It,thisandthatin paragraphs

We useit,thisandthatto introduce further information about a topic already mentioned. However, the words have different uses.

We useitto continue to refer to the topic we are already writing or speaking about:

The heart is the central organ in our bodies.Itis used to pump oxygen around the body through the bloodstream.(Itrefers back toThe heart)

The new album by ‘The Noughts’ went on sale yesterday.Itis their third album in three years and is set to become as great a success as previous releases.

We can usethisto refer back to whole clauses and sentences and to previous parts of a text.Thishighlights the information referred to much more strongly thanit. Writers often usethiswhen a point or idea is to become an important part of the discussion that follows:

More and more people are discovering that Tai Chi is one of the most valuable forms of exercise.Thishas led to a big demand for classes.(Thisrefers back to a whole sentence.)

Heavy rains and stormy conditions throughout the summer have led to severe shortages in strawberries and other soft fruits.Thishas led to price rises in many supermarkets and shops.

We usethatin a similar way tothis. However, when we usethat, we distance ourselves more from the topic or from aspects of the topic:

For many traditional football supporters, it is a problem that so many young girls and women attend football matches these days.Thatis a sexist attitude of course.

Thatis also used to refer to ideas associated with another person:

The chairman apologised for the poor performance of the company and promised a better future for investors.Thatwas a promise many people felt he could not possibly keep.