How to Fix Improper Use of Pronouns

Pronouns are useful little words that replace nouns in sentences. Unfortunately, they are misused almost as frequently as they are used. Here's how to employ pronouns correctly.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Remember that you should use subjective personal pronouns (I, you, we, he, she, they) when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence: "I am hungry."

2. Use objective personal pronouns (me, you, us, him, her, them) when the pronoun is the object of the sentence: "Give it to him."

3. Turn a sentence around if you are confused about whether a pronoun is the subject or object: "The best swimmer is him." "Him is the best swimmer." (Wrong) "The best swimmer is he." (Correct)

4. Or fill in the implied words in a sentence if you are in doubt about correct usage: "She is stronger than me." "She is stronger than me am." (Wrong) "She is stronger than I." (Correct)

5. Exercise extra caution when using conjunctions with pronouns. Remove and to verify that you have used a pronoun correctly: "Joe is going skating with Sue and I." "Joe is going skating with I." (Wrong) "Joe is going skating with Sue and me." (Correct) "Dan and me are going to the store." "Me is going to the store." (Wrong) "Dan and I are going to the store." (Correct)

6. Answer "This is he (or she)" when you identify yourself on the telephone: Caller 1: "Is Lucy Peters there?" Caller 2: "This is she." ("She is this," not "Her is this.")

7. Remember to use the relative pronoun whom when the pronoun is the object of the verb in a sentence rather than the active subject. This is a very common error: "Who do you like?" "You like who?" (Wrong) "Whom do you like?" (Correct) "Sara is the one whom likes cats." "whom likes cats" (Wrong) "Sara is the one who likes cats." (Correct)

8. Try not to overcorrect yourself in the effort to improve your usage of pronouns: "We invited Bill, whom likes baseball more than us." (Wrong) "We invited Bill, whom likes baseball more than us like baseball." (Doubly wrong) "We invited Bill, who likes baseball more than we do." (Correct)

Tips & Warnings

• When writing, make sure the pronoun is not so far from the referent that the reader loses the connection. This is particularly important when a sentence begins with a pronoun.

• Using proper grammar is more important in a formal or professional environment. Many people slip into a vernacular or slang when they are hanging out with their friends--a linguistic form of relaxation.