Skip to Main Content
Today's Hours:

Rams Write: Pronouns

Here you'll find a student-generated guide to writing and composition.

Introduction

Pronouns are important when it comes to writing; you have to be specific when you are talking about different things. Using pronouns are helpful for readers because they know exactly what the writer is talking about. It is also important to use the right pronoun for the right gender.

Examples

Example 1: He

​Incorrect: John and Kevin baked cookies, and then he ate them.

Correct: ​​John and Kevin baked cookies, and then Kevin ate them. 

Explanation: We corrected the sentence to say the name of who “he” was that ate the cookies.

Example 2: She

Incorrect: Stephanie and Tina went to the zoo, but she forgot her wallet at home.

Correct: Stephanie and Tina went to the zoo, but Tina forgot her wallet at home.

Explanation: We changed “she” to Tina to show who forgot their wallet at home.

Example 3.1: They

Incorrect: ​They were walking to school together this morning.

Correct: Jeffrey and Lindsey were walking to school together this morning.

Explanation: We changed the word “they” to clarify who they were.

Example 3.2: They

Incorrect: Don is a gender-fluid person. He likes jazz music and enjoys pizza.

Correct: ​Don is a gender-fluid person. They like jazz music and enjoy pizza.

Explanation: We changed “him” to “they” because Don prefers to go by “they." Don is gender fluid which means they do not associate themselves with a specific gender. Don prefers to go by they and them.

Example 4: It

Incorrect: ​The t.v and the radio both broke on the same day, but it started working later on.

Correct: The t.v and the radio both broke on the same day, but the radio started working later on.

Explanation: We changed “it” to radio to show what started working later on.

This page was created by/MLA citations

Spring 2020

Celia Marchese, Framingham State U, Class of 2023

Astrid Padilla, Framingham State U, Class of 2023

Adrien Julmice, Framingham State U, Class of 2023

 

Works Cited

“Meme Generator.” Imgflip, imgflip.com/memegenerator.

Nunberg, Geoff. “Everyone Uses Singular 'They,' Whether They Realize It Or Not.” NPR, 13 Jan. 2016, npr.org/2016/01/13/462906419/everyone-uses-singular-they-whether-they-realize-it-or-not.

“Pronouns.” Grammarly, 8 May 2019, grammarly.com/blog/pronouns/.

“Singular ‘They.’” American Psychological Association, apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/grammar/singular-they.

“Using Pronouns Clearly // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/pronouns/index.html.

 

 

 

 

“Meme Generator.” Imgflip, imgflip.com/memegenerator.
Nunberg, Geoff. “Everyone Uses Singular 'They,' Whether They Realize It Or Not.” NPR, NPR, 13 Jan. 2016, www.npr.org/2016/01/13/462906419/everyone-uses-singular-they-whether-they-realize-it-or-not.
“Pronouns.” Grammarly, 8 May 2019, www.grammarly.com/blog/pronouns/.
Purdue Writing Lab. “Using Pronouns Clearly // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/pronouns/index.html.
“Singular ‘They.’” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/grammar/singular-they.
“Meme Generator.” Imgflip, imgflip.com/memegenerator.
Nunberg, Geoff. “Everyone Uses Singular 'They,' Whether They Realize It Or Not.” NPR, NPR, 13 Jan. 2016, www.npr.org/2016/01/13/462906419/everyone-uses-singular-they-whether-they-realize-it-or-not.
“Pronouns.” Grammarly, 8 May 2019, www.grammarly.com/blog/pronouns/.
Purdue Writing Lab. “Using Pronouns Clearly // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/pronouns/index.html.
“Singular ‘They.’” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/grammar/singular-they.
“Meme Generator.” Imgflip, imgflip.com/memegenerator.
Nunberg, Geoff. “Everyone Uses Singular 'They,' Whether They Realize It Or Not.” NPR, NPR, 13 Jan. 2016, www.npr.org/2016/01/13/462906419/everyone-uses-singular-they-whether-they-realize-it-or-not.
“Pronouns.” Grammarly, 8 May 2019, www.grammarly.com/blog/pronouns/.
Purdue Writing Lab. “Using Pronouns Clearly // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/pronouns/index.html.
“Singular ‘They.’” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/grammar/singular-they.
“Meme Generator.” Imgflip, imgflip.com/memegenerator.
Nunberg, Geoff. “Everyone Uses Singular 'They,' Whether They Realize It Or Not.” NPR, NPR, 13 Jan. 2016, www.npr.org/2016/01/13/462906419/everyone-uses-singular-they-whether-they-realize-it-or-not.
“Pronouns.” Grammarly, 8 May 2019, www.grammarly.com/blog/pronouns/.
Purdue Writing Lab. “Using Pronouns Clearly // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/pronouns/index.html.
“Singular ‘They.’” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/grammar/singular-they.
“Meme Generator.” Imgflip, imgflip.com/memegenerator.
Nunberg, Geoff. “Everyone Uses Singular 'They,' Whether They Realize It Or Not.” NPR, NPR, 13 Jan. 2016, www.npr.org/2016/01/13/462906419/everyone-uses-singular-they-whether-they-realize-it-or-not.
“Pronouns.” Grammarly, 8 May 2019, www.grammarly.com/blog/pronouns/.
Purdue Writing Lab. “Using Pronouns Clearly // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/pronouns/index.html.
“Singular ‘They.’” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/grammar/singular-they.