Pronoun Antecedent Agreement: Understanding the Chomp Chomp Rule

As a copy editor, it`s always essential to ensure that the content you`re editing complies with the rules of proper grammar. One of the most common areas that require careful attention is pronoun antecedent agreement – the principle that pronouns must agree in number, person, and gender with their antecedents.

To help maintain consistency and correctness in writing, many editors and writers alike have turned to “chomp chomp” as a way to remember the rule of pronoun antecedent agreement. But what exactly does chomp chomp mean, and how can it help writers and editors ensure that their writing is free of errors?

In simple terms, chomp chomp refers to the act of the pronoun “chomping” down on its antecedent, or the noun that it refers back to within a sentence. This visual image helps to emphasize the importance of the pronoun accurately identifying its antecedent to maintain proper agreement.

Let`s look at an example to illustrate this concept:

Incorrect: Each of the students had their own opinions about the assignment.

Correct: Each of the students had his or her own opinion about the assignment.

In the incorrect sentence, the pronoun “their” is plural, while the antecedent “each” is singular, leading to a disagreement in both number and person. By switching to a singular pronoun that agrees with the antecedent, we create a well-formed sentence that is clear in meaning and grammatically correct.

Chomp chomp can also be useful when dealing with more complex sentences or those that contain multiple antecedents. For example:

Incorrect: John and Mary each thought that their car was the better choice.

Correct: John and Mary each thought that his or her car was the better choice.

In this sentence, we have two antecedents (John and Mary) that require a singular pronoun to agree in number and person. Instead of using a plural pronoun like “their,” we use the singular “his or her” to accurately reflect the individual ownership of each car.

In conclusion, understanding the chomp chomp rule is an essential part of mastering proper pronoun antecedent agreement. By visualizing the pronoun “chomping” down on its antecedent – or in other words, correctly identifying the noun the pronoun refers back to – copy editors and writers can ensure that their sentences are grammatically sound and free of errors. So chomp chomp away and remember to always check for proper pronoun antecedent agreement in your writing!