Pronouns refer back to a person, place, or thing, that you already mentioned in a text. Examples are “it”, “they”, “that”, “these” and “those”. If you use them correctly, your text will be easy to read.

If a pronoun can refer to one or more nouns in a text, it can make a sentence ambiguous. If a sentence is ambiguous, replace the pronoun with the word that it refers to. This will make the sentence clear and easier to read.

Examples:

Do not write: If you engage the pins incorrectly with the seats, they can become damaged.

WRITE: If you engage the pins incorrectly with the seats, the pins can become damaged.

or

If you engage the pins incorrectly with the seats, the seats can become damaged.

or

If you engage the pins incorrectly with the seats, the pins and seats can become damaged.