Identify common reasons for vague pronoun references. Select the two correct answers.
A. misspelling antecedents
B. too many antecedents
C. replacing pronouns with nouns
D. no pronouns
E. no antecedents
A. misspelling antecedents
C. replacing pronouns with nouns
The two correct answers for common reasons for vague pronoun references are:
B. Too many antecedents
E. No antecedents
To identify common reasons for vague pronoun references, we need to understand the concept of pronoun reference. A pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun refers to.
Now, let's analyze the answer choices:
A. Misspelling antecedents: This option suggests that misspelling the antecedents (nouns) could lead to vague pronoun references. However, this is not a common reason for vague pronoun references. Misspelling a noun may cause confusion, but it doesn't necessarily make the pronoun reference vague.
B. Too many antecedents: This option implies that having too many possible nouns to which a pronoun could refer could result in vague pronoun references. This can indeed be a common reason for vagueness. When there are multiple potential antecedents, it becomes unclear which noun the pronoun refers to, leading to a lack of clarity.
C. Replacing pronouns with nouns: This option suggests that replacing pronouns with specific nouns can create vague pronoun references. However, this is not accurate. Using nouns instead of pronouns may reduce ambiguity and enhance clarity, rather than causing vagueness.
D. No pronouns: This option implies that the absence of pronouns leads to vague pronoun references. While it is true that a pronoun is needed for pronoun reference, this answer choice doesn't explain the common reasons for vagueness.
E. No antecedents: This option suggests that the absence of antecedents can cause vague pronoun references. It is indeed a common reason for vagueness. Without a clear antecedent, it becomes difficult to determine what the pronoun refers to.
Based on the analysis, the two correct answers for common reasons for vague pronoun references are:
B. Too many antecedents
E. No antecedents