Make Your Point > Archived Issues > COHESIVE
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pronounce
COHESIVE:
Say it "ko HEE siv."
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connect this word to others:
Alright, y'all. If you can explain the difference between cohesive and coherent, you're basically a Level 20 Vocabulary Mage.
On the surface, the two words mean the same thing: "logical, connected, effective, making sense."
And deep down, they mean the same thing, too! Ha ha. They come from identical Latin roots, so they both literally mean "sticking together." And they're both adjectives that came from the verb "to cohere."
But adjectives that share a base word aren't always identical in meaning--for instance, think of how childish is quite different from childlike.
So we here go; here's the difference between cohesive and coherent, and it's a subtle one:
As you can see, something coherent is always cohesive. And something cohesive might well be coherent, too, but might not. That paragraph in the diagram, up top, is cohesive, sure, but it's totally incoherent. And the paragraph below it is coherent--and, by definition, also cohesive.
So, imagine you're trying to explain to a friend the difference between coherent and cohesive. How would you explain it in your own way?
definition:
The word "cohere" means "to stick together," and its Latin roots literally mean "to stick together."
Something cohesive has parts that stick together. In other words, cohesive things are good or effective because the parts are related to each other in a way that makes sense.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "a cohesive plan;" "The community is cohesive."
Other forms:
cohere, cohered, cohering;
cohesively, cohesiveness;
incohesive
how to use it:
To describe something that makes sense in the most basic way, because its parts seem to all belong with each other, call it cohesive. It's a common word with a positive tone.
But if you need a stronger word, one that implies a greater degree of overall logic and efficacy, then pick "coherent" instead.
You might talk about a cohesive group, team, community, or society; a cohesive story or description; a cohesive vision or argument; a cohesive plan or strategy; a cohesive message or response; a cohesive set of rules or terms; a cohesive collection, like a cohesive book of essays that all focus on the same general concept; or a cohesive combination, like a cohesive set of colors used to decorate a single room.
examples:
"The euro zone — the 19 nations using the euro as their money — is beginning to act more like a cohesive unit rather than just a collection of countries."
— Robert J. Samuelson, Washington Post, 26 July 2020
"So many things can determine the making of a menu... Whether it's a dinner party or a casual dinner, your goal should be a collection of cohesive elements. You want flavors that will complement one another and at least a loose plan for how it will all go together."
— David Tanis, New York Times, 28 February 2020
has this page helped you understand "cohesive"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "cohesive" without saying "logical" or "well-knit."
try it out:
We often apply the word "cohesive" to a community: either to celebrate that the community is cohesive, or to lament that the community is not cohesive.
Think about a community you belong to. It might be your neighborhood, a school or workplace, a town, or an online forum. Is it cohesive, or not? How do you know? If another member were to disagree with you, what might they say?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for November is "SpongeBob Shakespeare."
Check out the goofy quote below. Is it from SpongeBob Squarepants, or is it a modern-English version of a quote from Shakespeare?
I'll list the answer at the bottom of each issue. Enjoy!
Try this one today:
"Well, it's no secret that the best thing about a secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby adding another secret to their secret collection of secrets, secretly."
review this word:
A. DISTANT.
B. DISTINCT.
C. DISPARATE.
2. The game is beautiful, but I'd like it even more if the artwork were more cohesive: _____.
A. it varies in style and color palette from card set to card set
B. it uses such large, stylized images that it's hard to read the text
C. it portrays Lovecraft's monsters as adorable instead of terrifying
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Alright, y'all. If you can explain the difference between cohesive and coherent, you're basically a Level 20 Vocabulary Mage.
The word "cohere" means "to stick together," and its Latin roots literally mean "to stick together."
Part of speech:
To describe something that makes sense in the most basic way, because its parts seem to all belong with each other, call it cohesive. It's a common word with a positive tone.
"The euro zone — the 19 nations using the euro as their money — is beginning to act more like a cohesive unit rather than just a collection of countries."
Explain the meaning of "cohesive" without saying "logical" or "well-knit."
We often apply the word "cohesive" to a community: either to celebrate that the community is cohesive, or to lament that the community is not cohesive.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
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