Noun Pronoun Agreement: How to Ensure Grammatical Consistency in Your Writing

As a copy editor, ensuring grammatical consistency is one of the essential tasks that add value to any piece of writing. One of the most common grammatical errors is the disagreement between nouns and pronouns. A noun-pronoun agreement that is not consistent can create confusion and ambiguity in your writing.

What is Noun Pronoun Agreement?

In simple terms, noun-pronoun agreement refers to the consistency between the noun or nouns, and the pronouns that are used to refer to them in a sentence. The agreement means that the pronoun that you use should match the noun or nouns in the sentence in terms of number, gender, and person.

For example, take a look at the following sentence and see if you can spot the noun-pronoun agreement error:

“Every student is responsible for their homework.”

The agreement error here is that “their” is a plural pronoun, and “student” is singular. “Their” refers to more than one person, while “every student” refers to a single individual. A better way to write the sentence would be:

“Every student is responsible for his or her homework.”

This sentence uses the singular pronoun “his or her” to match the singular noun “student.”

When Noun Pronoun Agreement Becomes Tricky

In situations where it`s not entirely clear which pronoun to use, it can be difficult to make a decision. Here are a few examples:

1) Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are those that don`t refer to a specific person or thing. Examples include anybody, everybody, somebody, anyone, and no one. When using these pronouns, it`s essential to choose a singular or plural pronoun that matches the noun that the pronoun is referring to.

For example:

“Everybody has their own opinion.”

In this sentence, “everybody” is a singular pronoun, but “their” is plural. A better way to write the sentence would be:

“Everybody has his or her own opinion.”

2) Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are nouns made up of two or more words. When using a compound noun, it`s important to treat it as a singular noun or plural noun.

For example:

“The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law enjoy their time together.”

In this sentence, “mother-in-law” and “daughter-in-law” are separate nouns. Therefore using “their” is incorrect because it refers to a plural noun. A better way to write the sentence would be:

“The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law enjoy their time together.”

3) Gender Pronouns

When referring to a person of an unknown gender, it can be tricky to choose the right gender pronoun. Using “he or she” or “him or her” can be clunky and repetitive, so many writers resort to using “they” or “their.”

For example:

“Someone left their umbrella in the office.”

In this sentence, “someone” is singular, while “their” is plural. A better way to write the sentence would be:

“Someone left his or her umbrella in the office.”

Conclusion

Noun-pronoun agreement is an essential aspect of grammatically correct writing. By ensuring consistency in number, gender, and person, you can avoid ambiguity and confusion and communicate your ideas clearly. By following these guidelines, you can elevate your writing skills and produce clear, grammatically correct content.