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What is the difference between cohesive and coherent writing?

Published in Writing Skills 3 mins read

While cohesive and coherent writing both contribute to clear and effective communication, they differ in their focus.

Cohesion: The Flow of Ideas

Cohesive writing emphasizes the smooth flow of ideas within a text. It ensures that sentences and paragraphs connect logically and build upon each other. This is achieved through various techniques:

  • Transition words: Words like however, therefore, furthermore, in addition help bridge ideas and show their relationship.
  • Pronoun reference: Using pronouns like he, she, it, they to refer to previously mentioned nouns avoids repetition and maintains a smooth flow.
  • Repetition of key words: Strategic repetition of important words or phrases helps connect ideas and emphasize key points.
  • Parallel structure: Using similar grammatical structures for related ideas adds clarity and rhythm to the writing.

Coherence: The Overall Meaning

Coherent writing focuses on making the overall meaning clear and understandable. It ensures that the ideas presented are logically connected and contribute to a unified purpose.

  • Clear topic sentences: Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
  • Logical organization: Ideas should be presented in a logical order, whether chronologically, by importance, or by comparison.
  • Supporting evidence: Arguments should be supported with relevant evidence, examples, or details.

Example:

Cohesive but not coherent:

  • The cat sat on the mat. The mat was green. The cat was fluffy.

This passage lacks coherence. While the sentences are grammatically connected, they don't contribute to a unified meaning.

Coherent but not cohesive:

  • The company's new marketing strategy is a disaster. Customer engagement has plummeted. Sales are down. The CEO should be fired.

This passage is coherent because it presents a clear argument. However, it lacks cohesion as the sentences are not smoothly connected.

Cohesive and coherent:

  • The company's new marketing strategy has resulted in a significant decline in customer engagement. This has led to a drop in sales, demonstrating the need for a reevaluation of the strategy. The CEO should consider revising the marketing plan or facing the consequences of continued underperformance.

This passage is both cohesive and coherent. It presents a clear argument, supported by evidence, and uses transition words and pronoun reference to connect ideas smoothly.

In Summary:

While both cohesion and coherence are crucial for effective writing, cohesion focuses on the flow of ideas within a text, while coherence emphasizes the overall clarity and unity of meaning. When both are present, writing becomes clear, engaging, and impactful.

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