Level: Advanced (B2-C1)
Cohesion means joining a text with reference words like pronouns, possessive pronouns, objective pronouns, adjectives, etc. At the same time, conjunctions like: but, then, etc. cooperate importantly so that the whole text is clear and readable.
Reference Words
In writing, reference words are used to avoid repetition:
Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) was a fifteenth-century Italian sculptor and painter who produced significant artworks. They include The Pieta and The David, the former perhaps one of the most famous sculptures in the world. Although he is remembered mainly as a sculptor and painter, he was also a poet. Beyond his visual work, Michelangelo left an important poetic legacy. His sonnets are considered a pillar of Italian literature. Inconclusive sculptures were brilliant projects. One of these, called «The Slaves«, was deliberately left unfinished by the artist to emphasise their idea of liberation and the struggle against oppression.
*Learn more about Michelangelo’s poetry.
| Reference | Example |
|---|---|
| Michelangelo Buonarroti | He / His |
| Significant artworks | They |
| The Pieta | The former |
| Inconclusive sculptures | These |
| The Slaves | Their |
The text above was inspired and reinterpreted by Unit 2.3 of the «Academic Writing: A handbook for International Students». Stephen Bailey — Fourth Edition. Routledge Editorial
Terms and Concepts Used as Reference Words
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Pronouns | he / she / it / they |
| Possessive pronouns | his / her / hers / its / their / theirs |
| Objective pronouns | her / him / them |
| Demonstrative pronouns | this / that / these / those |
| Other phrases | the former / the latter / the first / the second / the last |