Cohesive devices are essential tools for creating coherence and flow in writing. They serve as linguistic elements that connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs, ensuring that the text reads smoothly and logically. Whether in academic essays, stories, or everyday writing, cohesive devices help maintain clarity, guide the reader, and show relationships between different parts of the text. This ultimate list of cohesive devices covers a wide range of categories, offering a detailed breakdown of how and when to use each one. From conjunctions and adverbs to pronouns and lexical ties, this guide will help you understand how to use these devices effectively to improve your writing.
Look for other examples in the comments section below, or feel free to share your own examples to help others practice!
Cohesive Devices for Addition: Usage and Examples
- again - He went to the store again to buy more milk.
- also - She likes swimming, and she also enjoys hiking.
- and - I bought apples, and I also bought oranges.
- and then - We went to the beach, and then we had lunch.
- besides - Besides playing soccer, he also runs track.
- equally - She is equally skilled at both piano and guitar.
- further (more) - We need further resources to finish the project.
- in addition (to...) - In addition to the books, she bought a new pen.
- indeed - Indeed, he was the best candidate for the job.
- next - First we will go shopping, and next we will watch a movie.
- in fact - She is a teacher; in fact, she teaches history.
- moreover - She enjoys reading, and moreover, she loves writing.
- too - I want to join too!
- what is more - She studied for hours, and what is more, she passed with flying colors.
- finally - Finally, the project was completed successfully.
Cohesive Devices for Comparison: Usage and Examples
- compared with - Compared with last year, the company has made great progress.
- in comparison with - In comparison with other cities, New York is the most expensive.
- in the same way/manner - In the same way, she also volunteered for the event.
- similarly - He likes football; similarly, his brother loves basketball.
- likewise - She is talented; likewise, her sister is very artistic.
- again - He performed well in the competition, and again, he was the winner.
- also - He is a musician; also, he is a talented actor.
Cohesive Devices for Contrast: Usage and Examples
- besides - Besides working, she also studies in the evening.
- but - I like coffee, but I prefer tea.
- however - She studied hard; however, she didn't pass the exam.
- in contrast - In contrast to his shy nature, his brother is very outgoing.
- instead - We can go to the park instead of the cinema.
- conversely - Conversely, he enjoys the cold, while his sister loves the heat.
- it may be the case that - It may be the case that he is unaware of the situation.
- certainly - Certainly, she will complete the task by tomorrow.
- also - He can sing, and also, he can dance.
- likewise - They were all surprised, and likewise, the audience was astonished.
- naturally - She was nervous; naturally, she did her best.
- nevertheless - She was tired; nevertheless, she kept working.
- of course - He studied for hours; of course, he passed the test.
- on the contrary - They thought it would rain; on the contrary, the sun was shining.
- on the other hand - She prefers hiking; on the other hand, her friend likes swimming.
- regardless - He completed the task, regardless of the challenges.
- granted - Granted that you are right, I will reconsider my decision.
- like - She acts like her mother.
- different from - His ideas are different from mine.
- alternatively - You can walk to the station; alternatively, you can take the bus.
- still - They were tired; still, they kept working.
- whereas - He likes classical music, whereas she prefers jazz.
- while - She enjoys reading while her brother prefers playing games.
- yet - He worked hard, yet he didn’t get the promotion.
- although - Although it was raining, they decided to go outside.
- despite - Despite the weather, they went on their trip.
- it is true that - It is true that she worked hard, but she still didn't win.
- notwithstanding - Notwithstanding the difficulties, he finished the project.
Cohesive Devices for Enumeration: Usage and Examples
- first(ly) - First, we need to finish our homework.
- secondly - Secondly, I will review the document.
- finally - Finally, I will submit the report.
- in the (first) place - In the first place, we need to gather information.
- last - Last, we will discuss the outcomes.
- to (begin) with - To begin with, let's look at the introduction.
- more important - More important than the price is the quality of the product.
- on top of (that) - On top of that, we need additional resources.
- next - Next, we will proceed with the analysis.
- then - We will finish the first task, then move on to the next.
Cohesive Devices for Concession: Usage and Examples
- although it is true that - Although it is true that he was late, he still managed to catch the train.
- it may appear - It may appear that they are unprepared, but they are actually well-prepared.
- regardless - She continued working, regardless of the setbacks.
- certainly - He is certainly the most qualified for the role.
- granted that - Granted that the report is complete, we can proceed with the meeting.
- naturally - Naturally, he was excited about the opportunity.
- it is true that - It is true that she enjoys singing, but she also plays the guitar.
- I admit that - I admit that the situation is complicated, but we will find a solution.
- of course - Of course, I will help you with the project.
- it may be the case that - It may be the case that we need more time to finish the task.
Cohesive Devices for Exemplification: Usage and Examples
- as (evidence of...) - As evidence of his commitment, he worked late every night.
- for example - She loves animals, for example, she has three dogs.
- for instance - Many cities offer free classes, for instance, New York provides workshops.
- thus - He didn't finish his homework; thus, he couldn't attend the class.
- to illustrate - To illustrate my point, here’s a diagram.
- such as - He enjoys sports such as basketball and football.
- to show what (I mean) - To show what I mean, consider the following example.
- specifically - Specifically, I want to discuss the benefits of exercise.
- let us (take the case of...) - Let us take the case of renewable energy to understand its advantages.
Cohesive Devices for Inference: Usage and Examples
- if not, ... - If not, we will have to reconsider our plan.
- in (that) case - In that case, we should prepare a backup plan.
- otherwise - You should study for the exam; otherwise, you may not pass.
- that implies - He passed all his exams, that implies he is ready for the next level.
- then - If the solution works, then we can proceed.
Cohesive Devices for Summary/Conclusion: Usage and Examples
- in all - In all, it was a successful meeting.
- in brief - In brief, we have concluded the discussion.
- to summarise - To summarise, the project was a success.
- in summary - In summary, we need more data before making a decision.
- in short - In short, we need to act now.
- in conclusion - In conclusion, the research confirms our hypothesis.
- therefore - We have all the necessary information; therefore, we can make a decision.
- In a nutshell - In a nutshell, this is the best option available.
- on the whole - On the whole, the event was well-organized.
- to sum up - To sum up, we need to revise our strategy.
- basically - Basically, we have finished all tasks for the project.
Cohesive Devices for Time and Sequence:Usage and Examples
- after (a while) - After a while, the rain stopped.
- afterwards - We went for dinner, and afterwards, we went to the movies.
- at first - At first, he was hesitant, but he soon became confident.
- at last - At last, the event was over.
- at (the same time) - He was working and listening to music at the same time.
- while - While you were cooking, I was setting the table.
- first, second, third... - First, we will discuss the agenda, second, the goals, and third, the budget.
- thereafter - We finished the project, and thereafter, we celebrated.
- concurrently - He was working on multiple tasks concurrently.
- soon - Soon, the event will begin.
- as soon as - As soon as the meeting ends, I will call you.
- before (that time) - We had dinner before that time.
- finally - Finally, the project was completed successfully.
- in the end - In the end, we reached a mutual agreement.
- meanwhile - We will wait for him here; meanwhile, you can prepare the room.
- next - Next, we will focus on the budget.
- immediately - He will respond immediately after the meeting.
- firstly, secondly, thirdly... - First, we will examine the data, secondly, we will analyze the results.
- in the future - In the future, we plan to expand the team.
- subsequently - We completed the test, and subsequently, we analyzed the results.
- at that time - At that time, we didn’t have all the information.
- since (then) - We’ve been in touch since then.
- so far - So far, the project is progressing well.
- then - We will finish our meeting, then we will have a break.
Miscellaneous Adverbs used as Cohesive Devices: Usage and Examples
- Admittedly - Admittedly, it was my fault. I will take responsibility.
- All things considered - All things considered, we did a great job. The results were satisfactory.
- As a general rule - As a general rule, I avoid drinking coffee late at night. It disrupts my sleep.
- As far as we know - As far as we know, the project is on schedule. No delays have been reported.
- Astonishingly - Astonishingly, they completed the task in half the time. It was impressive.
- Broadly - Broadly, the policy is effective. However, there are some concerns.
- By and large - By and large, the event was successful. A few issues were noted.
- Characteristically - Characteristically, she was punctual. It was unusual for her to be late.
- Clearly - Clearly, he needs more practice. His skills are not at the expected level.
- Coincidentally - Coincidentally, I saw him at the coffee shop. We hadn't planned to meet.
- Conveniently - Conveniently, the store is just around the corner. We can pick up the supplies on our way.
- Curiously - Curiously, no one responded to the email. We were expecting a quick reply.
- Disappointingly - Disappointingly, the event was canceled. We had been looking forward to it.
- Equally - Equally, both candidates are highly qualified. It will be difficult to choose.
- Essentially - Essentially, the project is complete. Only minor adjustments are needed.
- Explicitly - Explicitly, the guidelines were clear. There was no confusion.
- Even so - Even so, we managed to finish the work on time. There were some challenges.
- Eventually - Eventually, the team reached an agreement. It took several hours of discussion.
- Fortunately - Fortunately, we found a solution. The issue was resolved quickly.
- Fundamentally - Fundamentally, the approach is sound. Some adjustments are still necessary.
- Generally speaking - Generally speaking, the results were positive. There were a few exceptions.
- Interestingly - Interestingly, he passed the test without preparation. It was unexpected.
- Ironically - Ironically, the weather was perfect for the picnic. We decided to stay inside.
- In essence - In essence, the argument is valid. We need to support it with more data.
- In general - In general, people tend to follow routines. It's part of human nature.
- In particular - In particular, he was interested in learning languages. That was his passion.
- In practice - In practice, the plan works well. It is efficient and easy to implement.
- In reality - In reality, the situation was more complicated. There were many variables to consider.
- In retrospect/hindsight - In retrospect, we could have made a different decision. It seems obvious now.
- In theory - In theory, this approach should work. We need to test it first.
- In view of this - In view of this, we decided to postpone the meeting. It was the best option.
- More interestingly - More interestingly, they found new evidence. It changed the direction of the investigation.
- More seriously - More seriously, we need to address the underlying issues. They have been ignored for too long.
- More specifically - More specifically, the issue lies with the software. We need to address the bugs.
- Naturally - Naturally, she was excited about the opportunity. It was a big step for her career.
- On balance - On balance, the pros outweigh the cons. The decision is clear.
- Obviously - Obviously, the decision was difficult. Many factors had to be considered.
- On reflection - On reflection, we could have handled the situation better. We learned from the experience.
- Overall - Overall, the project was a success. There were minor setbacks, but they were manageable.
- Paradoxically - Paradoxically, the more we tried to help, the worse things became. It was an unexpected outcome.
- Potentially - Potentially, this new strategy could lead to great success. It requires careful planning.
- Predictably - Predictably, he missed the deadline. It was no surprise given his track record.
- Presumably - Presumably, they will arrive soon. Their flight should have landed by now.
- Primarily - Primarily, the issue is financial. Other factors are secondary.
- Probably - Probably, the event will be canceled. The weather is worsening.
- Remarkably - Remarkably, the team completed the task ahead of schedule. It was an impressive achievement.
- Seemingly - Seemingly, everything was going according to plan. However, there were hidden challenges.
- Significantly - Significantly, the new policy improved efficiency. Workers were more productive.
- Surprisingly - Surprisingly, she finished the project early. It was a great accomplishment.
- Theoretically - Theoretically, this plan should succeed. However, practical challenges may arise. To all intents and purposes - To all intents and purposes, the trial run was a success. The system worked as expected.
- Typically - Typically, the company introduces new products in the fall. This year is no different.
- Ultimately - Ultimately, we decided to go with the cheaper option. It made more financial sense.
- Understandably - Understandably, they were upset by the news. It was a difficult situation.
- Undoubtedly - Undoubtedly, they will succeed in their efforts. Their dedication is admirable.
- Unfortunately - Unfortunately, the concert was canceled. The weather was too bad for outdoor events.
- With hindsight - With hindsight, we could have planned the event better. It was a learning experience.