Pronoun

A pronoun is a word like she, us, their or yourself which substitutes a more precise noun or noun phrase. We often use them when it is not necessary to repeat or use the more exact phrase.

Teachers need to remind students that, when a person who is being spoken about is present at the time of speaking, it is considered more polite to use the name or noun phrase rather than a pronoun. Indeed, failure to do may result in some offence being taken by the individual referred to as they may feel they are being ignored in some way, or treated disrespectfully.