What is This?

They say that life is a beach. I’d like to know who they are, but there is no identification in the sentence to tell me. If the sentence were written with a definite subject, I’d know who they are. Experts on life and beaches say that life is a beach, and they may be right. They are experts.

The most important time to make sure that a sentence begins with a precise subject is when the sentence is a topic sentence, the first sentence of a new paragraph. If I start a paragraph with a vague word like “this” or “that” or “it” or “they,” the reader has some catching up to do. Maybe I’ll get around to saying what this or that or it is later; maybe I’ll even say who they are.

The following two examples of possible topic sentences can be compared for clarity.

Sentence A. - It is a great way to spend the day.

Sentence B. - Surfing is a great way to spend the day.

Sentence B gives the reader the exact topic of the paragraph to come. No confusion troubles the mind of the reader because the subject is clearly and concretely stated right from the start. The sentence begins with a gerund – “Surfing,” – not an indefinite pronoun – “It.”

Pronouns can be used effectively when clear antecedents or following identifiers are in place. I could even refer to the subject in Sentence B in Sentence C:

It is the best sport in the universe.

The reader would know that the subject “It” refers to “Surfing,” which is the subject of the sentence right before.

Surfing is a great way to spend the day. It is the best sport in the universe.

When you go over your papers to make sure that you’ve said exactly what you mean to say, it’s a good idea to double check indefinite pronouns along the way. (I have said what “it” is with the identifier – a good idea). You might ask yourself if the reader will have a perfectly clear understanding of what the subject is. You might even ask each time that you’ve used the words “it,” “which,” “that,” and “this” what the reference or antecedent is for each pronoun.

Roxy’s tip: Make sure you identify indefinite pronouns.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! My next entry is coming soon. ‘Til then, hang ten!