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Section 11.2.4

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns replace or refer to nouns or noun phrases and, occasionally, larger units of a sentence.


In the decades following the Civil War, fifteen separate categories of currency in multiple denominations were issued. These included Demand Notes, U.S. Notes, National Bank Notes, and Federal Reserve Notes. [These replaces fifteen separate categories of currency.]

--Schafrik and Church, "Protecting the Greenback," Scientific American (modified)


You can use demonstrative pronouns to reduce repetition and wordiness; however, be careful not to create broad pronoun reference. Good technical writing is precise.


Unacceptable

Caution: Be careful not to mix alkaline earth metals with water, which may cause an explosion. This is dangerous at best. [What is dangerous, mixing alkaline earth metals with water or the explosion that such mixing can cause?]

Acceptable

Caution: Be careful not to mix alkaline earth metals with water, which may cause an explosion. Such an explosion is dangerous at best.


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## Demonstrative Pronouns ##
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