Use the singular pronoun her to agree with the singular antecedent sister.

5. Be sure that the pronoun refers directly to the noun.

Confusion occurs when the pronoun can refer to more than one antecedent. If you end up with a confusing sentence, rewrite the sentence.

Confusing: Norman saw a coupon in last year’s newspaper, but he can’t find it.

What is it that Norman can’t find: the coupon or the newspaper?

Correct: Norman can’t find the coupon he saw in last year’s newspaper.