Coherence and cohesion – linking ideas naturally
How to organise and connect ideas in IELTS Writing without overusing linking words - paragraphing, referencing, substitution and a table of connectors by function.
Coherence and Cohesion is a quarter of your Writing score, and it is the criterion that candidates most often misunderstand. Many believe that the more linking words an essay contains, the higher the mark. The band descriptors say something different: at Band 7, cohesive devices are used ‘appropriately’, though with ‘some under- or over-use’; at Band 6, cohesion may be ‘faulty or mechanical’. Stuffing every sentence with moreover and furthermore is exactly what ‘mechanical’ means.
Two different things
- Coherence is the logic of your ideas. Are they in a sensible order? Does each paragraph have one clear topic? Can the reader follow the argument without effort?
- Cohesion is the language that connects sentences and paragraphs: linking words, pronouns, repeated and related vocabulary.
Cohesion cannot rescue an incoherent essay. Good linking words between badly ordered ideas only make the confusion more visible. So coherence starts with planning (Lesson 9).
Coherence: organising ideas
Paragraphs
- One central idea per paragraph, stated in a topic sentence.
- A logical order: for example, the weaker side before the stronger; causes before solutions; general before specific.
- Visible separation: leave a blank line between paragraphs.
Order inside a paragraph
The PEEL pattern (Lesson 11) gives a natural sequence: point → explanation → example → result.
The ‘known → new’ principle
English sentences flow best when they begin with something the reader already knows and end with the new information. Then the next sentence can pick up that new information as its starting point.
The most obvious advantage is the disappearance of the daily commute. Employees who used to spend two hours a day on crowded trains now have that time for their families.
‘Commute’ is new at the end of sentence one; sentence two begins with people who commute; ‘that time’ picks up ‘two hours a day’. The text holds together without a single linking word.
Cohesion tool 1: reference
Pronouns and demonstratives point back to something already mentioned, so that you do not repeat it.
| Device | Example |
|---|---|
| it, they, them, their | Governments have a role to play, but it is to ease that transformation. |
| this / these + summary noun | …drive their children to school. This habit has largely removed walking from daily life. |
| such + noun | …safe cycle paths and well-lit parks. Such measures would reassure parents. |
| the former / the latter | Both views have merit, but the latter is more persuasive. |
| one / ones | Some solutions are expensive; the cheapest one is… |
| do so | Students should be free to choose, and those who do so tend to work harder. |
The pattern this/these + a general noun is one of the most useful in academic writing. The noun summarises the previous idea:
this trend, this problem, this approach, this view, this change, this development, these figures, these measures, this argument, this situation, this difference
Many graduates cannot find suitable work. This problem is particularly serious in…
Make sure the reference is clear. ✗ Parents give children phones because they are busy. Who is busy? If there is any doubt, repeat the noun.
Cohesion tool 2: lexical links
Related vocabulary ties a text together.
- Synonyms and near-synonyms: employees… workers… staff; advantages… benefits; drawbacks… difficulties… problems
- General ↔ specific: phones, games consoles and streaming services… these devices
- Word families: transform… transformation; employ… employers… employable
- Repetition of a key term where a synonym would be unclear. Repeating town centres four times in an essay about town centres is normal and correct.
Cohesion tool 3: linking words
Use them where the relationship between ideas would otherwise be unclear, and choose the one that expresses the exact relationship.
| Function | Within a sentence | Between sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | and, as well as, not only… but also | In addition, Furthermore, Moreover, Also (mid-position) |
| Contrast | but, whereas, while, although, even though | However, Nevertheless, On the other hand, By contrast |
| Cause | because, since, as, due to, owing to | This is because, The reason is that |
| Result | so, so that, which means that | As a result, Therefore, Consequently, For this reason |
| Example | such as, like (informal), including | For example, For instance |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that, as long as | Otherwise |
| Concession | although, despite, in spite of | Admittedly, Even so, Nonetheless |
| Sequence | — | First, Second, Finally |
| Emphasis | — | Indeed, In fact, Above all |
| Summary | — | In conclusion, To sum up, Overall |
Grammar of linkers
A linker used with the wrong grammar is an error in both cohesion and grammar.
| Linker | Followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| although / even though / while / whereas | subject + verb | Although it is expensive, … |
| despite / in spite of | noun / -ing | Despite the cost, … / Despite being expensive, … |
| because / since / as | subject + verb | because prices rose |
| because of / due to / owing to | noun | because of rising prices |
| However, / Therefore, / Moreover, | new sentence (after a full stop or semicolon) | …is costly. However, it works. |
Common errors:
- ✗ Although it is expensive, but it works. (one or the other)
- ✗ It is expensive, however it works. (comma splice) → ✓ It is expensive*; however,** it works.* / …expensive. However, it works.
- ✗ Despite it is expensive → ✓ Despite its cost / Although it is expensive
- ✗ On the other hand used for addition. It introduces a contrasting point.
- ✗ Besides, in formal writing. Prefer In addition or Moreover.
Position
Not every linker has to come first. Moving it inside the sentence sounds more natural:
Tram use, by contrast, climbed rapidly. There are, admittedly, drawbacks. Home working also gives people greater freedom. Northfield, however, more than doubled its intake.
Mechanical versus natural: a comparison
Mechanical
Firstly, online shopping is cheaper. Moreover, it has more choice. Furthermore, it is good for elderly people. In addition, it is good for disabled people. Therefore, the government should not tax it. However, the government can help town centres.
Natural
Internet retail has brought lower prices and far greater choice, and it is especially valuable to those who are elderly, disabled or living in remote areas. Taxing or restricting it would penalise these consumers in order to preserve businesses that many people no longer choose to use. Public money would be better spent on making centres attractive for other purposes, for example by allowing empty shops to be converted into homes.
The second version has only two explicit linkers (and, for example). Its cohesion comes from reference (it, these consumers), from lexical links (internet retail… taxing it…; businesses… centres… shops) and from the logical order of the ideas.
How many linking words?
There is no rule, but as a guide for a body paragraph of five sentences: one or two sentence-opening linkers are enough. If every sentence begins with a connector followed by a comma, rewrite.
Cohesion in Task 1
The same principles apply. Useful devices for reports:
- By contrast, / In contrast, / Conversely, – for opposite trends
- Similarly, / Likewise, – for parallel trends
- Turning to…, / As for…, / Regarding… – to change topic or chart
- …, while / whereas… – comparison within a sentence
- the figure for…, that for…, the former/the latter, respectively – to avoid repetition
- thereafter, subsequently, over the following decade – sequence in time
Checking your own writing
After writing a paragraph, test it:
- Circle every linker at the start of a sentence. More than two in five sentences? Remove or move some.
- Underline every it, this, they, these. Is it obvious what each refers to?
- Read the topic sentences alone. Do they give the outline of your argument?
- Is there one idea per paragraph?
Try it
Improve the cohesion of this paragraph without adding any sentence-opening linkers.
Many cities have a problem with traffic. Traffic causes pollution. Pollution is bad for people’s health. Cities should invest in public transport. Public transport reduces the number of cars.
Possible answer: Many cities suffer from heavy traffic, which produces pollution that damages people’s health. The most effective response is to invest in public transport, since this reduces the number of cars on the road.
Five short sentences have become two, joined by relative clauses, a reason clause and the reference word this.
Key points
- Coherence comes from planning: one idea per paragraph, in a logical order.
- Cohesion is more than linking words: use reference (this trend, such measures), synonyms and word families.
- Choose linkers for their exact meaning and use them with the right grammar.
- One or two sentence-opening linkers per paragraph is plenty; put some in mid-position.
- Avoid mechanical lists of Firstly, Moreover, Furthermore.
Now try it in a real section
A complete IELTS writing section in the official format — every answer explained.
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