Connected in a logical order that makes the whole understandable.
Reach for it when praising an argument, account, plan, or system whose parts fit together
The editor turned six interviews into a coherent account of the rescue.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
Fits when ease of understanding matters more than internal structure
Careful Individual sentences may be clear while the overall account is incoherent.
everyday
Fits when visible organization is the main strength
Careful Structure can be orderly even when the reasoning has gaps.
professional
Fits when parts do not contradict one another over time
Careful Consistency alone does not create a meaningful or understandable whole.
professional
Fits when each step follows by sound reasoning
Careful A list can be coherent through organization without forming an argument.
formal
Fits when a common theme or purpose binds the parts
Careful Unity can be aesthetic and does not ensure logical connection.
literary
Fits when complex thought is expressed with graceful clarity
Careful Lucid praises expression, while coherent can describe an underlying system.
coherent argument
The student built a coherent argument from three modest pieces of evidence.
coherent whole
Careful sequencing turned the fragments into a coherent whole.
internally coherent
The proposal is internally coherent even where its assumptions remain disputed.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Queensland accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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