Grammar Tips & Articles »

Cataphoric Reference

This Grammar.com article is about Cataphoric Reference — enjoy your reading!


58 sec read
6,942 Views
  Angbeen Chaudhary  —  Grammar Tips
Font size:

Cataphorism is a grammatical expression that refers to a word or a phrase that links to another word or phrase which was used after in the same text

Example:

If you call him, tell Sam to come as soon as possible.

In the above example, him is the cataphoric reference to Sam as it is used before Sam and refer to the same person.

Cataphoric Reference:

The use of such terms (words or phrases) that are referring forward to something said or written afterwards in the same text is termed as cataphoric reference.

Example:

They were all sitting quietly, all students was speechless.

In the above example, they is used as a cataphora and is a cataphoric reference to students. Note that both they and students refer to the same collective noun and the noun students is used afterwards.

Despite referring to nouns, cataphoric reference can also be used to refer other ideas used forward in the same text.

Example:

It is everyone’s favorite subject. Advanced psychology is in demand these days.

In the above example, it is is an example of anaphoric reference which refers forward to Advanced Psychology.

 

Rate this article:

Have a discussion about this article with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this article to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Cataphoric Reference." Grammar.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.grammar.com/cataphoric_reference>.

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Browse Grammar.com

    Free Writing Tool:

    Instant
    Grammar Checker

    Improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing -- and it's FREE!


    Quiz

    Are you a grammar master?

    »
    Choose the sentence with proper capitalization:
    A I enjoy reading the New York Times.
    B The capital of france is paris.
    C We visited the eiffel tower last summer.
    D the sun sets in the west.

    Improve your writing now:

    Download Grammar eBooks

    It’s now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant messages.