Pronouns act as shorthand stand-ins for nouns in sentences. She…he…they… Using the right pronouns respectfully recognizes people’s identities. This article reviews proper personal, possessive, reflexive, relative, demonstrative, indefinite and interrogative pronoun usage for clear formal and informal communication.
#1 Subject Pronouns – She/He/They and Formal Alternatives
I…you…he/she/they… Formal language demands avoiding colloquial contractions like “they’re” instead using “they are” for clarity. Specify names if multiple people of the same gender appear to prevent confusion. Alternatively, consider using singular gender-neutral pronouns like “one” or “you” or plural like “people.”
#2 Possessive Pronouns – His/Hers/Theirs/Its
Match possessive pronouns following a noun to clarify who owns objects. Correct: “Sarah lost her wallet at the store. Now it and its contents are gone.” Wrong: “Sarah lost her wallet at the store. Now they and their contents are gone.” Incorrect plural pronouns convolute the meaning.
#3 Reflexive Pronouns – Myself/Yourself/Itself etc.
Reflexive pronouns reflect back to the sentence’s subject.“I made myself breakfast.” “She dressed herself nicely.” Their indirect object forms like me/her don’t work here. Using reflexive pronouns clearly emphasizes the intended doer of the action.
#4 Relative Pronouns – Who/Whom/Which/That
Relative pronouns relate dependent clauses to main sentence subjects. “The coach whom I respected most inspired me.” The pronoun “whom” refers to the coach. Using “who” or “that” instead alters the meaning. Select relative pronouns meticulously to reference the intended noun.
#5 Demonstrative Pronouns – This/That/These/Those
Demonstrative pronouns demonstrate proximity through four key options. “This” and “These” refer to near things while “That” and “Those” indicate distant items. “This watch is expensive. Those are cheap.” Get specific to avoid bewildering readers.
#6 Indefinite Pronouns – Some/Many/Anyone/Each
Indefinite pronouns lack precise limits which can confuse audiences if used repeatedly due to their hazy scope. “Some criticize but many applaud…” better states “Several criticize but numerous people applaud…” Defining vague pronouns adds necessary clarity.
#7 Interrogative Pronouns – Who/What/Which
Interrogative pronouns raise questions. Swapping them can alter meaning entirely: “Who called you?” (person) not “What called you?” (thing). Similarly “Which route is fastest?” or “What book did you request from the library?” Precision prevents puzzling the addressed person.
#8 Generic Pronouns – He/She vs Singular They
Traditionally “he” stood as the generic pronoun for anyone including women. Using “he/she” awkwardly acknowledges both binary genders. But singular neutral “they” works well: “The patient should monitor their health.” This avoids specifying gender when unrelated or unknown, respecting all people.
Conclusion – Precision Upholds Dignity
Imprecise pronouns confuse listeners undermining trust in the speaker’s competence. Conversely, those demonstrating keen awareness in their language seem more thoughtful, educated and caring through small but meaningful speech choices. Precise pronoun use signifies respect across all conversations.”
