coherence
Coherence (noun) means the quality of being logical, consistent and clearly connected, so that the parts of something fit together and make sense as a whole. Example: “The essay had plenty of facts but no coherence.”
How to Use Coherence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhen everything fits together and makes sense.
Neutral. Very common in academic writing, especially about essays, arguments and policy.
In IELTS and similar exams, 'coherence and cohesion' is one marked criterion — coherence is the ideas, cohesion is the linking.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The essay had plenty of facts but no _____.
Etymology
From Latin cohaerentia, from cohaerere 'to stick together', formed from co- 'together' and haerere 'to cling, to stick'.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for coherence
See all rhymes for coherence →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between coherence and cohesion?
Coherence is about meaning: whether the ideas as a whole make sense and follow logically. Cohesion is about the surface links between sentences, such as pronouns, conjunctions and repeated words. A text can be cohesive, with all the linking words in place, and still lack coherence if the underlying ideas do not add up.
How do you improve coherence in writing?
Give each paragraph one clear point, order those points so each follows naturally from the last, and make the relationship between ideas explicit rather than leaving the reader to guess. Cutting material that does not serve the argument usually helps more than adding linking words.
What does coherence mean in physics?
It means two waves keep a constant phase relationship with each other, so they interfere in a stable, predictable way. Lasers are the standard example of a highly coherent light source.