Which cohesion device involves replacing a noun phrase with a single word to avoid repetition?

• A. Substitution
• B. Ellipsis
• C. Nominalization
• D. Coordination

Answer: (A)

Substitution is a cohesion device that avoids repeating a noun phrase by using a single word to stand in for it. After the noun has been introduced, you can refer back with a pronoun like it, he, she, they, or with a substitute such as one/ones. This keeps the text flowing and shows the link between sentences without repeating the same noun phrase. For example: “I bought a new chair. It is very comfortable.” Here “It” replaces “chair,” so we don’t repeat the noun.

Other devices don’t fit this exact function. Ellipsis involves omitting words because they’re understood from context, not replacing a noun phrase with one word. Nominalization turns a verb into a noun (decide → decision), which changes word class rather than substituting for repetition. Coordination is about linking clauses or phrases with conjunctions like and or but, not substituting for a noun phrase.