Anaphora: pointing back

Most cohesion comes from pointing back. The closer and clearer the earlier word is, the lighter the form you can use: a pronoun for a nearby noun, this + noun when you need to name a whole idea.

• pronoun → a bid … it / its
• the + noun → a bid … the bid
• this + noun → … This setback
• this / that alone → a whole fact: That …

• The auditors examined the accounts and found them incomplete.
• A new law was passed in March. The law bans night flights.
• The bridge was closed for a year. This disruption cost local firms millions.

This keeps an idea in focus and usually continues it; that steps back from it, often to comment or disagree: That is not the whole story.

Cataphora: pointing forward

Sometimes the pointing word comes before the thing it points to. This happens in two places: a pronoun in an opening subordinate clause, and an announcing phrase (this, the following, here is) before a colon or a new sentence.

subordinate clause with pronoun, + main clause with noun · the following / this / here is: + explanation

• When it finally appeared, the report ran to 600 pages.
• Before they could respond, the journalists were asked to leave.
• The following points need attention: staffing, funding and timing.