What is a Cohesive Device?

S2-SA4-0122

Grade Level:

Class 3

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

A cohesive device is a word or phrase that helps connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs in writing or speaking. It makes your writing flow smoothly and helps the reader understand how different parts of your text are related. Think of them as glue for your sentences.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you are telling your friend about your day. You wouldn't say, 'I woke up. I ate breakfast. I went to school.' Instead, you might say, 'I woke up, and then I ate breakfast before I went to school.' The words 'and then' and 'before' are cohesive devices that connect your actions.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's make a story flow better using cohesive devices.

Story without cohesive devices: "Rohan likes cricket. Rohan practices daily. Rohan wants to play for India."

---Step 1: Identify sentences that need connecting. Here, all three sentences are about Rohan and his cricket.

---Step 2: Think of words that show sequence or reason. 'Because', 'so', 'therefore', 'also' are good choices.

---Step 3: Connect the first two sentences. Rohan likes cricket. He practices daily. We can use 'so' to show the reason. "Rohan likes cricket, so he practices daily."

---Step 4: Now connect the third sentence. He practices daily. He wants to play for India. We can use 'because' or 'as' to show his goal. "Rohan likes cricket, so he practices daily because he wants to play for India."

Answer: The improved story using cohesive devices is: "Rohan likes cricket, so he practices daily because he wants to play for India."

Why It Matters

Cohesive devices are vital for clear communication. Journalists use them to write news reports that are easy to follow, and lawyers use them to build strong, logical arguments. Learning these helps you write better essays, tell engaging stories, and even speak more clearly in debates.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Using too many cohesive devices in one sentence, making it sound clunky. For example: 'I went to the market, and then, also, I bought vegetables, and then I came home.' | CORRECTION: Use them sparingly and naturally. 'I went to the market, bought vegetables, and then came home.'

MISTAKE: Using the wrong cohesive device for the relationship you want to show. For example: 'It was raining; however, I carried an umbrella.' (using 'however' for a positive correlation) | CORRECTION: Use 'so' or 'and' for positive correlation. 'It was raining, so I carried an umbrella.' 'However' is for contrast, like 'It was raining; however, I still went for a walk without an umbrella.'

MISTAKE: Not using any cohesive devices at all, leading to choppy, disconnected sentences. For example: 'My exam was tough. I studied hard. I got good marks.' | CORRECTION: Connect the ideas. 'My exam was tough, even though I studied hard. Still, I managed to get good marks.'

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Fill in the blank with a suitable cohesive device: 'I was hungry, ___ I made myself a plate of Maggi.' | ANSWER: so

QUESTION: Combine these two sentences using a cohesive device: 'The auto-rickshaw was late. I missed my bus.' | ANSWER: The auto-rickshaw was late, so I missed my bus.

QUESTION: Rewrite the following paragraph, adding suitable cohesive devices to make it flow better: 'My friend loves pani puri. My friend eats pani puri every week. My friend wants to try all the pani puri stalls in our city.' | ANSWER: My friend loves pani puri, so she eats it every week. In fact, she wants to try all the pani puri stalls in our city.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following is NOT a cohesive device?

Therefore

However

Table

Because

The Correct Answer Is:

Options A, B, and D are all words used to connect ideas and show relationships between sentences. 'Table' is a noun and does not serve as a connector.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you read news articles online or watch a documentary, you'll notice how sentences and paragraphs are linked together. Whether it's a cricket match commentary explaining why a shot was played, or a scientist presenting research findings, cohesive devices help make complex information easy to follow and understand for everyone.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

CONNECTORS: Words or phrases that link ideas | TRANSITIONS: Words that help move from one idea to another smoothly | COHESION: The quality of forming a united whole in writing | FLOW: How smoothly ideas move from one to the next | SENTENCE LINKERS: Words that join sentences together

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand what cohesive devices are, you can learn about different types, like conjunctions and transition words. This will help you choose the best words to make your writing even more powerful and clear.