Margot's sentence should use 'ignored them' to keep pronouns clear.

Pronouns matter. A tiny mismatch can tug a reader off balance in ways you don’t notice until you stumble over it. In the margins of a sentence, a single word choice can keep meaning crystal clear or leave it cloudy. Let me show you what happens with Margot’s sentence when the number of things being discussed changes the pronoun you should use.

The Margot moment: a small grammar puzzle

Consider a sentence about Margot making a decision related to “three extra credit questions.” If someone says Margot “ignored it,” the pronoun “it” points to a singular item. But when the context is three separate questions, the natural, clean choice is to refer back to them with a plural pronoun: “ignored them.”

Here’s the logic in plain terms: when the subject is more than one thing, the pronoun that replaces that subject should also be more than one. In grammar land, this is called pronoun-antecedent agreement, and it’s one of those tiny rules that keep sentences from feeling offbeat or vague.

Why this little tweak matters in writing

You might wonder why the distinction matters at all. After all, isn’t it obvious what Margot ignored? Not always. In real writing—whether you’re tackling a short response, a paragraph, or a longer argument—pronoun choices act like signposts for readers. If you switch from plural to singular in midstream, you risk creating a moment of hesitation. The reader might pause and reread, asking, “Wait, which thing is being ignored?”

On the PACT Writing task side, clarity is king. The test (and good everyday writing) rewards sentences that flow smoothly and leave no doubt about what or whom the writer is talking about. When you’re deciding whether to say “it” or “them,” you’re deciding how cleanly the sentence rides over the sentence boundary into the next idea. In Margot’s case, sticking with “them” keeps the focus on the trio of questions as the group Margot is reacting to.

A quick rule of thumb you can carry anywhere

If the noun phrase you’re referring back to is plural, use a plural pronoun. If it’s singular, use a singular pronoun. Simple as that. But it helps to pause and check the noun you’re counting. In Margot’s instance, “three extra credit questions” is clearly plural, so the natural pronoun is “them.”

A broader view: pronouns as the road signs of writing

Pronouns aren’t just ordinary words. They’re the road signs that guide a reader through your thoughts. If you point to a group of items with a singular sign, you risk misdirection. If you point to a group with a plural sign, you help your reader move confidently from one sentence to the next. The goal is seamless comprehension, not fancy footwork. When you see a target like “the three extra credit questions,” you can almost hear the sentence asking you to keep the plural in play.

A few practical, everyday checks

Here are some quick moves you can use while drafting or editing any short answer, paragraph, or response that mentions more than one item:

• Identify the noun group first

• Ask: “What exactly is Margot ignoring?” If it’s three questions, the group is plural. If it’s “the opportunity,” a single thing, the singular pronoun makes sense.

• Read the sentence aloud

• If saying it aloud makes you stumble, odds are the pronoun isn’t sitting right with the noun it refers to.

• Swap in the simplest noun

• Replace the pronoun with the noun or nouns it stands for. If the sentence still sounds awkward, you’ve got your cue to adjust.

• Check cross-sentence references

• If a sentence mentions “them” and the next sentence moves to “it,” you’ve got a flag that the pronoun link might be broken.

• Keep it explicit when in doubt

• If your context allows, repeating the noun can keep things crystal clear and reduce the chance of a misread.

Related ideas that often show up in writing prompts

Pronoun consistency isn’t the only place grammar sneaks in on you. Here are a few other standards you’ll see pop up in quick writing tasks:

• Subject-verb agreement

• Even a plural noun can trip you up if the subject is far away in the sentence. A quick check is to ask: “Is the verb showing the right amount of agreement with the subject?”

• Collective nouns

• Words like “team,” “committee,” or “audience” can behave as singular or plural depending on whether you’re emphasizing the group as a unit or its members.

• Ambiguous antecedents

• If two nouns could be replaced by the same pronoun, you’ve got ambiguity. It’s usually better to rephrase and keep the antecedent clear.

• Repetition vs. variety

• A touch of repetition helps emphasis, but too much can feel muddy. A careful edit often tightens the sentence without losing voice.

A slim checklist you can keep handy

• Is the pronoun number matching the noun it references?

• Does the pronoun appear in a way that keeps the meaning obvious?

• Are there places where a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent?

• Could replacing a pronoun with the noun or rephrasing make the sentence crisper?

Bringing it back to Margot

So, the right move in the Margot sentence is to switch from “ignored it” to “ignored them.” This keeps the pronoun in line with the plural idea of “the three extra credit questions.” It’s a small adjustment with a big payoff in readability. When a reader doesn’t have to hunt for what “it” or “them” refers to, the sentence feels confident and precise.

A few broader tips that feel useful, not heavy-handed

• Use concrete nouns whenever possible

• Concrete nouns reduce the cognitive load for readers, making pronoun links more obvious.

• Favor consistency over cleverness

• Your goal is clear communication, not a clever linguistic twist that leaves readers uncertain.

• Let tools help, not replace your eye

• Grammar checkers and editing aids are great for flagging potential mismatches, but the best results come from your own careful reading. If something feels off, it probably is.

A moment for the editor in you

If you’re polishing a piece in which Margot’s scenario appears, give yourself a minute to test different pronouns and see what reads most cleanly. Sometimes a sentence can carry a subtle emphasis change depending on pronoun choice. That’s not a flaw — it’s writing nuance. The trick is knowing where you want the reader to land and guiding them there with deliberate choices.

Tools and resources you might find handy

• Purdue OWL: A reliable reference point for grammar and usage basics, explained in plain language.

• Grammarly or Hemingway Editor: Helpful for spotting potential pronoun-antecedent mismatches and improving sentence rhythm.

• Style guides and dictionaries: A quick consult can keep you aligned with preferred pronoun usage in formal writing.

In the end, why this tiny adjustment sticks

Language feels like a living thing when you read it. The moment you align a pronoun with its rightful, plural antecedent, you remove a layer of friction. The reader doesn’t have to pause and ask, “Who is being ignored here?” The sentence slides along, and the idea you’re trying to convey lands with a quiet, confident ease.

If you’re building a toolkit for your writing, start with pronoun consistency as a non-negotiable habit. It’s a small hinge that opens up bigger doors: clearer arguments, smoother transitions, and a voice that sounds both natural and precise. And yes, Margot’s sentence is a perfect, bite-sized reminder that the number of things you’re talking about should match the pronouns you use.

A final thought

Your writing journey thrives on attention to detail without getting bogged down in it. By keeping pronoun-antecedent agreement in mind and applying it to everyday sentences, you’re building a durable skill. It’s not about chasing perfection; it’s about making your meaning easy to follow, every paragraph of the way. If Margot’s choice feels instinctive to you now, you’re on the right track. The habit will serve you well, whether you’re drafting a quick response, a longer argument, or a shareable piece that others will read and enjoy.