Which term describes replacing a noun phrase or a clause by a single word to avoid repetition?

• A. Substitution
• B. Ellipsis
• C. Pronominalization
• D. Reiteration

Answer: (A)

Substitution is the linguistic move of replacing a noun phrase or a clause with a single word to avoid repeating the same material. This keeps the text smooth and efficient by pointing back to something already mentioned with a short substitute, like a pronoun. For example, The committee approved the proposal, and it was praised by everyone. Here “it” takes the place of “the proposal,” eliminating repetition while keeping meaning clear. The term covers pronouns and other one-word substitutes, which is why it’s the best fit for this description. Ellipsis is about omitting material, not swapping in a substitute word; reiteration is simply repeating the same words; pronominalization is a specific kind of substitution using a pronoun, but substitution is the broader, more general label used here.