A shift is a change in structure that occurs within a sentence. There are several different types of shifts, including shifts in person, number and tense. In this issue of Grammatically Correct, we will focus on shifts in person. Shifts in person occur when the writer mixes two or more of the following in the same sentence to refer to the same person, place or thing: first person, second person or third person. Let’s take a look at an example:

Incorrect: If a person does not wear a seatbelt, you can be seriously injured in an accident.

Note that in the incorrect example above, the writer has used both third person (person) and second person (you). This is where the shift in person occurs. However, there are a number of ways that the sentence may be corrected:

Revised: If a person does not wear a seatbelt, he/she can be seriously injured in an accident.

Revised: If people do not wear a seatbelt, they can be seriously injured in an accident.

Revised: If you do not wear a seatbelt, you can be seriously injured in an accident.

In the first revised example, the singular third person noun (person) agrees with the singular third person pronoun (he/she). In the second revised example, the plural third person noun (people) agrees with the plural third person pronoun (they). Note that most of the time it is less awkward to use plural pronouns such as they or them, rather than to use the inclusive singular pronoun he/she. Too many occurrences of he/she can make paragraphs wordy and cause the reader to stumble.

The third revised example is different from the other two examples due to the fact that it uses the second person, rather than third person. In this revised example, the second person pronoun you agrees with the second person pronoun you again.

It is best to avoid unnecessary shifts in person because they cause confusion for the reader. The easiest way to avoid making these shifts is to proofread your work or to have someone else look over it for you.

Along with our website, we recommend Dartmouth Writing Program’s “Attending to Grammar” at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/grammar.shtml. This site features an extensive list that helps students to identify 20 different types of errors that are likely to occur in academic writing. The site’s goal is to teach students how to recognize these types of errors so that they can improve their writing skills.

Test your understanding of shifts in person by rewriting each of the following sentences correctly.

1. Everyone should leave your offices by 5 pm.

2. If a student has questions about writing, you can contact us.

3. I feel that people should have the right to emergency health care if you need it.

4. I once thought that a monster lived under my bed, but now we no longer believe that.

Answers

1. Everyone should leave his/her office by 5 pm. OR

    You should leave your office by 5 pm.

2. If a student has questions about writing, he/she can contact us. OR

    If students have questions about writing, they can contact us.

3. I feel that people should have the right to emergency health care if they need it.

4. I once thought that a monster lived under my bed, but now I no longer believe that. OR

    We once thought that a monster lived under the bed, but now we no longer believe that.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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