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What are cohesive devices in writing?

Published in Writing Skills 2 mins read

Cohesive devices are words, phrases, or clauses that help connect ideas and create a smooth flow in writing. They act like bridges, linking sentences and paragraphs together, making your writing easier to understand and follow.

Types of Cohesive Devices:

Here are some common types of cohesive devices:

1. Reference Words:

  • Pronouns: These words replace nouns to avoid repetition.
    • Example: "The dog barked loudly. It scared the cat."
  • Demonstrative Adjectives: These words point to specific nouns.
    • Example: "This is my favorite book. That one is yours."
  • Synonyms: These words have similar meanings to the original word.
    • Example: "The child was playing in the park. The kid was having fun."

2. Conjunctions:

  • Coordinating Conjunctions: These words connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank.
    • Example: "The sun was shining, and the birds were singing."
  • Subordinating Conjunctions: These words connect a dependent clause to an independent clause.
    • Example: "Because it was raining, we stayed inside."

3. Transitional Words and Phrases:

  • These words and phrases connect ideas, showing the relationship between sentences and paragraphs.
    • Example: "Furthermore, the study revealed some interesting findings."
    • Example: "On the other hand, there are also some drawbacks."

4. Repetition:

  • Repeating key words or phrases can emphasize important ideas.
    • Example: "The problem is not the lack of resources. The problem is the lack of planning."

5. Parallelism:

  • Using similar grammatical structures can create a sense of balance and rhythm.
    • Example: "The team was dedicated, motivated, and successful."

Benefits of Using Cohesive Devices:

  • Improved Clarity: Readers can easily follow your ideas.
  • Enhanced Flow: Writing becomes smoother and more engaging.
  • Stronger Arguments: Ideas are presented logically and convincingly.
  • Professionalism: Writing appears polished and well-structured.

Tips for Effective Use:

  • Choose the right cohesive device for the relationship you want to show.
  • Avoid overuse of any one device.
  • Vary your vocabulary to avoid repetition.
  • Read your writing aloud to check for smoothness and clarity.

By using cohesive devices effectively, you can create clear, concise, and engaging writing that leaves a lasting impression on your readers.

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