Which term refers to the way clauses and sentences are linked by reference, substitution, and ellipsis?

Which term refers to the way clauses and sentences are linked by reference, substitution, and ellipsis?

• A. Grammatical cohesion
• B. Substitution
• C. Lexical cohesion
• D. Repetition

Answer: (A)

Grammatical cohesion deals with linking parts of a text through grammatical means rather than vocabulary choices. Reference, substitution, and ellipsis are three core tools of this kind of cohesion: reference uses pronouns or demonstratives to point to something already mentioned, substitution stands in for a word or phrase, and ellipsis omits repeated material when it can be understood from the context. These devices, along with conjunctions, keep clauses and sentences flowing together into a coherent whole. That’s why grammatical cohesion is the best term for linking by reference, substitution, and ellipsis. Substitution alone points to just one mechanism, while lexical cohesion and repetition involve ties created at the level of words and meanings rather than grammar.