crossphrases

Crossphrases are a linguistic device in which a noun phrase or predicate phrase introduced in one clause is linked to a second clause through a cross-reference that spans the boundary between clauses. The device serves to tie together ideas, amplify emphasis, or create cohesive reading through repetition of terms or related descriptors.

Formation and variations: Crossphrases commonly involve redeploying a shared head noun, a pronoun that points back to an earlier phrase, or a modifier that is repeated in aligned form across clauses. They can occur within a single sentence or across sentences, and may appear in appositive or supplementary clauses. Crossphrases are distinct from strict anaphora because the linking element often reappears as a noun phrase rather than a sole pronoun, and from simple parallelism because the second clause provides new information tied to the prior phrase.

Examples: “The council approved the proposal, the proposal deemed risky by several members.” “Researchers observed the anomaly, the anomaly prompting new simulations.” These illustrate how a term introduced in one clause recurs or is echoed in the next, creating a cross-clausal linkage.

Comparative note: In discourse analysis, crossphrases are discussed as a mechanism for cohesion, contributing to referential continuity and syntactic variety. They are used in formal writing, journalism, and literary prose to guide interpretation and to create a compact cross-reference. The term crossphrase is not universally standardized, and usage may vary among studies.