Have you ever read an essay and felt like the writer was saying something important, but couldn’t quite tell what they meant?
Sometimes, the problem isn’t the argument itself. It’s the way the writer refers to their ideas.
Consider these two sentences:
“The author argues that social media creates unrealistic expectations about beauty. This shows that social media can negatively affect people’s self-esteem.”
Now, consider this version:
“The author argues that social media creates unrealistic expectations about beauty. This distortion of beauty standards can negatively affect people’s self-esteem.”
The second version is more precise. Instead of using “this” to refer vaguely to the entire previous sentence, the writer identifies the specific idea they’re discussing: the distortion of beauty standards.
But there’s another benefit. The writer has also found a new way to describe the idea. Rather than repeating the words “social media creates unrealistic expectations about beauty,” they have condensed that idea into the phrase “this distortion of beauty standards.”
This is the power of naming an idea in a new way: you clarify what you’re talking about while creating an opportunity to develop your explanation.
Here’s a simple writing tip: When using “this” to refer to an idea in a previous sentence, consider following it with a noun that identifies exactly what you’re talking about.
This technique is often called the this + noun construction or the use of a summarizing noun. It’s a small change that can make a big difference in how clearly you communicate your ideas.
Let’s explore how it works and when to use it.
1. What Is a Summarizing Noun?
A summarizing noun is a noun that names or characterizes an idea, action, event, or claim mentioned earlier in your writing.
For example, imagine you write:
“The government increased taxes on imported goods, angering merchants throughout the colonies. This eventually contributed to growing resistance against British rule.”
What does “this” refer to? The tax increase? The merchants’ anger? The government’s broader taxation policy?
The reader can probably figure it out, but the sentence leaves room for interpretation.
Now consider:
“The government increased taxes on imported goods, angering merchants throughout the colonies. This taxation policy contributed to growing resistance against British rule.”
The noun “policy” makes the reference more specific.
But you can take this technique a step further:
“The government increased taxes on imported goods, angering merchants throughout the colonies. This taxation policy intensified colonial opposition to British economic control.”
Here, you’re doing more than clarifying your reference. You’re giving the original information a new name and using that name to develop your argument.
The original sentence describes a specific action. The phrase “this taxation policy” identifies that action as a policy, allowing you to discuss its broader significance.
Depending on the context, useful nouns might include:
This policy
This contradiction
This assumption
This pattern
This distinction
This decision
This argument
This consequence
This development
This interpretation
Each noun gives you a different way to characterize the information you’ve already introduced.
The key is to choose a noun that accurately represents the idea you want to discuss.
2. Don’t Just Repeat an Idea. Find a New Way to Name It.
One of the most useful applications of this technique is that it helps you avoid repeating the same information in slightly different words.
Consider this example:
“The author argues that social media encourages people to compare themselves to unrealistic beauty standards. This shows that social media can negatively affect self-esteem.”
The second sentence largely repeats the first. The writer has identified a potential consequence, but the explanation remains general.
Now consider:
“The author argues that social media encourages people to compare themselves to unrealistic beauty standards. This distortion of beauty standards can undermine users’ self-esteem by encouraging them to judge their appearance against unattainable ideals.”
The phrase “this distortion of beauty standards” gives the writer a new way to describe the original idea. The sentence can now explore the consequences of that distortion.
Notice the progression:
First, the writer introduces an idea.
Next, the writer identifies that idea in a new way.
Finally, the writer explains something more about it.
This is what makes the technique so useful. You’re not merely replacing words with synonyms. You’re deciding which aspect of the original idea matters most to your next point.
Consider another example:
“The company requires employees to respond to emails outside working hours. This expectation contributes to employee burnout.”
You could write:
“The company requires employees to respond to emails outside working hours. This expectation of constant availability can blur the boundaries between work and personal life, contributing to employee burnout.”
The phrase “this expectation of constant availability” captures the underlying issue in a new way. It gives you something specific to examine.
The goal is to move your writing forward, not simply repeat what you’ve already said.
3. Why Naming an Idea Helps You Think More Clearly
Choosing a noun requires you to decide what an idea actually represents.
For example, imagine someone writes:
“The government restricted public demonstrations. This was controversial.”
The word “this” doesn’t tell us much about what was controversial. Was it the restriction itself? The government’s reasoning? The effect on citizens’ rights?
Now consider three alternatives:
“This restriction on public demonstrations raised concerns about freedom of expression.”
“This government policy sparked debate over the limits of executive power.”
“This infringement on civil liberties prompted criticism from those who viewed peaceful protest as a fundamental democratic right.”
Each version frames the original action differently.
The first emphasizes freedom of expression. The second emphasizes government authority. The third emphasizes civil liberties.
These descriptions aren’t interchangeable in every context. Each directs the reader toward a different aspect of the issue.
That’s why the choice of noun matters. It isn’t just a stylistic decision. It reflects what you think is important about the information.
When you learn to name ideas accurately, you become better at distinguishing between related concepts and explaining exactly what you mean.
4. How to Use This Technique in AP Lang, AP World History, and APUSH
Let’s look at how this technique can strengthen your writing across different subjects.
AP English Language (AP Lang)
In AP Lang, you’re often asked to analyze an author’s argument, rhetorical choices, and intended effects.
Consider this example:
“The author repeatedly describes the government as ‘careless’ and ‘irresponsible.’ This encourages readers to distrust political leaders.”
A more precise version would be:
“The author repeatedly describes the government as ‘careless’ and ‘irresponsible.’ This negative characterization encourages readers to distrust political leaders.”
The phrase “this negative characterization” identifies the rhetorical choice being discussed.
You could develop the idea further:
“The author repeatedly describes the government as ‘careless’ and ‘irresponsible.’ This negative characterization encourages readers to distrust political leaders by presenting the government as incapable of fulfilling its responsibilities.”
The writer has moved from identifying the author’s language to explaining how that language shapes the audience’s perception.
Here are a few other examples:
Before: “The author contrasts wealthy neighborhoods with impoverished communities. This makes the audience recognize inequality.”
After: “The author’s contrast between wealthy neighborhoods and impoverished communities highlights the unequal distribution of resources.”
Before: “The speaker tells a personal story about losing a family member. This helps the audience connect with the argument.”
After: “This personal anecdote establishes an emotional connection with the audience.”
In each case, the noun gives the writer a more precise way to identify the element being discussed.
AP World History
In AP World History, students frequently need to explain historical causes, consequences, developments, and patterns.
Consider this example:
“European powers established colonies throughout Africa during the nineteenth century. This had significant consequences for African societies.”
What does “this” mean? The establishment of colonies? European imperialism more broadly? The political and economic changes that followed?
Try:
“European powers established colonies throughout Africa during the nineteenth century. This expansion of European imperialism disrupted existing political structures and redirected local economies toward colonial interests.”
The phrase “this expansion of European imperialism” identifies the historical development you’re discussing.
It also places the event within a broader historical concept: imperialism.
That gives the writer a clearer way to explain the consequences of the development.
AP U.S. History (APUSH)
APUSH essays often require students to explain how political ideas, economic developments, and social movements shaped American history.
Consider this example:
“The Declaration of Independence asserted that people possessed certain unalienable rights. This challenged the authority of the British monarchy.”
A more precise version would be:
“The Declaration of Independence asserted that people possessed certain unalienable rights. This assertion of natural rights challenged traditional justifications for monarchical authority.”
The phrase “this assertion of natural rights” names the specific political idea in a new way.
It also connects that idea to a broader historical concept: the legitimacy of political authority.
Instead of simply repeating that the Declaration challenged the monarchy, the writer identifies the principle that made the challenge possible.
That’s an important distinction when explaining historical significance.
5. A Simple Process for Improving Your Writing
The next time you write a sentence that begins with “this,” try the following process.
Step 1: Identify what you’re referring to.
Read your previous sentence and ask yourself what specific idea, action, or event you want to discuss.
Step 2: Find a noun that captures that idea.
Is it a policy, assumption, contradiction, pattern, decision, consequence, or development?
Step 3: Consider whether you can name the idea in a more meaningful way.
You don’t have to repeat the exact language from your previous sentence. Look for a description that captures the aspect of the idea you want to emphasize.
Step 4: Use that description to move your explanation forward.
For example:
Original:
“The scientist’s results contradicted the predictions of the original theory. This led researchers to reconsider their assumptions.”
Revised:
“The scientist’s results contradicted the predictions of the original theory. This discrepancy between the experimental evidence and the theoretical predictions led researchers to reconsider their assumptions.”
The phrase “this discrepancy between the experimental evidence and the theoretical predictions” identifies the problem more precisely.
It also establishes a clear focus for the next part of the explanation.
Remember, though, that you don’t need to follow every instance of “this” with a noun. If the reference is already clear, adding one may be unnecessary. Use the technique when it helps you communicate more precisely or develop your ideas.
6. The Bigger Lesson: Good Writing Requires Precise Thinking
This technique might seem minor, but it reflects a much broader principle.
Good communication requires more than knowing what you want to say. It requires choosing words that accurately convey what you mean.
Think about the difference between saying, “I disagree with this,” and saying, “I disagree with this assumption.”
The first statement leaves the object of your disagreement unclear. The second identifies it.
You might disagree with someone’s assumption without disagreeing with their entire argument. You might criticize a particular policy without rejecting the goal behind it.
The ability to name an idea precisely helps you distinguish between these possibilities.
It also helps you communicate complex ideas without repeatedly explaining them from scratch. Once you’ve introduced an idea, you can give it a concise name and use that name to examine a different aspect of it.
This is useful in essays, scientific explanations, conversations, and almost any situation where you need to communicate your thinking.
You don’t need complicated vocabulary to write well. You need words that accurately represent what you’re trying to say.
The next time you write “this,” ask yourself two questions:
What exactly am I referring to? And is there a more precise way to name it?
Sometimes, the answer will be to leave the sentence as it is. Other times, one well-chosen noun will make your meaning clearer and help you develop your next idea.
