How does a vague pronoun reference cause confusion for the reader or listener? (1 point)
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• It makes them guess which pronouns are being used.
O It makes the reader or listener not want to finish reading or listening.
O It makes the reader or listener guess which antecedent is being referred to
• It makes them have to consult a dictionary to figure out the pronoun reference.
The correct answer is: It makes the reader or listener guess which antecedent is being referred to.
A vague pronoun reference occurs when the pronoun does not clearly refer to a specific noun or concept in the sentence or text. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion for the reader or listener as they have to guess or infer the intended antecedent of the pronoun. Without a clear referent, the meaning of the sentence or statement may become unclear or ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader or listener to fully understand the intended message.
The correct answer is:
• It makes the reader or listener guess which antecedent is being referred to.
When a pronoun is used vaguely, without a clear antecedent, it can cause confusion for the reader or listener. They might have to guess or assume which noun the pronoun is referring to, leading to ambiguity and potential misinterpretation. This can disrupt the flow of understanding and make the message unclear.
A vague pronoun reference can cause confusion for the reader or listener because it makes them guess which antecedent (the noun or noun phrase that the pronoun refers to) is being referred to. When a pronoun is used without a clear antecedent, such as using "it" without specifying what "it" refers to, it leaves the reader or listener unsure of the context and meaning of the statement.
For example, consider the sentence, "Mary told John that she would meet him tomorrow." Without proper context or clarification, it is unclear whether "she" refers to Mary or someone else. This ambiguity can lead to confusion and hinder understanding.
When encountering a vague pronoun reference, the reader or listener may have to guess the intended antecedent or may even need to consult the preceding context or additional information to determine the correct reference. This extra effort can be frustrating and disrupt the flow of reading or listening.
To avoid confusion caused by vague pronoun references, it is important to ensure that pronouns are clearly linked to their antecedents. This can be achieved by providing specific and descriptive antecedents or by rewording sentences to eliminate any ambiguity.