Grammar does not stop at the sentence boundary. Cohesion is the grammar of texts: the devices that bind sentences into paragraphs and paragraphs into arguments.

The cohesion toolkit

Reference

pronouns and determiners pointing backward (anaphora) or forward (cataphora): Cataphora:

Substitution and ellipsis

(Chapter [ch:nominalization]): , and omission.

Conjunction

linking words — the discourse markers below.

Lexical cohesion

repetition, synonyms, and general nouns: ; and summarizing nouns: .

Discourse markers by function

@L3.2cmL8.9cm@ Function & Markers
Adding &
Contrasting &
Conceding &
Cause and result &
Exemplifying &
Reformulating &
Sequencing &
Summarizing &
Digressing, returning &

Grammar of the linkers

The most common cohesion errors are grammatical, not lexical — using a conjunction as an adverb or vice versa:

@L3.4cmL8.7cm@ Type & Behaviour
Coordinators () & join two clauses inside one sentence:
Subordinators () & attach a dependent clause: No comma splice possible.
Conjunctive adverbs () & connect sentences; need a full stop or semicolon before them:

  • Comma splice with : \(\to\) /

  • Doubling connectors: \(\to\) pick one:

  • \(\to\)

  • needs a genuine contrast of alternatives, not just any second point — for mere addition use .

Concession and contrast in depth

Fine distinctions among the contrast words:

  • + clause: plain concession. can also end a sentence informally:

  • = emphatic factual concession; = hypothetical: (it did rain) vs.  (maybe it will).

  • : balanced contrast of two facts:

  • + noun or gerund:

  • + adjective/adverb + clause: Same with :

  • (formal concession):

Paragraph cohesion in practice

A cohesive paragraph typically: (1) opens with a topic sentence whose subject names the paragraph’s theme; (2) begins later sentences with given information (backward links) and ends them with new information; (3) uses to carry complex ideas forward.

Compare the disjointed and cohesive versions:

Disjointed: The council closed the library. Reading levels in the district had been falling for a decade. A petition with 12,000 signatures was ignored. Budget pressures were cited.

Cohesive: The council closed the library, citing budget pressures. The decision ignored a petition with 12,000 signatures — and it came just as reading levels in the district, already falling for a decade, needed support most.

Do not sprinkle markers mechanically; the strongest cohesion is often structural (given-before-new, parallel patterns, summary nouns). A paragraph that needs in every sentence usually needs reorganizing instead.

Exercises

Choose the linker Choose the correct option.

  1. (Despite / Although) the delay, we arrived in time.

  2. Sales fell sharply; (therefore / whereas), the factory cut production.

  3. (Even if / Even though) you dislike opera, you’d enjoy this production — it’s spectacular.

  4. He is strict; (on the other hand / in addition), he is fair.

  5. (However / No matter) you look at it, the plan is risky. (adjust if needed)

Repair the cohesion Fix the punctuation or structure of each item.

  1. The results were promising, however the sample was tiny.

  2. Although the price was high, but the quality was poor.

  3. Despite of his injury, he played the full match.

  4. The theory is elegant. The theory has little evidence. The theory remains popular. (combine cohesively)

Concession patterns Rewrite using the pattern in brackets.

  1. She was very experienced, but she failed the simulation. (Experienced as…)

  2. It doesn’t matter how much it costs; we need it. (However…)

  3. He apologized, but the damage was done. (Admittedly… — two sentences)