What is a vague pronoun reference?

A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun in a sentence does not clearly refer to a specific antecedent, leading to confusion or ambiguity in the sentence. This often happens when the antecedent is not explicitly stated or when there are multiple possible antecedents for the pronoun. Vague pronoun references can make a sentence difficult to understand and can disrupt the flow of writing. To avoid vague pronoun references, writers should ensure that pronouns clearly and unambiguously refer to a specific noun or noun phrase in the sentence. They can also use specific nouns instead of pronouns to clarify the reference.