f. In statements of comparison, mentally finish the comparative by adding the implied missing words:
Next year I hope to earn as much as she. (The verb earns is implied here: . . . as much as she earns.)
g. Pronouns must be in the same case as the words they replace or rename. When pronouns are used with appositives, ignore the appositive:
A new contract was signed by us (not we) employees. (Temporarily ignore the appositive employees in selecting the pronoun.)
We (not us) citizens have formed our own organization. (Temporarily ignore the appositive citizens in selecting the pronoun.)
h. Pronouns ending in self should be used only when they refer to previously mentioned nouns or pronouns:
The CEO himself answered the telephone.
Robert and I (not myself) are in charge of the campaign.
i. Use objective-case pronouns as objects of the prepositions between, but, like and except:
Everyone but John and him (not he) qualified for the bonus.
Employees like Miss Gillis and her (not she) are hard to replace.
j. Use who or whoever for nominative-case constructions and whom or whom- ever for objective-case constructions. In making the correct choice, it’s sometimes helpful to substitute he for who or whoever and him for whom or whomever:
For whom was this book ordered? (This book was ordered for him/ whom?)
Who did you say would drop by? (Who/He ... would drop by?)
Deliver the package to whoever opens the door. (In this sentence the clause whoever opens the door functions as the object of the preposition to. Within the clause itself, whoever is the subject of the verb opens. Again, substitu- tion of he might be helpful: He/Whoever opens the door.)
1.09 Guidelines for Making Pronouns Agree With Their Antecedents.
Pronouns must agree with the words to which they refer (their antecedents) in gender and in number.
a. Use masculine pronouns to refer to masculine antecedents, feminine pronouns to refer to feminine antecedents, and neuter pronouns to refer to antecedents without gender:
The man opened his office door. (Masculine gender applies.)
A woman sat at her desk. (Feminine gender applies.)
This computer and its programs fit our needs. (Neuter gender applies.)
b. Use singular pronouns to refer to singular antecedents:
Common-gender pronouns (such as him or his) traditionally have been used when the gender of the antecedent is unknown. Sensitive writers today, how- ever, prefer to recast such constructions to avoid gender-biased pronouns. Study these examples for bias-free pronouns. See Chapter 2 for additional discussion of bias-free language.
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Each student must submit a report on Monday. All students must submit their reports on Monday.
Each student must submit his or her report on Monday. (This alternative is least acceptable since it is wordy and calls attention to itself.)
c. Use singular pronouns to refer to singular indefinite subjects and plural pro- nouns for plural indefinite subjects. Words such as anyone, something, and anybody are considered indefinite because they refer to no specific person or object. Some indefinite pronouns are always singular; others are always plural. anybody anyone anything each either nobody both everyone no one few everything somebody many neither someone several always singular always Plural
Somebody in the group of touring women left her (not their) purse in the museum.
Either of the companies has the right to exercise its (not their) option to sell stock.
d. Use singular pronouns to refer to collective nouns and organization names:
The engineering staff is moving its (not their) facilities on Friday. (The singular pronoun its agrees with the collective noun staff because the mem- bers of staff function as a single unit.)
Jones, Cohen, & Chavez, Inc., has (not have) canceled its (not their) contract with us. (The
