Learn English – Is it correct to use “yonder” as equivalent to “those”/”these”

word-choiceword-usage

I want to write: "The methods can be divided according to the theories underlying the process and also differ on the statistical methods to evaluate those theories." Would it be correct to use yonder instead of those in this sentence to refer to a word used in the first part of the sentence –> theories? On the other hand I am not even sure if those is correct or if any I had to use these. I am always confused about the their difference.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Best Answer

I think non-native speakers would probably be well advised not to use yonder in any contexts (though as a native speaker myself I'm okay with yonder=afar, over there and yon=those, that).

From oxforddictionaries online:

yonder
ADVERB - ARCHAIC or DIALECT
At some distance in the direction indicated; over there:

DETERMINER - ARCHAIC or DIALECT
That or those (used to refer to something situated at a distance)

yon
DETERMINER & ADVERB - LITERARY or DIALECT
Yonder; that

OP's example sentence is at least clumsy, if not ungrammatical. But so far as the these/those choice is concerned, both are perfectly acceptable in that/this context.

Related Topic