Write for Business - Blog

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, person, and gender. (The antecedent is the word or words to which the pronoun refers.)

Susan paid cash for her lunch.

Note: The antecedent in this sentence is Susan; it is to Susan that the pronoun her refers. Both the pronoun and its antecedent are singular, third person, and feminine; therefore, the pronoun is said to agree with its antecedent.

(From Write for Business, 2nd ed., page 325, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 75)

Than (conjunction) indicates a comparison; then (usually an adverb) refers to time.

Michael did not know any more about this than I did.

First write your résumé; then look for a job.

(From Write for Business, page 238, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 50)

Stationary is an adjective meaning "immobile"; stationery is a noun referring to writing materials used in letters.

(From Write for Business, page 238, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 50)

A tenant is one who rents or leases property from a landlord; a tenet is a principle, belief, or doctrine.

(From Write for Business, page 238, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 50)

If a form of the be verb is used and there is a noun both before and after that verb, the verb must agree with the subject. This holds true even if the predicate noun (the noun coming after the verb) is different in number.

The cause of his health problem was his bad eating habits.

His bad eating habits were the cause of his health problem.

(From Write for Business, page 324, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 74)

Some (adjective) refers to unspecified things or numbers. Sum means "the whole amount, the total."

Some reporters are at the door.

The sum is too high for our budget.

(From Write for Business, page 238, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 50)