Coherence in writing

This post will help you write in a more logical, thoughtful manner. And it will help you better evaluate what you read.

So, let’s start. Read the first part of this paragraph from a report and tell me whether it makes sense:

The market size is USD 100. The Republic of Wazoo is a potential market for our bicycles. Our business development team has been in contact with a major retailer in Wazoo. The main challenge in the country is distribution.

Don’t google Wazoo. The Republic of Wazoo does not exist.

My question to you is this: how logical is the flow of thoughts? Confusing. Yes, I agree. The sequencing of sentences is all jumbled up.

Here is a more readable version:

1. The Republic of Wazoo is a potential market for our bicycles. 2. The market size is USD 100. 3. The main challenge in the country is distribution. 4. Our business development team has been in contact with a major retailer in Wazoo.

Now, isn’t that better?

The first sentence introduces the theme of the report. The second sentence supports the first sentence by defining the market size in dollar terms. The third sentence introduces the main obstacle for entering this market. The fourth sentence states how this obstacle can be overcome. And then the fifth sentence will give us more information about the retailer. And then the sixth sentence will state how working with this retailer will help us have a presence in Wazoo. And then…

Can you see it? Can you feel it? Do you recognize the logical and organized flow of thoughts/ideas/assertions.

This logical flow of thoughts/ideas is called coherence. Coherence is really, really, really important. It is the underlying order in your email, business plan, report, essay, or anything else you write. It is how the different parts of your writing cooperate to create forward momentum, direction, and meaning.

Hint: When reviewing your writing for coherence, don’t focus on the individual words or phrases. View sentences as units of thoughts/ideas. And then ask yourself questions such as: How are these thoughts/ideas sequenced? Should they be re-arranged? Is there a well-structured argument which I am building up to?

Go behind the words. Meet the thoughts/ideas. Interact with them. Drink some coffee with them. Assess whether they make sense. Decide whether they are being well supported. Ensure that they are being presented in the most effective manner possible.

Let’s bring back the focus to the words in sentences. Read what you have written, and mull over these questions. What is the purpose of a particular sentence? Is it to introduce a new topic? Is it to give more details about what has been stated in a previous sentence? Is it to provide a concrete real-world example for a general statement that has been made earlier?

If you want to dive deep into coherence, I recommend On Writing Well by William Zinsser. It is a classic.

There is something secretive about coherence. When it is there in full force, not many readers notice it. It is hidden inside and in between words, sentences, and paragraphs.

But when it isn’t there…

Do you want to write better business emails? Have a read.