Which term describes replacing a noun phrase or a clause by a single word to avoid repetition?

Which term describes replacing a noun phrase or a clause by a single word to avoid repetition?

• A. Substitution
• B. Ellipsis
• C. Pronominalization
• D. Reiteration

Answer: (A)

Substitution describes replacing a noun phrase or a clause with a single word to avoid repetition. This move uses a stand-in—such as a pronoun like it, he, they, or a verb form like do or did so—to refer back to the earlier content without restating it. By doing this, the sentence stays smooth and concise while still keeping the meaning clear. For example, "The committee approved the plan, and the chair did so" uses "did so" to stand in for the action of approving the plan. Another example is "I finished the report, and the editor did too," where "too" helps avoid repeating the full verb phrase. Ellipsis is about leaving material out, not substituting it with a word; reiteration repeats the same words, and pronominalization is a specific type of substitution using pronouns. The broad idea of substitution best fits the description.

Substitution describes replacing a noun phrase or a clause with a single word to avoid repetition. This move uses a stand-in—such as a pronoun like it, he, they, or a verb form like do or did so—to refer back to the earlier content without restating it. By doing this, the sentence stays smooth and concise while still keeping the meaning clear. For example, "The committee approved the plan, and the chair did so" uses "did so" to stand in for the action of approving the plan. Another example is "I finished the report, and the editor did too," where "too" helps avoid repeating the full verb phrase. Ellipsis is about leaving material out, not substituting it with a word; reiteration repeats the same words, and pronominalization is a specific type of substitution using pronouns. The broad idea of substitution best fits the description.