Returning to information already mentioned
Reference expressions—this, that, these, such, and the former…the latter…—let you return to information already mentioned without repeating it word for word or leaving the reader to guess what you mean.
Repetition sometimes improves clarity and sometimes makes a text cumbersome. This change or these measures can pick up a previous idea concisely. Pronouns such as it, this, and they are also appropriate when the reference is easy to understand.
Choosing the right reference expression—this/that/these/such/the former…the latter…—and an accurate summarising noun is central to natural cohesion in academic writing.
this / that + precise noun; these + plural noun; such + a name for the type; the former / the latter — reference by order of mention
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
The city repaved Main Street last spring. This project reduced traffic accidents at the intersection.
The city repaved Main Street last spring. This project reduced traffic accidents at the intersection.
This project labels the street work concisely with one noun, without repeating repaved Main Street.
The clinic reduced no-show rates last year. Reduced no-show rates freed up appointment slots for other patients.
The clinic reduced no-show rates last year. Reduced no-show rates freed up appointment slots for other patients.
Repeating reduced no-show rates word for word in the second sentence sounds cumbersome compared with a reference expression such as this change.
When a noun makes the reference clearer
It can refer to an object or an understandable situation; it does not have to mean the nearest noun. However, if several interpretations are possible, this decision or this response makes the intended reference more explicit.
In that case, use this/that with a summarising noun that accurately names the whole event: this decision, that outcome, this delay.
If the previous sentence contains several possible noun candidates, bare it can become ambiguous; a reference noun removes that ambiguity.
The council cancelled the festival and refunded every ticket. This decision disappointed local vendors.
The council cancelled the festival and refunded every ticket. This decision disappointed local vendors.
This decision summarises the council's whole action—cancelling and refunding—not just one of the two facts.
The airline rebooked stranded passengers and issued meal vouchers. This response eased some of the frustration.
The airline rebooked stranded passengers and issued meal vouchers. This response eased some of the frustration.
This response clearly groups both actions as the airline's response. It could also refer to the situation, but would be less explicit.
This/that + a summarising noun: one action or fact
This/that + a singular noun refers back to one action, idea, or fact already mentioned. This is used when the event has just been mentioned and is still current; that can create some distance or return to something mentioned earlier in the text.
The summarising noun—change, decision, move, delay, response—should not be too general, like thing or issue. A precise noun immediately identifies the type of event.
Even when the previous sentence mentions several separate actions, the writer can present them AS ONE overall decision, such as an investment or restructuring. The singular then remains correct despite the several facts.
this/that + singular noun → one action, idea, or fact already mentioned, or several actions presented as one decision
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
The bakery switched to a new flour supplier. This switch improved the texture of its bread within weeks.
The bakery switched to a new flour supplier. This switch improved the texture of its bread within weeks.
Switch is a precise noun, more informative than the general thing or change without further detail.
The magazine redesigned its layout and shortened its articles. That redesign attracted a noticeably younger readership.
The magazine redesigned its layout and shortened its articles. That redesign attracted a noticeably younger readership.
That redesign treats both changes—the layout and article length—as ONE overall decision, so the singular remains appropriate.
These + a summarising noun: several facts
These + a plural noun is suitable when presenting several actions as separate changes: these changes. If they are grouped into one strategy, this strategy is possible. Number agrees with the chosen noun and the way the information is framed, not mechanically with the number of verbs in the previous sentence.
The most common technical error is leaving this before a plural noun, as in this changes. Another problem is reducing two independently important actions to a singular label when the writer intends to emphasise both actions together as separate steps.
The gym extended its opening hours and cut membership fees. These changes brought in dozens of new members within a month.
The gym extended its opening hours and cut membership fees. These changes brought in dozens of new members within a month.
These changes uses the plural to refer to the gym's two separately named actions.
The university added two scholarships and waived application fees for low-income students. These steps widened access to the program.
The university added two scholarships and waived application fees for low-income students. These steps widened access to the program.
The plural steps accurately matches the university's two separate actions.
Such + a noun: a category, not one particular item
Such + a noun names a category or type whose examples have just been given, rather than one particular action or item already mentioned. Use such when you mean things of this kind rather than this specific action.
Before a singular countable noun, use such a/an: such a practice. Plural and uncountable nouns take no article: such measures, such flexibility, such criticism.
If the continuation makes a general claim, such as that something happens often or is typical, such is usually more natural than these, which refers to the particular instance.
such a / an + singular countable noun; such + plural or uncountable noun
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
The startup offers unlimited sick days, flexible hours, and full remote work. Such flexibility is unusual in its industry.
The startup offers unlimited sick days, flexible hours, and full remote work. Such flexibility is unusual in its industry.
Such flexibility groups three different benefits as examples of one category.
The reviewer criticized the pacing, the dialogue, and the ending. Such criticism rarely stops a bestseller from selling well.
The reviewer criticized the pacing, the dialogue, and the ending. Such criticism rarely stops a bestseller from selling well.
Such criticism refers to a category—critical responses in general—not only this review; the following claim draws a general conclusion.
The former … the latter …: two items in order of mention
In the common pairing of two named items, the former means the first and the latter means the second. This clear pattern is the best one to learn first.
The latter also occurs with the meaning of the last item in a longer list. However, for three or more items, the last of these or repeating the name is often clearer. This is advice about clarity, not an absolute grammatical prohibition.
The former…the latter… is typical of formal comparisons between two options, candidates, or approaches and is uncommon in conversation.
Item A, then item B → the former = A; the latter = B
The committee shortlisted two candidates, Elena and Marco. The former has more managerial experience, while the latter brings stronger technical skills.
The committee shortlisted two candidates, Elena and Marco. The former has more managerial experience, while the latter brings stronger technical skills.
Elena is mentioned first, so she is the former; Marco is second, so he is the latter.
The report compares two strategies, expansion and consolidation. The former promises faster growth; the latter offers more financial stability.
The report compares two strategies, expansion and consolidation. The former promises faster growth; the latter offers more financial stability.
The order of the former/the latter exactly follows the original order of mention: expansion, then consolidation.
An unambiguous referent
The referent—the thing a reference expression points back to—must be unambiguous: the reader should immediately understand which action, idea, or item is meant without guessing among several candidates.
Ambiguity arises when several nouns or actions in the previous sentence could equally fit the reference expression, and the writer has not specified which is intended.
The simplest check is to mentally replace the reference expression with the full phrase it stands for. If several replacements are equally plausible, the referent is ambiguous and should be clarified with a more precise noun.
The company raised prices and cut staff bonuses in the same quarter. This double hit upset the sales team more than either change alone would have.
The company raised prices and cut staff bonuses in the same quarter. This double hit upset the sales team more than either change alone would have.
This double hit explicitly groups both actions, so the referent is clear even though there are two possible individual candidates.
The lab replaced its old equipment and hired two new technicians. This upgrade, more than the new hires alone, cut testing time in half.
The lab replaced its old equipment and hired two new technicians. This upgrade, more than the new hires alone, cut testing time in half.
The writer explicitly distinguishes the equipment upgrade from hiring the technicians, making the intended referent clear.
An accurate summarising noun
The noun after this/that/these/such should accurately name the type of event or idea in the previous sentence: decision, delay, upgrade, complaint, incentive. Avoid vague words such as thing, issue, aspect, or stuff, which can fit almost anything and clarify little.
A grammatically correct but inaccurate noun is also a problem: if the event is a decision but the writer calls it this solution, the meaning is distorted even though the reference expression has the correct form.
A precise noun also signals the writer's attitude: this problem and this opportunity frame the same fact differently.
The city closed the bridge for repairs without warning drivers in advance. This oversight caused hours of unnecessary traffic.
The city closed the bridge for repairs without warning drivers in advance. This oversight caused hours of unnecessary traffic.
Oversight accurately names what happened—the failure to warn—rather than using a vague issue or problem.
The publisher delayed the release by six months to fix a printing error. This delay frustrated readers who had already pre-ordered the book.
The publisher delayed the release by six months to fix a printing error. This delay frustrated readers who had already pre-ordered the book.
Delay accurately names the event; the overly general issue would not show that the reference is specifically to postponing the date.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:The hospital extended visiting hours. These change reduced complaints from families.
Correct:The hospital extended visiting hours. This change reduced complaints from families.
Singular change agrees with this. Repeating extended visiting hours would also be grammatical; this change simply provides a more compact reference.
Incorrect:The airline delayed two connecting flights and lost several suitcases. This problems angered many travellers.
Correct:The airline delayed two connecting flights and lost several suitcases. These problems angered many travellers.
This agrees only with a singular noun; plural problems, referring to two separate problems, needs these.
Incorrect:The council reduced parking fees and extended library hours. These changes pleases local residents.
Correct:The council reduced parking fees and extended library hours. These changes pleased local residents.
Plural changes needs pleased for a past event or please for a present meaning, not pleases. Standalone This pleased local residents is also correct if it clearly picks up the whole situation.
Incorrect:The lab published results without peer review. Such the practice damaged its reputation.
Correct:The lab published results without peer review. Such a practice damaged its reputation.
Such before a singular countable noun requires the indefinite article a/an; such + the is not grammatical in this pattern.
Incorrect:The manager compared two suppliers: Meridian and Oakview. The latter, Meridian, offered a lower price, while the former, Oakview, guaranteed faster delivery.
Correct:The manager compared two suppliers: Meridian and Oakview. The former, Meridian, offered a lower price, while the latter, Oakview, guaranteed faster delivery.
In this two-item comparison, the former refers to the first-mentioned supplier, Meridian, and the latter to the second, Oakview. Reversing the labels assigns the qualities to the wrong supplier.
Incorrect:The survey listed three concerns: cost, delivery time, and packaging. The last of this proved the easiest to fix.
Correct:The survey listed three concerns: cost, delivery time, and packaging. The last of these proved the easiest to fix.
These refers to the plural set of concerns. The last of these unambiguously names the final item; the latter also occurs in this sense but may be less transparent.
Incorrect:The airline cancelled forty flights because of a technical fault. These decision left thousands of passengers stranded overnight.
Correct:The airline cancelled forty flights because of a technical fault. This decision left thousands of passengers stranded overnight.
Decision is a singular noun, so use this decision. These goes with plural decisions.