Reference and cohesion
Reference devices link sentences by pointing to people, entities, propositions or sections of text without unnecessary repetition.
01 · Concept foundation
Understand the terms before applying the rule
Each term below names a different grammatical object. Open examples and compare their function rather than memorising a Vietnamese translation alone.
cohesion/kəʊˈhiːʒən/
liên kết hình thứcThe grammatical and lexical ties that make parts of a text connect on the surface.
pronouns, repetition, substitution, linking expressions
đại từ, lặp từ, thay thế, biểu thức nối
anaphora/əˈnæfərə/
tham chiếu hồi chỉReference back to an earlier expression in the text.
The method was revised. This improved accuracy.
Phương pháp được sửa. Điều này cải thiện độ chính xác.
ambiguous reference/æmˈbɪɡjuəs ˈrefrəns/
tham chiếu mơ hồA reference form with more than one plausible antecedent.
The model compared the dataset with the survey, but it was incomplete.
Mô hình so sánh bộ dữ liệu với khảo sát, nhưng nó không đầy đủ.
Complete lesson scope
Do not stop at one formula
Pronoun, demonstrative and comparative reference
Anaphoric and cataphoric links
Lexical repetition, substitution and ellipsis
Maintaining one clear referent across sentences
Decision boundary: Cohesion is successful only when the reader can recover the intended referent without guessing.
02 · Controlling rule
Reference creates cohesion only when the antecedent is accessible, unambiguous and compatible in number and meaning. Academic writing often improves a bare this by adding a summary noun such as this result, this discrepancy or this approach.
antecedent → pronoun/demonstrative | proposition → this/that + summary noun | count noun → one/ones | action/process → do soReference and cohesion: keeping entities and ideas traceable across a text
Build clear reference chains with nouns, pronouns, demonstratives, substitution and summary nouns without ambiguity or mechanical repetition.
A cohesive reference is successful only when the reader can recover one intended antecedent at the moment the reference appears.
Cohesion is not maximum pronoun use. Repeating a key noun is often better than using it, this or they when two antecedents are plausible. Academic writing often prefers this + summary noun because the noun names how the previous proposition should be interpreted.
What exact person, object, process or proposition does the reference point to?
Is the antecedent close enough and compatible in number, person and meaning?
Would a pronoun, this + summary noun, one/ones or lexical repetition be clearest?
Does the reference maintain the topic or accidentally shift it?
1. Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference
Anaphoric reference points backward, cataphoric reference points forward and situational reference depends on the shared physical or cultural context.
antecedent → pronoun/demonstrative · pronoun → following identifying clause · shared context → the/this/thatAnaphora is the most common cohesive pattern: a model ... it; several scenarios ... these scenarios.
Cataphora delays identification: When it finally arrived, the calibration file was incomplete.
Exophoric reference relies on the situation and should be limited in self-contained academic prose.
A new calibration routine was introduced. It reduced the mean error by 12%.
A new calibration routine was introduced. It reduced the mean error by 12%.
It has one nearby singular antecedent, calibration routine, so the chain is clear.
Acceptable in concise technical prose.When they were finally inspected, the three damaged sensors showed salt deposits.
When they were finally inspected, the three damaged sensors showed salt deposits.
They points forward to the identifying noun phrase the three damaged sensors.
Pronoun reference
antecedent + ... + matching pronounMaintain reference to a recoverable participant or entity.
the model ... it
the stations ... they
the researchers ... them
- Case and number must match grammatical function and antecedent.
Demonstrative reference
this/that/these/those (+ noun)Select and foreground a nearby or contrasted entity/proposition.
this result
that assumption
these findings
those values
- In academic prose, a following summary noun often improves precision.
Substitution
one/ones · do so · the same/other/suchReplace a recoverable noun or verb phrase while retaining contrast.
the larger one
the remaining ones
the second method does so
- One/ones normally replaces count nouns, not mass nouns.
it versus this
The model was recalibrated. It improved accuracy.
It refers to the model as an entity; semantically, the model improved accuracy.
The model was recalibrated. This improved accuracy.
This refers to the whole preceding action/event of recalibration.
Use it for an entity and this for a proposition/event; add a summary noun when the interpretation needs a label.
bare this versus this + summary noun
Only one storm was observed. This reduces confidence.
Grammatical but the reader must infer what this means.
Only one storm was observed. This limitation reduces confidence.
Limitation explicitly categorizes the preceding fact.
Prefer this + noun when the discourse role is analytically important.
strategic repetition versus ambiguous pronoun
The model compared the dataset with the survey, but it was incomplete.
It could mean the model, dataset or survey.
The model compared the dataset with the survey, but the survey was incomplete.
The intended antecedent is explicit.
Repeat the noun when clarity would otherwise be lost.
Conversation
- Prefer
- Pronouns and demonstratives can rely more heavily on shared physical context and intonation.
- Avoid
- Long chains of he/she/it when several people or objects are active in the story.
- Why
- Listeners cannot reread, so occasional noun repetition supports processing.
IELTS Writing Task 2
- Prefer
- Use topic noun → pronoun/short noun → this + summary noun to connect claim, evidence and evaluation.
- Avoid
- Mechanical synonym replacement that changes meaning or reference.
- Why
- Lexical precision matters more than superficial variation.
IELTS Writing Task 1
- Prefer
- Use the figure, this value, the former/latter category and those for controlled comparison of displayed entities.
- Avoid
- It or they when several chart series are equally plausible antecedents.
- Why
- Reference errors can make an otherwise accurate comparison impossible to interpret.
Reference device and function
Choose the lightest form that remains unambiguous.
| Device | Best use | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| personal pronoun | one salient antecedent | competition or distance |
| this/these + summary noun | classify a prior proposition | mislabeling the prior claim |
| one/ones | replace count noun under contrast | using with mass nouns |
| lexical repetition | restore clarity or technical precision | unnecessary monotony |
High-value summary nouns
The noun should state how the writer interprets the previous proposition.
| Discourse role | Summary nouns | Example frame |
|---|---|---|
| result/evidence | result, finding, evidence, observation | This finding suggests that... |
| problem/limit | problem, limitation, weakness, uncertainty | This limitation should be considered... |
| change/pattern | change, trend, pattern, relationship | This pattern was repeated... |
| reason/process | reason, mechanism, process, approach | This mechanism may explain... |
✕ The model compared the dataset with the survey, but it was incomplete.
✓ The model compared the dataset with the survey, but the survey was incomplete.
It has several plausible singular antecedents; repeat the intended noun.
✕ The measurements were repeated because it was inconsistent.
✓ The measurements were repeated because they were inconsistent.
The plural antecedent measurements requires they.
✕ Only one event was observed. This makes transfer uncertain.
✓ Only one event was observed. This limitation makes transfer uncertain.
The revised version identifies how the prior fact functions in the argument.
✕ The first information was correct, but the second one was not.
✓ The first piece of information was correct, but the second one was not.
One replaces a count noun; introduce the count head piece.
Choose by meaning, countability and discourse role
1. Which revision removes ambiguity?
2. What does this refer to in 'The model was recalibrated. This improved accuracy'?
3. Which sentence uses substitution correctly?
4. Which summary noun best follows 'The sample size was only twelve'?
Write a five-sentence IELTS Task 2 paragraph with one topic noun, one pronoun, one repeated noun for clarity, one this + summary noun link and one substitution form. Underline each reference and identify its antecedent.
Every pronoun has one recoverable antecedent.
Number, person and case match the antecedent and grammatical role.
Bare this is expanded when the discourse relation matters.
Terminology remains stable where technical precision is required.
03 · Worked examples
Observe form, function and meaning together
The first model overestimated the peak. This discrepancy was reduced after calibration.
Mô hình đầu tiên đánh giá quá cao đỉnh. Sai lệch này giảm sau hiệu chỉnh.
Two boundary conditions were tested; the latter produced the more stable solution.
Hai điều kiện biên được thử nghiệm; điều kiện sau tạo nghiệm ổn định hơn.
Several stations transmitted complete records, but the offshore ones failed to do so.
Một số trạm truyền dữ liệu đầy đủ, nhưng các trạm ngoài khơi không làm được như vậy.
04 · High-risk contrast
Explain why one form fails, not only which answer is correct
The model was compared with the observations, and it was inaccurate.
The model was inaccurate when compared with the observations.
It has two plausible antecedents in the original sentence. Repeating or restructuring the head noun removes ambiguity and improves analytical precision.
05 · Mastery check
Apply the rule before marking the lesson complete
Which sentence is grammatically acceptable in the target system?
Which description best defines “cohesion”?
Which example is one of the verified target patterns in this lesson?
Which structural formula belongs to this lesson?
Complete all four checks, then submit a sentence for target-form feedback.
06 · IELTS Academic
Transfer grammar into a real communicative task
Task 2 cohesion improves when reference chains are explicit rather than repetitive or vague. Task 1 benefits from controlled substitution such as the former, the latter, this increase and those of 2020. In Speaking, pronouns are more frequent, but the listener still needs a clear referent.
Trace every reference word to one unambiguous antecedent.
Use this + summary noun to classify a previous proposition accurately.
Use one/ones, the former/latter and do so only where grammar and meaning license substitution.