3.3. Referencing and Substitution
Join ideas so a reader never has to work out what connects to what.
The short version
Referencing is the half of cohesion most people never use.
Repeating a full noun phrase makes writing heavy.
This, these, such a and do so carry an idea forward.
Band 5 can be repetitive from inadequate and/or inaccurate use of reference and substitution.
The half of cohesion nobody uses
Stacking linking words does not help. The words that point back are the half of cohesion most candidates never use on purpose.
Why repeating a noun phrase costs you
Every repeated noun phrase makes the writing heavier. Reference words such as this, these, it and do so carry an idea forward in one or two words.
What the descriptor says
The Band 5 descriptor says the writing may be repetitive due to inadequate and/or inaccurate use of reference and substitution. That is this exact problem.
Repetition versus referencing
A shared desk can cut rent for a freelancer. A shared desk is a poor place for confidential calls. A shared desk suits some jobs and not others.
A shared desk can cut rent for a freelancer, but it is a poor place for confidential calls. That trade-off is why the arrangement suits some jobs and not others.
Four ways to avoid repeating yourself
Points at the idea in the sentence before: This saving disappears if every call is overheard.
Sums up a whole situation in two words: Such a scheme needs public transport first.
Adds information without starting a new sentence: …a tram, which runs every ten minutes.
Replaces a repeated verb or noun: Cities that ban cars usually do so gradually.
Quiz time2 questions
What does it point to?
Look at the Referenced paragraph above.
What does That trade-off point back to?
Point back in one word
Two sentences. Use one of the four devices above. Only one of them fits the gap. Write the single word that makes the second sentence point back to the tram without repeating it.
A frequent tram can carry commuters into the centre. Without a service, a weekday ban simply moves the queue.
Write no more than 1 word.
Recap
Point back with this or these instead of repeating the noun.
Substitute with do so or one rather than saying it again.
The descriptor names referencing and substitution directly.
Next: the task type that belongs to your version of the test.