Collins Primary Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling

There are a number of ways to add cohesion to your writing.

Use of tense

You need to keep your tenses consistent in a piece of work. This means that if you start off in the present tense, you keep to the present tense all the way through. If you start in the past tense, keep to the past tense.

Zack is nervous. He has to sing a solo at the school concert next week. He is worried that he will forget the words or sing out of tune. The teacher tells him that he will be fine.

Cohesive devices

These are words that connect different parts of the text. These include:

Determiners

We went to the pond to feed the ducks. They swam towards us eagerly.

(They links with the ducks in the first sentence)

I really enjoyed my school days. Those were the best days of my life.

(Those links with school days)

Pronouns

The runners are ready to go. They are waiting for the starting pistol.

(They links with the runners)

I don’t like my maths teacher. He shouts a lot.

(He links with my maths teacher)

Conjunctions

I will need to save up some money before I can buy a new phone.

(before shows time relationship)

Please let me know when you want to go home.

(when shows time relationship)

Adverbs

I clean my teeth. Then I get dressed. (Then shows time relationship)

I get dressed. Next I make my lunch. (Next shows time relationship)

Connectives

Conjunctions and adverbs are also known as connectives. They connect ideas between clauses and sentences.

I am scared of horses. Nevertheless, I am going riding tomorrow.

We are moving house. Therefore, I will be changing schools.

Some other connectives are:

later

afterwards

previously

similarly

furthermore

moreover

on the other hand

in contrast

however

meanwhile

Ellipsis

Ellipsis is missing out a word or phrase that you would normally include. By doing this, you can link clauses and sentences.

Do you like jazz? I don’t like it.

> Do you like jazz? I don’t.

Julie looked behind and she started to run.

> Julie looked behind and started to run.

Ellipsis is also the name of a punctuation mark. You can see more about this on page 58 (#litres_trial_promo).

Ambiguity

Ambiguity is when something is not clear and could confuse the reader. For example:

The dog bit the man and he barked.

Who barked? The man or the dog?