Which sentence uses correct pronoun referencing for clarity in the second option?

• A. They did not see any change in overall health; the trial was inconclusive.
• B. The patients and doctors did not see any change in overall health after the trial.
• C. The doctors did not see any change in overall health.
• D. The patients did not see any change in overall health.

Answer: (B)

Clear pronoun reference means every pronoun has a specific noun it points to, so readers know exactly who is being described. In the sentence that begins with They, the pronoun they has no explicit antecedent in that sentence, so it’s unclear whether it refers to patients, doctors, researchers, or participants—this creates confusion. The sentence that names the groups directly—the patients and doctors—eliminates that ambiguity by using precise subjects from the start, so readers immediately understand who did not see any change after the trial. This explicit subject reference is what makes the sentence the clearest option for pronoun usage.