Cohesive Devices
Cohesive devices are words and phrases, such as 'however', 'therefore' and 'in addition', that link ideas together within and between sentences and paragraphs so that writing reads smoothly and logically. They are a key focus of KS2 writing assessments, where they show relationships like contrast, cause and effect, or time.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Decide what relationship you want to show between two ideas: addition, contrast, cause and effect, time order or emphasis.
- Choose a cohesive device that matches that relationship, for example 'however' for contrast or 'as a result' for cause and effect.
- Place the cohesive device at the start of a sentence or paragraph, followed by a comma, to link it clearly to what came before.
- Vary your cohesive devices across a piece of writing so the same word is not repeated too often.
- Read the paragraph aloud to check the link makes logical sense and the writing flows smoothly.
Worked example
Join these two sentences using a cohesive device that shows contrast: 'Tom practised every day. He did not make the team.'
- Identify the relationship between the two ideas: Tom worked hard, but the result was disappointing, so this is a contrast.
- Choose a cohesive device for contrast, such as 'however'.
- Keep the first sentence as it stands: 'Tom practised every day.'
- Start the second sentence with the cohesive device followed by a comma: 'However, he did not make the team.'
- Read both sentences together to check they flow logically.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a English exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Insert a suitable cohesive device into the gap to link the ideas: 'The museum was closing soon. ___, we hurried through the last few rooms.'
Write a short paragraph of two sentences about a school trip, using one cohesive device to show addition, then explain why you chose it.
Look at this paragraph: 'The fire alarm rang. Everyone left the building quickly. The fire brigade arrived. They said it was a false alarm.' Improve the paragraph by adding two different cohesive devices to link the ideas, and explain the relationship each one shows.
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the cohesive devices worksheet pack - 14 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. No sign-up, no email wall - just the PDF, free for personal and classroom use.
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