Cohesive Devices in English Writing

Cohesive Devices

• Cohesive devices are used to express relationships between ideas, sentences, or clauses in a text.
• There are different types of cohesive devices, including conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and transitional phrases.

Conjunctions

• There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating, and adverbial conjunctions.
• Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses of equal value.
• Examples of coordinating conjunctions include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Conjunctive Adverbs

• Conjunctive adverbs are used to connect independent clauses into one sentence.
• When using a conjunctive adverb, a semicolon (;) is placed before it and a comma (,) after it.
• Examples of conjunctive adverbs include: however, therefore, thus, consequently, meanwhile, moreover.

Transitional Phrases

• Transitional phrases are used to show relationships between ideas, sentences, or clauses.
• Examples of transitional phrases include: in addition, furthermore, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless.

Using Cohesive Devices

• Cohesive devices can be used to express time, condition, contrast, or concession.
• Inappropriate use of cohesive devices can affect the flow of thoughts or ideas expressed in a sentence.

Examples of Cohesive Devices

• Expressing time: before, after, until, when, as soon as, whenever, while.
• Expressing condition: unless, if, even if, in case, provided.
• Expressing contrast or concession: although, even though, whereas.
• Adding information: also, besides, finally, furthermore, in addition.
• Comparing: similarly, alike, in the same way.
• Emphasizing: indeed, certainly, definitely, in fact.