IELTS Writing for Spanish speakers: How to Fix Unclear pronouns and reference words
Make sure each 'this', 'it' or 'they' points to one clear noun. If the reader has to guess, repeat the noun or use 'this' plus a noun such as 'this approach'.
At a glance
- For
- Spanish speakers
- Problem
- Unclear pronouns and reference words
- Scoring criterion
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Task affected
- Task 1 and Task 2
- IELTS test
- Academic or General Training (check your requirement)
- Typical effort
- a few days
- First step
- Underline every 'this', 'that', 'it' and 'they' in your essay.
Why this happens to Spanish speakers
Unclear reference breaks the chain between sentences. Writers know what 'it' means, but the reader may see two possible nouns, and cohesion suffers when referencing is faulty or ambiguous.
Why this affects Spanish speakers: Spanish allows long, flowing sentences and has many words that look like English but differ in meaning.
Long sentences with several clauses reduce clarity.
A strength to build on: Many shared Latin-origin words help reading and academic vocabulary.
Fix it in four steps
- Underline every 'this', 'that', 'it' and 'they' in your essay.
- Draw an arrow to the noun each one refers to. If you cannot find one, rewrite the sentence.
- Replace a bare 'this' with 'this' plus a noun when two things were mentioned before.
- Vary reference with synonyms only when the meaning is exact.
Before and after
Before
Governments and companies invest in research and this can improve it.
After
Governments and companies invest in research, and this investment can improve public health.
Ten-minute drill: Mark all reference words in two past essays and fix any that point to more than one noun.
Questions and answers
How can Spanish speakers fix unclear pronouns and reference words?
Make sure each 'this', 'it' or 'they' points to one clear noun. If the reader has to guess, repeat the noun or use 'this' plus a noun such as 'this approach'. Long sentences with several clauses reduce clarity.
How long does it take Spanish speakers to fix unclear pronouns and reference words?
Most learners need a few days. Short sessions on collocation and punctuation give quick gains.
Is it safe to repeat the same noun?
A little repetition is better than ambiguity. Use pronouns for clear references and repeat or substitute a noun when a pronoun could mean two things.
What is the most common referencing error?
A bare 'this' that follows a sentence with several ideas. Adding a noun after it usually fixes the problem.
What does a good practice drill look like for Spanish speakers?
Mark all reference words in two past essays and fix any that point to more than one noun. Short sessions on collocation and punctuation give quick gains.
How can Spanish speakers tell they have fixed unclear pronouns and reference words?
A reader can follow every reference word to a single noun without re-reading.
What should Spanish speakers know about their IELTS Writing target?
Spanish-speaking candidates often need targeted work on false friends, punctuation and sentence length.
Should Spanish speakers practise this on Task 1, Task 2 or both?
It shows up in both tasks. Fix it in Task 2 first, because Task 2 carries about twice the weight of Task 1, then check Task 1 with the same checklist. Many shared Latin-origin words help reading and academic vocabulary.
Can an AI checker help Spanish speakers with unclear pronouns and reference words?
An AI checker can show where this pattern appears in your own essay and which criterion it affects, which makes the fix concrete. It gives a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score, so use it to choose the next revision, rewrite, and check again. The first check on this site is free.
Check your own essay
See where unclear pronouns and reference words appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.
Feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score. Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Score requirements change, so confirm them with the organisation that will read your result.
Related guides
- IELTS Writing for Spanish speakers: overview
- Spanish speakers: run-on sentences and comma splices
- Spanish speakers: unnatural word combinations
- Spanish speakers: an unclear position in Task 2
- Spanish speakers: frequent spelling mistakes
- Spanish speakers: sentences that all have the same simple structure
- Spanish speakers: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
- Candidates stuck at Band 6: unclear pronouns and reference words
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam: unclear pronouns and reference words
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