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Ensure that a pronoun clearly refers
to its antecedent (the noun that it's replacing).
Ambiguous pronoun references
Avoid vague and confusing references between a pronoun and its antecedent.
Recommended: If you type text in the
field, the text doesn't change.
Not recommended: If you type text in the
field, it doesn't change.
Recommended: The name of the function to
execute in the given script. The name does not include parentheses or
parameters.
Not recommended: The name of the function
to execute in the given script. It does not include parentheses or
parameters.
In many cases, it's best to follow a demonstrative pronoun (like this and these)
with a noun.
Recommended: Set this value to true.
Not recommended: Set this to true.
Recommended: These approaches are your
best options.
Not recommended: These are your best options.
Gender-neutral pronouns
Don't use gender-specific pronouns unless the person you're referring to is
actually that gender.
In particular, don't use he, him, his, she, or her as
gender-neutral pronouns, and don't use he/she or (s)he or other such
punctuational approaches. Instead, use the singular they.
Avoid first-person pronouns (I, we, us, our, and ours) except
in the following contexts:
The questions in FAQs.
A document whose author makes comments in the first person.
Using we to refer to your organization, after using your organization's
name. For example, "Example Pet Store recommends that you feed your aardvark
Standardized Aardvark Treats. We cannot guarantee the happiness of your aardvark
otherwise."
Use the second-person pronoun (you) whenever possible. For more information about
second person, see Second person and first person.
Relative pronouns
There are several relative pronouns. This section concerns only three of
them: that, which, and who.
That and which don't mean exactly the same thing, so don't substitute one
for the other:
That introduces a restrictive clause. It isn't preceded by a comma.
Recommended: The echidna that has a
long snout is furry.
This sentence describes a particular echidna, the one that has a long
snout.
Which introduces a nonrestrictive clause and is preceded by a comma.
Recommended: The echidna, which has a
long snout, is furry.
This sentence describes all echidnas, and mentions in passing that they
all have long snouts.
When you're referring to a person, you can use who instead of that. If you're not
sure which pronoun is appropriate in your context, then it's generally OK to use that.
You can use whose to refer to people, animals, and things. Whose is the possessive
form of both who and which.
Recommended: Examine the variables whose
values are set at compile time.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2024-10-15 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eAlways ensure pronouns have clear and unambiguous connections to the nouns they replace, avoiding vague references.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUse singular "they" as the gender-neutral pronoun instead of gender-specific pronouns or alternatives like "he/she".\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUtilize optional pronouns such as "that" and "which" to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity in sentences.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003ePrimarily use second-person pronouns ("you") while reserving first-person pronouns ("I", "we") for specific contexts like FAQs or organizational statements.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUnderstand the distinctions between relative pronouns like "that" and "which", using "that" for restrictive clauses and "which" for nonrestrictive clauses.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["Pronouns should clearly link to their antecedents, avoiding ambiguity. Use gender-neutral pronouns, especially the singular \"they,\" instead of gender-specific ones. Demonstrative pronouns like \"this\" and \"these\" are improved with a following noun. Optional pronouns like \"that\" and \"which\" can enhance clarity. Avoid first-person pronouns except in specific contexts like FAQs, using the second person (\"you\") instead. \"That\" and \"which\" differ, with \"that\" for restrictive clauses and \"which\" for nonrestrictive clauses. Use \"who\" for people, and \"whose\" for possessive forms.\n"],null,["# Pronouns\n\nEnsure that a pronoun clearly refers\nto its antecedent (the noun that it's replacing).\n\nAmbiguous pronoun references\n----------------------------\n\nAvoid vague and confusing references between a pronoun and its antecedent.\n\nRecommended: If you type text in the\nfield, the text doesn't change.\n\nNot recommended: If you type text in the\nfield, it doesn't change.\n\nRecommended: The name of the function to\nexecute in the given script. The name does not include parentheses or\nparameters.\n\nNot recommended: The name of the function\nto execute in the given script. It does not include parentheses or\nparameters.\n\nIn many cases, it's best to follow a demonstrative pronoun (like *this* and *these*)\nwith a noun.\n\nRecommended: Set this value to true.\n\nNot recommended: Set this to true.\n\nRecommended: These approaches are your\nbest options.\n\nNot recommended: These are your best options.\n\nGender-neutral pronouns\n-----------------------\n\nDon't use gender-specific pronouns unless the person you're referring to is\nactually that gender.\n\nIn particular, don't use *he* , *him* , *his* , *she* , or *her* as\ngender-neutral pronouns, and don't use *he/she* or *(s)he* or other such\npunctuational approaches. Instead, use the singular *they*.\n\nSingular *they* has been in use for a long time; for example, [Jane Austen used it](http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/austheir.html),\nand in 2015 the Washington Post [adopted\nit as part of their official style](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-post-drops-the-mike--and-the-hyphen-in-e-mail/2015/12/04/ccd6e33a-98fa-11e5-8917-653b65c809eb_story.html).\n\nFor more suggestions, see\nThe Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, section 5.225,\n\"Nine techniques for achieving gender neutrality.\"\n\nOptional pronouns\n-----------------\n\nTo avoid ambiguity and clarify meaning in sentences, use optional pronouns such as\n*that* and *which*.\n\n| Recommended | Not recommended |\n|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| Right-click the link that you want to open. | Right-click the link you want to open. |\n| You can use other option parameters, which are described in the following section. | You can use other option parameters, described in the following section. |\n\nFor more information, see\n[Relative pronouns](#relative-pronouns).\n\nPersonal pronouns\n-----------------\n\nAvoid first-person pronouns (*I* , *we* , *us* , *our* , and *ours*) except\nin the following contexts:\n\n- The questions in FAQs.\n- A document whose author makes comments in the first person.\n- Using *we* to refer to your organization, after using your organization's name. For example, \"Example Pet Store recommends that you feed your aardvark Standardized Aardvark Treats. We cannot guarantee the happiness of your aardvark otherwise.\"\n\nUse the second-person pronoun (*you* ) whenever possible. For more information about\nsecond person, see [Second person and first person](/style/person).\n\nRelative pronouns\n-----------------\n\nThere are several relative pronouns. This section concerns only three of\nthem: *that* , *which* , and *who*.\n\n*That* and *which* don't mean exactly the same thing, so don't substitute one\nfor the other:\n\n- *That* introduces a restrictive clause. It isn't preceded by a comma.\n\n Recommended: The echidna that has a\n long snout is furry.\n\n This sentence describes a particular echidna, the one that has a long\n snout.\n- *Which* introduces a nonrestrictive clause and is preceded by a comma.\n\n Recommended: The echidna, which has a\n long snout, is furry.\n\n This sentence describes all echidnas, and mentions in passing that they\n all have long snouts.\n\nFor more information about restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses and whether\nto use *that* or *which* , read\n[what\nGrammar Girl has to say on the subject](https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/which-versus-that/).\n\nWhen you're referring to a person, you can use *who* instead of *that* . If you're not\nsure which pronoun is appropriate in your context, then it's generally OK to use *that*.\n\nYou can use *whose* to refer to people, animals, and things. *Whose* is the possessive\nform of both *who* and *which*.\n\nRecommended: Examine the variables whose\nvalues are set at compile time."]]
