Reflective pronoun use

[Mouse]

Eh?

My grammar checker has a problem with: Rowan had taken her out on his own

It says 'on his own' is 'reflective pronoun use.' Now that's gobbledegook to me. I've read the explanation and it makes no sense. So, what's wrong with 'on his own?'

All I'm wanting to say is that my character, Rowan, has taken his partner's dog for a walk without the partner being there. [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

 

[HareBrain]

I'm a bit shaky on this, but I think "on his own" is reflexive (not reflective?) because you have Rowan earlier in the same clause, so it's repeating the subject (i.e. him). But it's not a problem, and I can't see why grammar checker thinks it is. Except that grammar checker is a huge steaming pile of digital ordure.

 

[Mouse]

Oh yeah, I misread. It does say 'reflexive.' Which I've never heard of. As long as what I've put does actually make sense and isn't a complete grammatical failure, I'm ok.

edit: I've just changed it to: he had taken her out on his own and now grammar checker's fine with it.

 

[J Riff]

Don't change it to please a grammar bot. It could have been damaged while installing. I use deflective pronouns alla time, and so far no machines have complained becos they are turned off, I turned them off- me, I did, on my own, by myself, using better judgement, I think, on, as I said, my own. (Gram. Errors - 47)

 

[Gumboot]

Oh yeah, I misread. It does say 'reflexive.' Which I've never heard of. As long as what I've put does actually make sense and isn't a complete grammatical failure, I'm ok.

edit: I've just changed it to: he had taken her out on his own and now grammar checker's fine with it.

It's probably just that the grammar bot wasn't able to ascertain the relationship between the proper noun "Rowan" and the two pronouns. You confused the poor wee thing.

To be totally honest I turn grammar checker off. Spell checker is useful, but grammar checker seems incapable of handing anything beyond simple sentences.

 

[Ursa major]

The grammar checker can be useful: as a back-up spell checker.

 

[Mouse]

Yeah, I have got my grammar check turned off for certain things. I don't always listen to it, but with this one I didn't understand what it was telling me so I thought I'd ask. It is helpful to pick up other stuff.

 

[BenSt]

The sentence reads fine to me mouse, although I can see why a grammar checker might see as a problem. I don't suppose these two alternatives would also do?

Rowan, on his own, had taken her out.

On his own, Rowan had taken her out.

 

[Mouse]

S'alright, ta, I've just changed it to 'he' and it's fine.

 

[Tecdavid]

I make sure to turn the checker off, and not just because it nit-picks. If a character says something, there's every chance it'll be grammatically incorrect (It's human dialogue, dagnabbit!), and I don't want to see that damn green squiggly line smothering everything.