Pointing Words and How to Use Them

What Are Pointing Words?

Pointing words are words like this, that, these, those, it, they, he, she, and such that refer back to something previously mentioned in your writing. They help connect ideas and guide your reader through your thinking.

For example:

The campus library has extended hours this semester. This change will help students manage their study time better.

In this sentence, “this” points back to the extended hours.

How to Use Pointing Words Effectively

Make sure the reference is clear: Your reader should easily understand what the pointing word refers to.
Use them to create flow: Pointing words help link sentences and paragraphs, making your writing smoother and more coherent.
Follow up with specific details: After using a pointing word, clarify or expand on what you’re referring to.

More Complex Example:

Many students struggle with time management during their first semester. This challenge often stems from the sudden increase in academic responsibilities and the lack of structured schedules. These pressures can lead to stress, missed deadlines, and poor academic performance. To address this, some colleges offer workshops and peer mentoring programs. Such initiatives aim to equip students with strategies for balancing coursework, extracurriculars, and personal time.

How Pointing Words Work in This Paragraph:

“This challenge” refers back to students struggling with time management. It helps the writer avoid repeating the full idea while keeping the reader focused.
“These pressures” points to academic responsibilities and lack of structure, summarizing and grouping them for emphasis.
“To address this” uses this to refer to the problem of stress and poor performance caused by time management issues.
“Such initiatives” refers to workshops and peer mentoring programs, helping the writer generalize and transition into discussing their purpose.

Why This Matters:

Using pointing words like these helps you:

Create smoother transitions between ideas
Emphasize relationships between causes, effects, and solutions

But remember, vague pointing words can confuse readers. If it’s not clear what this, these, or such refers to, your writing loses clarity. Always make sure the reference is close by and logically connected.