Cohesive devices are words or phrases that are used to link or clarify the relationships among ideas (in a

sentences, or paragraphs.)

Cohesion

It is relates to the macro level of text, i.e. the words and sentences and how they join or link together.

Coherence

It is relates to Marco level features of the text which help it to make sense as a whole.

For a writer

Without a cohesive devices, a paragraph or an essay will be just a group of unrelated sentences or
paragraphs that may be difficult to understand.

For reader

Cohesive devices help a reader to understand a relationship between parts of sentences, between
sentences between paragraphs in an easy way.

Reference word

Word which do not make sense on their own because they

Refer to something else in the text

For examples

the, they , this , that those these , it , them , which , he , she.

Transition signal

Words/phrases which signal relationship between ideas.

Also called linking phrases/signpost phrases/cohesive devices.

For examples

Cause transition

For this reason because of

Effect transition

As a result consequently

Comparison transition

Similarly just like

Contrast transition

However wherease