The pesky "it": a common writing mistake 📝

You know I love good mistakes (= mistakes you can learn from). Here is one from today's IELTS writing class. Can you spot it?

"Regarding paper, it can be seen that it experienced a steady growth from 4 million tonnes in 1980 to 12 million tonnes in 2000."

The mistake is: "it" is used in two different meanings.

1️⃣ In "it can be seen," "it" is the dummy subject in a passive structure.

2️⃣ In "it experienced," "it" means "paper."

But the reader's brain will perceive the first "it" as "paper," so the sentence will read: "Regarding paper, it = the paper can be seen ..." This is confusing.

All "it"s in one sentence must refer to the same noun. 💜

The fix? Simply delete "it can be seen" - this phrase is absolutely empty anyway. It contributes nothing but confusion. I'd also say "paper production" rather than just "paper."

Did you spot this mistake? Do you use phrases like "it can be seen"? ❓