COHERENCE

Coherence is a Latin word, meaning “to stick

together.” In a composition, coherence is a
literary technique that refers to logical
connections, which listeners or readers
perceive in an oral or written text. In other
words, it is a written or spoken piece that is not
only consistent and logical, but also unified
and meaningful. It makes sense when read or
listened to as a whole.
Tools:

Transitions/linking words
Conjunctions
Preposition
Transitional or Linking words
 Transitions are words or phrases that show the relationship between
paragraphs or sections of a text or speech. Transitions provide greater
cohesion by making it more explicit or signaling how ideas relate to one
another.
Reason Transition Words
- To provide reasons for what has been stated or has occurred.
Examples:
 Because of
We were unable to go by train because of the rail strike.
 With this in mind
With this in mind, we must ensure more job security.
 In fact
In fact, the fighting became even more brutal on Sunday.
 In order to
In order to achieve this, we need a budget.
 Due to
The event is off due to a scheduling error.
Result Transition Words

- Transitional words and transitional phrases to provide the result of

what has been stated or has occurred.
Examples:
 As a result
His wife left him. As a result, he became very depressed.
 As a consequence (of)
She has lived in France, and as a consequence speaks French fluently.
 Therefore
We do not have enough money. Therefore we cannot afford to buy the new car.
 Thus
We do not own the building. Thus, it would be impossible for us to make any major changes to it.
 Consequently
There has been a great deal of rain and consequently the reservoirs are full.
 Hence
The customer was displeased with her meal, hence the chef prepared a replacement.
 For this reason
For this reason, they are not a good choice for exterior use.
 Due to
Due to a broken wing, this bird can’t fly.
Emphasis Transition Words

- Transition words and phrases to put forward a point or idea more

forcefully
Examples:
 Undoubtedly
Undoubtedly, the story itself is one of the main attractions.
 Indeed
I don’t mind at all. Indeed, I would be delighted to help.
 Obviously
Obviously, we don’t want to spend too much money.
 Particularly / in particular
I love silver earrings, in particular ones from Mexico.
 Especially
The car is quite small, especially if you have children.
 Clearly
Clearly, this will cost a lot more than we realized.
 Importantly
More importantly, can he be trusted?
 Absolutely
He’s an absolutely brilliant cook.
 Definitely
I definitely remember sending the letter.
 Without a doubt
We still believe we can win this series without a doubt.
 Never
I’m never surprised at what I do.
 It should be noted
It should be noted that if you have something to note, then note it.
 Unquestionably
Unquestionably, teaching has been a paramount part of his career.
 Above all
Above all, this forest is designed for wear and tear.
Addition Transition Words

-Transitional words and transitional phrases to add to what

has been previously stated
Examples:
 Additionally / an additional
Additionally, the bus service will run on Sundays, every two hours.
 Furthermore
He said he had not discussed the matter with her. Furthermore, he had not even contacted her.
 Also
We are unable to repair this watch. Also, this is the fourth time this has happened.
 Too
I love wearing earrings. I design and make them too.
 As well as that
We went to the park today. As well as that, we did some shopping.
 Along with
Along with parties and parliaments, elections have lost their charm.
 Besides
I can’t afford to go to the concert. Besides, I don’t really like classical music.
 In addition
You haven’t paid the rent yet. In addition, you owe me money.
Illustration Transition Words

- Transitional words and phrases to provide examples.

Examples:
 For example/ For instance
There are many interesting places to visit in the city, for example/ for instance, the botanical garden or the art
museum.
 Such as
I prefer to wear casual clothes, such as jeans and a sweatshirt.
 Including
Including Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I’ve got a week off work.
 Namely
We need to concentrate on our target audience, namely women aged between 20 and 30.
 In this case
I think I would have made a difference in this case.
 Proof of this
This building are a living proof of this existence, so we must preserve it.
 Like
I also make other jewellery like rings and bracelets.
Contrast Transition Words

- Transition words and phrases to show how things are

different
Examples:
 Unlike
Unlike most systems, this one is very easy to install.
 Nevertheless
There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. Nevertheless, it is important that we try.
 On the other hand
Laptops are convenient; on the other hand, they can be expensive.
 Nonetheless
The problems are not serious. Nonetheless, we shall need to tackle them soon.
 Despite/ in spite of
Despite/ In spite of the rain, I went for a walk.
 In contrast (to)
In contrast to the diligent bee, the butterfly flies hither and yon with no apparent purpose.
 While
While London is exciting, it is much too busy.
Comparison Transition Words

- Transitional words and transitional phrases to show how things

are similar
Examples:
 Similarly
Similarly, the basketball and hockey games draw nearly full attendance.
 Equally
Equally, not all customers are honest.
 Likewise
Her second marriage was likewise unhappy.
 Just as
She’s just as smart as her sister.
 Just like
Working with housecats is just like working with lions or tigers.
 Similar to
Some people say I have a running style similar to him.
 Same as
Having a power is not the same as using the power.
Order Transition Words

1. To indicate the order of what is being said.

Examples:
 First/ firstly
Firstly, I prefer the train because I can see the landscape
 Second/ secondly
Secondly, I have control over my luggage.
 Third/ thirdly
Thirdly, it is better for the environment.
 Finally
Finally, I got an A in Math.
 At this time
At this time, the young man leapt into the air and flew off towards sunset.
 Following
They arrived on Monday evening and we got there the following day.
 Previously
I had visited them three days previously.
 Before
Your name is before mine on the list.
2. Transition words and phrases to mark the end of an ascending order
Examples:
 Above all
Above all, keep in touch.
 Lastly and most importantly
Lastly, and most importantly, you should be optimistic.
 Last but not least
Last but not least, I find I seriously cannot relate to women.
3. To mark the beginning of a descending order
Example:
 First and foremost…
We will continue to focus on our players first and foremost.
Conclusion Transition Words

- Transition words and phrases to sum up what has been

previously stated.
Examples:
 In conclusion
In conclusion, walking is a cheap, safe, enjoyable and readily available form of exercise.
 To summarise
To summarise, this is a clever approach to a common problem.
 Altogether
The food was good and we loved the music. Altogether it was a great evening.
 In short
His novels belong to a great but vanished age. They are, in short, old-fashioned.
 To sum up
To sum up, there are three main ways of tackling the problem…
 In summary
In summary, this was a disappointing performance.
 Briefly
Briefly, our team is now one of the best in the world.
Conjunction
- a part of speech that connects words, phrases, or clauses
that are called the conjuncts of the conjunctions
Coordinating Conjuction
- also called coordinators, are conjunctions that join, or coordinate, two or
more items (such as words, main clauses, or sentences) of equal syntactic
importance.
Subordinating Conjunction
- is a connecting word or phrase (called a conjunction) that introduces
a dependent clause, joining it to a main clause.
Correlative Conjunction
- that functions in a pair, with both words working together to balance words,
phrases, or clauses.
Preposition
- is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a
sentence. They act to connect the people, objects, time and locations of a
sentence.
Function of Coherence
Make relationship evident and clear
 To achieve coherence, you should avoided the
following:
Dangling construction - is a group of words that the writer intends to
be a modifier for a noun or phrase but the noun or phrase is not
actually in the sentence. Instead, the modifier erroneously describes
a noun or phrase that is in the sentence -- sometimes with humorous
results.
Split infinitives - happen when you put an adverb between to and a
verb
Split verb phrases - says that an adverb must not be placed
between an auxiliary and the following verb
Split subject and predicate
Example 1. (Split subject and predicate)

Poor: Rufino, in his desire to give good life to his

family suffers working in a far place.
Improved: In his desire to give a good life to his
family, Rufino suffers working in a far place.
Example 2. (Dangling construction)

Poor: On his way to the library, the eyeglasses

fell.
Improved: While Roger was on his way to the
library, his eyeglasses fell.
Poor: Hoping to garner favor, my parents were sadly unimpressed with the gift.
Improved: Hoping to garner favor, my new boyfriend brought my parents a gift
that sadly unimpressed them..

Poor: Hoping to excuse my lateness, the note was written and given to my
teacher.
Improved: Hoping to excuse my lateness, I wrote a note and gave it to my
teacher.

Poor: After reading the great new book, the movie based on it is sure to be
exciting
Improved: After reading the great new book, Anna thought the movie based on
it was sure to be exciting.
Example 3. (Split infinitive)

Poor: I do not want to as much as possible fail

students in my class.
Improved: As much as possible, i do not want to
fail students in my classes.
Poor: He urged me to casually walk up and say hello.
Improved: He urged me to walk up casually and say hello.

This software allows your company to quickly, easily, and cost-

effectively manage all tasks.
This software allows your company to manage all tasks quickly,
easily, and cost effectively.

Do you have to so loudly play?

Do you have to play so loudly?
EMPHASIS
Emphasis means stressing the point which you want to
give importance to. It is also the repetition of key words
and phrases or the careful arrangement of words to give
them special weight and prominence. The most emphatic
spot in a sentence is usually the end.

One of the best ways to emphasize main ideas and de-

emphasize less important ideas is through coordination
and subordination of sentence parts.
Use Coordination for Equal Ideas
Coordination means combining sentences or
sentence parts that have matching grammatical
forms and connecting them using conjunctions,
conjunctive adverbs or semicolons.
When using conjunctions to coordinate ideas, you
can use a comma with conjunction.

Examples:
He talked to me yesterday, but he didn’t mention
the move.
She walks to work, and she reads during lunch.
Conjunctive adverbs (preceded by a semicolon) also
show the relationship between two independent clauses.

Examples:
You’re the best person I know; however, I don’t know a
lot of people.
We made the best choice we could; consequently, I’m
not going to worry about it.
You can also use transitional phrases—such as on the
other hand, for example, or in addition—to coordinate
ideas.

Examples:
I think they made some good points; in fact, I might be
willing to invest in their concept.
He arrives late almost every day; on the other hand,
he works quite late, as well.
If the sentences are closely related, you can also leave out
the comma and conjunction or the conjunctive adverb and
use just a semicolon.

Examples:
Jan started playing fifteen years ago; she was only five.
Dan Bros. was awarded the contract; they’ll begin
working on it next week.
Use Subordination for Unequal Ideas
Subordination means combining two related ideas
that are not equal. In such cases, the more
important idea is part of the main clause and the
less important idea is part of the subordinate clause.
Such clauses are often introduced by subordinating
conjunctions. Subordinating ideas can also be set
off by relative pronouns.
Examples:
He said that the party would be on Saturday,
though I’m not sure what time it starts.
I’ve been waiting for this vacation for two years;
furthermore, I can’t refund my tickets.
We will go in August, which is the best time to be
there.
Relative clauses can also be used to add subordinate
information.

Examples:
All the employees are huge basketball fans. That
makes it a very fun winter.
He couldn’t give me a straight answer. This leaves a
lot of room for doubt.
In such cases, the latter sentence can often be
combined with the preceding sentence.

Examples:
All the employees are huge basketball fans, making
it a very fun winter.
He couldn’t give me a straight answer, leaving a lot
of room for doubt.
CONCISENESS
Conciseness is the extent to which a piece of writing communicates
clear information in as few words as possible. One good way to think
about conciseness is to think about what, in auto mechanics, is called
the 'power-to-weight' ratio.

'Power-to-weight' is the horsepower of the car divided by the curb

weight: in other words, the higher the ratio, the more powerful the car.
But to achieve a good power-to-weight ratio, you must not only have a
powerful engine--but you must also have to limit the weight of the car.
Examples:
Poor: The primary goal and objective of the organization is to
create jobs for the unemployed.
Improved: The primary goal of the organization is to create jobs
for the unemployed

Poor: Baby will be celebrating her birthdat in the water park

named Eight Waves Water Park in the coming twenty seventh
day of November in the year of out Lord two thousand and five.
Improved: Baby will be celebrating her birthday in Eight Waves
Water Park on November 27, 2005.
PARALLELISM
Parallelism also known as parallel
structure or parallel construction, is a balance
within one or more sentences of similar phrases
or clauses that have the same grammatical
structure. The application of parallelism affects
readability and may make texts easier to process.
Examples:
Poor: The non-conformists are manifesting their dislike of the present
administration by marching on the streets and to disregard government
policies.
Improved: The non-conformists are manifesting their dislike of the present
administration by marching on the streets and disregarding government
policies.

Poor: The priest says the homily with cheer as the congregation was
solemnly listening.
Improved: The priest cheerfully says the homily as the congregation
solemnly listens.
 TENSE
SEQUENCE
In Tense Sequence, all the verbs in the sentence
should be in the same tense. The tense of the first
verb used followed by all other verbs.
Examples:
Poor: Jerry woke up early and prepares himself hurriedly
because he will go home to Tuy.
Improved: Jerry woke up early and prepared himself
hurriedly because he would go home to Tuy.

Poor: The cat was bathing because his feet will be dirty.
Improved: The cat was bathing because his
feet were dirty.