Precious Pronouns
Can we start a movement to reduce the number of pronouns – particularly the possessive kind – that are needlessly scattered throughout the things we write?
Ownership seems to rate highly with writers. At the rate I see them used, we may run out of possessive pronouns very soon. See how many of the following pronouns you can save for the next generation.
- I tumbled out of my bed, raced to my messy desk, and turned on my sleeping computer before my head was even awake.
- Would you please tell your students that their use of their punctuation may affect their grades they’ll receive at the end of their semester.
- Buddy danced at his prom with his partner June until both his feet were almost worn out of his shoes; then his partner June went to her home with her crushed toes.
- He jumped into his car, grabbed his steering wheel and turned on his ignition before he tore out of his parking space and down his street.
- I’m sure that my warnings will miss your ears and that you’ll still fill your writing with all manner of your pronoun possessives.