Writers often use “This” to refer to the subject of the previous sentence. However, using the pronoun “this” alone is sometimes called a Lonely This. A subject should follow a “This.”
A Lonely This looks like:
- This is mine.
- This is likely due to too much freedom.
- This left them feeling inadequate.
In each of these examples, the reader does not know to what the “This” refers. The “This” is lonely because it doesn’t have a subject.
Writers should identify the “This” as in the following examples:
- This textbook is mine.
- This problem is likely due to too much freedom.
- This problem left them feeling inadequate.
In these examples, the “This” is followed by a noun. The more specificity in your writing, the easier it is to read because the reader doesn’t have to re-read sections to determine your subject.
