Using "This" in beginning of sentence

[mfaisalk]

I have a tendency to start sentences with "This". Maybe because I usually write blogs in a conversational language and try to refer back to the last sentence where "this" becomes a good fit. I have recently started using Grammarly, which flags the initial "This" citing "unclear antecedent". My Question: Is this practice a bad style? Shall I always change so I do not begin with "This"? An example is below. How would you rephrase it to remove "this" but still have two sentences?

"The interface between BBU and RU is a proprietary one. This has been traditionally like this for years"

 

[tedmc]

It has been traditionally like this for years

 

[mfaisalk]

It has been traditionally like this for years

Starting with "it" or "this"....seems the concern (unclear antecedent) is still there....

 

[teechar]

I have a tendency to start sentences with "This", maybe because I usually write blogs in conversational language and try to refer back to the last sentence where "this" becomes a good fit. I have recently started using Grammarly, which flags the initial "This" citing "unclear antecedent". My Question: Is this practice a bad style?

Not necessarily.

Shall Should I always change so I do try not begin with "This"? An example is given below. How would you rephrase it to remove "this" but still have two sentences?

"The interface between BBU and RU is a proprietary one. This has been traditionally like this for years"

What are BBU and RU?

 

[tedmc]

Starting with "it" or "this"....seems the concern (unclear antecedent) is still there....

No, "it" refers to the preceding sentence/statement/situation.

 

[mfaisalk]

Not necessarily.

What are BBU and RU?

BBU and RU are technical engineering terms

 

[mfaisalk]

No, "it" refers to the preceding sentence/statement/situation.

Yes, "this" also refers to preceding sentence/statement/situation. I do not see any difference using "it" or "this"

 

[teechar]

Say "This has been the case for years".

 

[mfaisalk]

Say "This has been the case for years".

The interface between BBU and RU is a proprietary one. This has been the case for years.

I just checked. Grammarly is flagging "This" in second sentence with "Unclear antecedent". Attaching screenshot.

 

[5jj]

The antecedent is clear enough.

 

[jutfrank]

Grammarly can only make informed guesses about how clear the reference is. In the example teechar provides in post #8, the antecedent is very clear. Your original sentence is different in that you've used the word this twice in the same sentence. In that sentence, you need to start with a dummy pronoun (it) which serves a grammatical role rather than a semantic one: It has been like this for years.

Plus, it isn't normally any clearer if you use it instead of this, generally speaking. The difference between these two words is complicated, and doesn't have so much to do with clarity as with the kind of reference made. As a learner, you'll develop a sense of the difference with experience.

In the meantime, it just may be that Grammarly is giving you poor suggestions. Remember that machines cannot really understand the meaning of any piece of writing. Subtlety in reference is an especially difficult area to program for. Feel free to post specific sentences to this forum if you're uncertain in future.