Definition & Meaning of "cataphora"

What is "cataphora"?

Cataphora is a linguistic phenomenon where a word or phrase refers to another word or phrase that follows it in a sentence. This often occurs when a pronoun or other referring expression appears before the noun it refers to, creating a sense of anticipation for the reader or listener. For example, in the sentence "Before she entered the room, Mary felt nervous," the pronoun "she" is a cataphor that refers to "Mary," which appears later in the sentence. Cataphora can add variety to sentence structure and guide attention to the information that follows, enhancing clarity and engagement in communication.