Don't start a sentence with a pronoun after a heading in technical writing.

Headings That Lead—Why Starting with a Pronoun After a Heading Can Confuse Readers

In technical writing, headings are like signposts. They tell you what’s coming and help readers skim for what matters. So when the sentence that follows a heading starts with a pronoun that points back to the heading, readers can stumble. It’s a tiny hiccup, but in clear, precise communication, tiny hiccups matter a lot. Let me explain why this little choice matters and how to keep your writing crisp and unambiguous.

The quick verdict

• The answer is False. Starting a sentence after a heading with a pronoun that refers to the heading usually creates ambiguity. And in professional documents, ambiguity is not your friend.

Why pronouns after headings create ambiguity

• Signals get blurred: A heading sets up a concept, a noun or noun phrase, and your next sentence should connect crisply to that concept. When you launch with a pronoun like “they,” “this,” or “these,” the reader has to decide exactly what the pronoun refers to. Is it the heading’s idea? A list you just mentioned? A broader topic lurking in the section? In short documents, a pronoun may be clear. In complex ones, clarity evaporates.

• Multiple headings, multiple possibilities: If a document has several subheadings in a chunk, a pronoun at the start of the following sentence can refer to any of several ideas that appeared under different headings. That’s a recipe for misinterpretation.

• The rhythm breaks: Technical content benefits from predictable rhythm. When you begin with a pronoun, you disrupt the flow readers rely on to move smoothly from a heading into the content. A noun-first sentence after a heading keeps the path clean and easy to follow.

What to do instead: practical, readable alternatives

• Restate the heading’s concept in the opening sentence

• Example: Heading: “Performance considerations for API endpoints.” Good follow-up: “Performance considerations for API endpoints affect throughput and reliability.” See? It starts with the concept you just named, no guessing.

• Start with a noun or noun phrase that ties directly to the heading

• Example: Heading: “Error handling in data pipelines.” Good follow-up: “Error handling in data pipelines requires clear logging and predictable recovery paths.”

• Use a short verb phrase that anchors the idea

• Example: Heading: “Security controls for cloud storage.” Good follow-up: “Security controls for cloud storage protect data at rest and in transit.”

• If you really want a pronoun, ensure it’s crystal clear what it refers to, but use sparingly

• Not ideal, but possible: “This governs how users access the feature.” Here, “this” should clearly refer to a single, well-defined heading concept. Still, many editors prefer avoiding this when clarity could be questioned.

A few concrete examples: good, better, and best practice

• Heading: “Accessibility considerations for dashboards”

• Weak: “They are essential for inclusivity.”

• Clear: “Accessibility considerations for dashboards are essential for inclusivity.”

• Heading: “API endpoints and caching strategy”

• Weak: “They improve performance.”

• Clear: “API endpoints and caching strategy improve performance.”

• Heading: “Versioning policy for API changes”

• Weak: “This affects developer adoption.”

• Clear: “Versioning policy for API changes affects developer adoption.”

What about short, simple documents?

Even in shorter pieces, starting with a pronoun can be jarring. A single sentence or two after a heading should still feel anchored. If the heading reads “User onboarding flow,” a clean next sentence could be: “User onboarding flow requires a clear, minimal set of steps to reduce drop-off.” If you wanted to use a pronoun, you’d have to craft it so the pronoun’s antecedent is obvious—often more trouble than it’s worth in a small document.

Transitional flow: keeping readers moving

• Use transitional phrases to connect headings to the body without forcing pronouns into first position

• Examples: “This section explains…” (though watch for ambiguity if there are multiple possible referents) or better: “The following sections explain…” or “We cover the following: accessibility, performance, and security.” Transitions like these guide readers without inviting guesswork.

• Tie the sentence to the heading with a coordinating idea

• Heading: “Logging requirements”

• Following sentence: “Logging requirements include level standards, timestamp formats, and data retention rules.” This keeps the topic front and center and avoids pronouns altogether.

A quick note on style and tone

• Clarity beats cleverness here. In technical writing, precision is the star. A simple, direct opening sentence after a heading is usually the best choice.

• You can still vary tone. If you’re writing for a broad audience, a warmer tone helps. If you’re drafting a formal specification, concise and unambiguous wins. The key is to keep the link between heading and sentence obvious.

• Don’t overdo it with filler phrases just to avoid pronouns. Phrases like “In this section, we discuss…” are helpful, but not always necessary. A well-crafted sentence can stand on its own.

Practical tools and habits to make it stick

• Use the heading as your anchor sentence’s map

• After writing a heading, draft one sentence that explicitly restates the heading’s idea in a straightforward way. If you can’t do that in one sentence, it’s a signal that the heading might be too broad or the sentence too convoluted.

• Read aloud or in skim mode

• Read the heading and the first sentence aloud. If the pronoun sounds like it could point anywhere, rewrite. Skim the page to ensure the flow follows naturally from the heading to the body.

• Leverage your editor’s feedback loop

• When reviewing documents, pay attention to how pronouns near headings read. If reviewers frequently flag ambiguity, it’s a sign to adjust your pattern across sections.

• Use example-driven sections

• In sections that include examples, begin with a sentence that links the heading to the example. For instance, a heading like “Error messages and troubleshooting steps” can start with: “Error messages guide users to troubleshooting steps and must be actionable and consistent.”

A gentle digression you might relate to

• Think about how you navigate a user manual or a help center. If a heading promises one thing and the next line wanders into a pronoun chase, you end up rereading the same idea twice, looking for a thread. That moment disrupts confidence in the document. Your job is to make it easy for a reader to trust what they’re reading—every sentence should feel like a natural extension of the heading’s promise.

A few quick tips you can apply today

• If in doubt, rewrite the opening sentence to start with the heading’s key noun.

• Prefer explicit references over pronouns in the first sentence after a heading.

• Keep headings precise and narrow. If a heading is sprawling, split it into two or three tighter headings.

• Pair each heading with a short, concrete sentence that confirms the link to the heading’s concept.

What this approach means for technical documents

• Clarity is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Technical documents aim to inform, instruct, and guide. When readers can immediately see how a section connects to its heading, they spend less time guessing and more time understanding. That’s the kind of efficiency that earns trust and reduces errors in implementation, product use, or policy adherence.

• The habit also scales well. As documents grow, the risk of ambiguity multiplies. Consistently starting sentences with a clear noun phrase or a concise restatement of the heading helps maintain a dependable rhythm across pages and chapters.

Final takeaway: aim for obvious connections, not subtle ones

• The rule is simple: avoid starting a sentence after a heading with a pronoun that points back to that heading. When you do, you introduce a small puzzle for readers. Instead, let the heading’s idea lead into a sentence that restates, reinforces, or directly links to that idea.

• If you keep that pattern, your technical writing becomes easier to scan, easier to translate into other formats, and easier for teams to implement correctly. It’s a small adjustment with a meaningful payoff—clearer communication, fewer misinterpretations, and a smoother experience for anyone who reads your work.

If you’re a writer, editor, or content creator working with technical material, this tiny shift can improve the readability and reliability of your pages. And, honestly, that’s a win worth aiming for. After all, when readers don’t have to reread to understand what’s being said, they can focus on what matters—the information itself.