Cohesion is aided by which technique?

• A. Varying sentence length
• B. Lexical repetition and pronoun reference to connect ideas
• C. Using synonyms to connect ideas
• D. Inconsistent punctuation

Answer: (B)

Cohesion comes from linking ideas across sentences and paragraphs so the writing feels connected. The strongest way to do this is through lexical repetition and pronoun reference. Repeating a key word or using related forms creates a clear thread the reader can follow, and pronouns like it, they, this, or those point back to previously mentioned nouns, keeping the ideas tied together without constant repetition.

For example: The committee approved the plan. It will begin next month. Here, repeating the idea of the plan and using the pronoun It shows that the second sentence is directly connected to the first.

Varying sentence length affects rhythm and readability, which helps flow, but it doesn’t directly link ideas. Using synonyms can help avoid repetition, but it doesn’t provide explicit anchors as effectively as pronoun reference and exact lexical repetition. Inconsistent punctuation disrupts the flow and can break the sense of connected ideas.