Pronouns might seem straightforward, but even the most seasoned writers and speakers often stumble over them. From mixing up “who” and “whom” to confusing “they’re,” “their,” and “there,” pronoun mistakes are surprisingly common and can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
Taking reference from Pronouns.org’s study of commonly mispronounced words, we have compiled a list for you. In this list, we will highlight some of the most frequent pronoun errors, offering clear examples and simple tips to avoid them, ensuring your communication remains sharp and effective.
Mixing Up “Who” and “Whom”
This is a common mistake, even for those who usually have strong grammar skills. “Who” functions as a subject, while “whom” serves as an object. For example, in this sentence, “Who is going to the party?”, “who” is the correct choice because it is the subject of the verb “is going.” Conversely, in the sentence, “To whom did you give the book?” “whom” is appropriate because it acts as the object of the preposition “to.”
Using “They” As a Singular Pronoun
Traditionally, “they” is used for plural subjects, but it has become accepted for singular, gender-neutral use. However, mistakes often happen when it’s unclear whether “they” refers to one person or multiple people. For example, saying “Alex said they would come to the meeting” might confuse some readers about whether Alex is one person or more. Ensuring the antecedent is clear helps avoid such confusion.
Confusing “its” and “it’s”
“Its” shows possession, indicating something belongs to “it,” while “it’s” is short for “it is” or “it has.” Confusing these two can cause misunderstandings. For example, writing “The dog wagged it’s tail” is incorrect because “it’s” means “it is,” making the sentence read, “The dog wagged it is tail.” The correct sentence is “The dog wagged its tail.” Another example is, “It’s been a long day,” which correctly uses “it’s” to mean “it has.”
Misusing “Me” and “I”
Misusing “me” and “I” in compound subjects or objects is a common mistake. A common mistake is when people say, “John and me went to the store,” instead of “John and I went to the store.” This error occurs because “I” is the correct pronoun to use here for this sentence. On the flip side, when used as an object, “me” is correct. A mistake here would be saying, “She gave the books to John and I,” instead of “She gave the books to John and me.”
Using “Which” Instead of “That”
A common pronoun mistake is using “which” instead of “that” in restrictive clauses. For example, “The book that I borrowed from the library was fascinating” uses “that” to specify exactly which book. If we say, “The book which I borrowed from the library was fascinating,” the meaning changes subtly, making it sound like the borrowing part is extra information rather than specifying the book.
Misplacing “Who’s” and “Whose”
“Who’s” is a contraction for “who is” or “who has,” while “whose” is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to whom.” For example, if you write “Who’s jacket is this?” instead of “Whose jacket is this?” you’re asking “Who is jacket is this?” which doesn’t make sense. Similarly, saying “I don’t know who’s coming to the party” is correct because it means “I don’t know who is coming to the party.”
Confusing “Everyone” with “Everyone Else”
This is a common pronoun mistake that can lead to miscommunication. For instance, if you say, “Everyone finished their test before everyone else,” it creates a confusing and impossible scenario because “everyone” encompasses all individuals, making “everyone else” redundant. A clearer phrasing would be, “Everyone finished their test before the teacher collected them.”
Using “Myself” Instead of “Me”
“Myself” is a reflexive pronoun and should only be used when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same person. For example, “I gave myself a treat.” However, people often mistakenly say, “Please contact John or myself if you have questions,” when it should be, “Please contact John or me if you have questions.” Another example is, “Between you and myself, this is a secret,” which should be, “Between you and me, this is a secret.”
Misplacing “Himself” and “Him”
“Himself” is a reflexive pronoun, used when the subject and object of the verb refer to the same person. In contrast, “him” is simply an object pronoun. For example, saying “He gave the gift to himself” is correct because the subject (he) is the same as the object (himself). However saying, “He gave the gift to himself” is correct if he is both the giver and the receiver. Saying “He gave the gift to him,” on the other hand, implies that the gift was given to a different person.
Using “Each other” instead of “One another”
The traditional rule is to use “each other” for interactions between two people and “one another” for three or more. For example, “The two friends helped each other” is correct for two individuals, while “The team members congratulated one another” should be used for a group. However, in contemporary usage, this distinction is often blurred, and many people use “each other” for both situations. While adhering to the traditional rule can enhance clarity, it’s increasingly common to see “each other” used universally.
Confusing “Whomever” and “Whoever”
“Whoever” is used as a subject, while “whomever” serves as an object. For instance, in the sentence “Give the prize to whoever wins the race,” “whoever” is correct because it is the subject of “wins.” However, in “Give the prize to whomever you choose,” “whomever” is correct because it is the object of “choose.” Mixing these up can lead to awkward sentences like “Whomever wins the race will get the prize,” which is incorrect.
Confusing “Who” and “That”
A common mistake is using “who” and “that” incorrectly when referring to people and objects. “Who” should be used when referring to people, while “that” is used for objects or animals. For example, saying “The person that called you is my friend” is incorrect. The correct way to say it is “The person who called you is my friend.” This distinction helps maintain clarity and correctness in your writing.