ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Referential density

Referential density is like a game of "I Spy" with words. When we talk or write, we use words to refer to things or people. Referential density is the number of times we use words to refer to the same thing.

Let's say we were reading a story about a cat named Mittens. We could refer to Mittens using different words such as "the cat," "she," or "the fluffy feline." Now imagine we used "Mittens" every time. That story would have high referential density for Mittens.

Referential density can affect how easily we understand a story or conversation. If we use a lot of different words to refer to the same thing, it can be confusing. But, if we use the same word consistently, it can help us understand better.

So, referential density is like a tool that helps us make sure we use the right words to refer to things, and use them consistently.