Have you ever read a sentence and had to stop and think, “Wait, who is ‘he’?” or “What does ‘this’ actually refer to?” If so, you’ve encountered a vague pronoun.
Vague pronouns are one of the most common “invisible” errors in writing. They don’t necessarily break a grammar rule in the way a misspelling does, but they create “mental friction” for your reader, making your writing harder to understand.
1. The Definition: What is a Vague Pronoun?
A pronoun is a word used to replace a noun (e.g., he, she, it, they, this, which). For a pronoun to work correctly, it must have a clear antecedent. An antecedent is the specific noun that the pronoun is replacing.
A vague pronoun occurs when it is unclear which noun the pronoun is referring to. This usually happens for two reasons:
- There are too many nouns it could refer to.
- The noun it refers to is implied but not actually stated.
2. Common Types of Vague Pronouns
A. The “Who is Who?” (Multiple Antecedents)
This happens when there are two or more people or objects in a sentence, and the pronoun could logically apply to any of them.
- Vague: When Sarah met Jane, she looked very happy. (Who looked happy? Sarah or Jane?)
- Clear: Sarah looked very happy when she met Jane.
- Clear: Jane looked very happy when Sarah met her.
B. The “Floating This” (Abstract Antecedents)
This is the most common mistake in professional and academic writing. It happens when writers use this, that, or which to refer to an entire previous idea or sentence rather than a specific noun.
- Vague: The team missed the deadline, ignored the client’s emails, and failed to provide a report. This was the reason the contract was canceled. (What exactly was “this”? The missed deadline? The ignored emails? The lack of a report? Or the combination of all three?)
- Clear: This unprofessionalism was the reason the contract was canceled. (By adding a noun after “this,” you clarify the meaning.)
C. The “Hidden They”
This happens when you use “they” or “it” to refer to a group or organization that hasn’t been specifically named.
- Vague: I went to the post office, but they were closed. (Who is “they”? The post office is a singular building, not a “they.”)
- Clear: I went to the post office, but the doors were locked.
- Clear: I went to the post office, but the employees had already gone home.
3. Why Vague Pronouns Matter
While you might know exactly what you mean when you write “it” or “this,” your reader is not in your head. Vague pronouns lead to:
- Confusion: Readers have to go back and re-read the paragraph to guess your meaning.
- Weakness: Your writing feels lazy or imprecise.
- Misinterpretation: In legal or technical writing, a vague pronoun can lead to costly mistakes.
4. How to Fix Vague Pronouns: The “Noun Test”
To catch vague pronouns in your own work, look for the “Big Five” offenders: It, This, That, Which, and They.
When you see one, ask yourself: “Can I point my finger at one specific noun that this word replaces?” If you can’t, use one of these two fixes:
- Replace the pronoun with the noun: Instead of saying “He did it,” say “Mark finished the project.”
- Add a “Summary Noun” after the pronoun: Instead of saying “This was bad,” say “This delay was bad.”
Summary Table
| Vague Sentence | Why it’s Vague | Clear Revision |
|---|---|---|
| The car hit the bridge, but it wasn’t damaged. | Does “it” mean the car or the bridge? | The car hit the bridge, but the car wasn’t damaged. |
| They say it’s going to rain. | Who is “they”? | The weather forecast says it’s going to rain. |
| I love sushi, but I’ve never been there. | “Sushi” is a food, not a place. | I love sushi, but I’ve never been to that restaurant. |
Conclusion
Good writing is about clarity. By eliminating vague pronouns, you ensure that your message is delivered exactly as you intended, without forcing your reader to play detective. The next time you see a “this” or a “they” standing alone, give it a partner noun to make your meaning crystal clear.