COHERENCE & COHESION

In Summary

Connect ideas, sentences and paragraphs using a variety of cohesive devices:

logical bridges (parallel construction)

carry the same idea of a topic over from sentence to sentence, i.e. successive sentences are constructed
in parallel form

e.g. In the first stage, an idea can be generated by using a mind-map and some discussion. In the next
stage, a clear plan of action can be produced in the form of a list.

verbal bridges (back referencing/linking words)

key words/phrases might be repeated in a number of sentences, or synonyms utilised instead to avoid
exact repetition.

e.g. There are three stages to the pre-writing process: one to effect the generation of ideas, another to
facilitate an action plan, and the third to research the information to be included in your text. In the
first stage, an idea can be generated by using a mind-map and some discussion.

words/phrases to link ideas between sentences for smooth transition

e.g. writing is a process, which can take a long time and involve many obstacles. However, when you are
finished, you’ll see that it was worth the effort.

Coherence and cohesion are essential for aiding readability and idea communication. Coherence is
about the unity of the ideas and cohesion the unity of structural elements. One way to do this is
through the use of cohesive devices: logical bridges (repetition), verbal bridges (synonyms), linking
words, and clear back referencing. If these types of devices are missing in the text, it not only becomes
more difficult to read the text, but also to understand its contents since the reader must guess how the
various parts of the paragraph or text are connected, which will involve re-reading sentences or larger
sections more than once.
With logical bridges, the same idea of a topic is carried over (repeated) from sentence to sentence, and
successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form. With verbal bridges, key words or synonymous
words can be repeated, pronouns can replace nouns and transition words (as shown below) can be
used. In the paragraph below, words and phrases that serve to increase the coherence of the
paragraph are highlight and underlined. As this sample paragraph indicates, coherence and cohesion in a
paragraph is established by combining more than one device.

Example Remarks

There are three components to a typical modern catalytic converter: one to effect the reduction of
nitrogen oxides, another to facilitate the oxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and the third
to maintain the correct abundance of oxygen. In the first stage the nitrogen oxides are reduced using a
platinum catalyst, which facilitates their decomposition into nitrogen and oxygen. In the next stage the
carbon fragments are oxidized over a platinum/rhodium catalyst. Finally, the correct amount of oxygen
is ensured by monitoring the amount of oxygen passing into the engine, and by incorporating into the
catalyst a metal oxide that absorbs oxygen (by reacting with it to form a higher oxide) when the fuel
mixture has too much oxygen and reverts to the lower oxide, releasing oxygen, when the mixture has
too little (Atkins. P.W, 1991)

The topic sentence introduces the three stages which are then explained in more detail.

Verbal bridge: The second sentence includes a key word “reduced”, linking the idea to the previous
sentence though in a different form from earlier (“reduction”). A similar repetition occurs in the third
sentence.

Logical bridge: The processes of the first two stages are described in parallel form.

The final sentence sums up this process, clearly signalled by “finally”.

A more direct way of emphasizing the inherent logic of a paragraph is through the use of linking words
and phrases which mark transitions within and between sentences. The table below gives a sample of
such linking words and groups them based on the connection they illustrate/indicate.