1. Sometimes a pronoun may refer to either of two antecedents; as,
Wrong: He gave his brother John the umbrella and then he left.
Right: He gave the umbrella to his brother John, who then left.
2. Sometimes the sentence must be entirely recast and a direct quotation used before the pronouns can be made clear; as,
Wrong: Tom told his father that his suit case was lost.
Right: a. Tom said, "Father, your suit case is lost."
b. Tom said, "Father, my suit case is lost."
3. Sometimes the pronoun refers to a word that has not been expressed or to an idea. In that case, the antecedent must be supplied; as,
Wrong: If any one wishes to contribute to the cause, let him send it in the enclosed envelope.
Right: If any one wishes to contribute to the cause, let him send his contribution in the enclosed envelope.
Wrong: I wouldn't wear mittens. Nobody does that nowadays.
Right: I wouldn't wear mittens. Nobody wears them nowadays.
4. A sentence containing an indefinite they or it is corrected thus:
Wrong: Don't they have street cars where you live?
Right: Are there no street cars where you live?
Recast the following:
1. She asked her mother if she could go, and she said she thought she ought to stay at home.