coherently
/kəʊˈhɪərəntli/ (bre, ipa) · /kəʊˈhɪrəntli/ (ame, ipa)
coherently — adverb
1. in a way where every part of something written, argued, or planned fits together
in a way where every part of something written, argued, or planned fits together with a clear logical order, so the reader can follow the reasoning from start to finish.
Femi structured the essay coherently, leading the reader from question to conclusion.
verb + coherently modifying a piece of writing
The five chapters fit together coherently around a single research question.
passive-style 'fit together coherently' for organized wholes
Yuna argued her case coherently, moving from evidence to conclusion without skipping any step.
The committee needs to plan the budget coherently across all four departments.
Selim's report set out the findings coherently, with each section building on the previous one.
- logically
narrower — focuses on valid reasoning steps rather than overall fit
- systematically
emphasises following a method, not the smoothness of the result
- cohesively
emphasises the parts sticking together, often about groups or teams
- incoherently
direct opposite — disorganised, hard to follow
- haphazardly
informal — without any plan or order
文法句型
write/argue/present/organize + coherently
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with verbs of writing, organizing, or reasoning (write, argue, plan, structure). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about the logical structure of a thing, not the clarity of someone's spoken delivery.
常見錯誤
2. when a person talks clearly enough for listeners to follow, putting words and id
when a person talks clearly enough for listeners to follow, putting words and ideas into a sensible order — often noted when someone manages this despite being tired, upset, drunk, or ill.
After the long night shift, Reema could barely speak coherently to the morning team.
barely + speak coherently — fatigue context
By the third drink, Erik was no longer talking coherently about his project.
no longer + talking coherently — impairment context
Despite the shock, Manuela answered the officer's questions coherently.
The patient was awake and speaking coherently within an hour of the surgery.
Tamar was so nervous before the interview that she struggled to express herself coherently.
- intelligibly
neutral — focuses on being understandable, less on logical order
- lucidly
formal — implies mental clarity behind the words
- articulately
wider — covers vocabulary and fluency, not just sense-making
- incoherently
direct opposite — rambling, hard to follow
- unintelligibly
stronger — the listener cannot even make out the words
文法句型
speak/talk/answer + coherently
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a person, and the verb is one of speaking (speak, talk, answer, express). Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on the speaker's verbal delivery in real time, not on the logical structure of a written or planned product. Very common in medical, legal, and journalistic contexts as a marker that someone is mentally clear.