200 Transition Phrases [Linking and Connecting Words]

WHAT ARE TRANSITION WORDS?

Transitional words are basically linking or connecting phrases. They are similar to conjunctions and help your writing flow smoothly. You don’t talk to people in choppy sentences, so why would you write that way?

A transition word is almost always followed by a comma. You can also use a semicolon to join the two sentences instead of separating them with a period if they are both complete sentences. This adds a little more connection between your thoughts.  For instance; “Michael didn’t go attend online class on Monday; therefore, he missed the pop quiz.”

If you’re not sure whether your sentences are complete and should be joined with a semicolon, check out our blog on paper structure and coherence. This will help you get a sense of how to structure your writing properly so you don’t lose marks on technical things.

When using transition words for essays, you should also include them at the beginning of each of your body paragraphs. This not only helps you transition into the next thought, but introduces the next point you’re going to make.

7 TYPES OF TRANSITION WORDS

Transitional words and phrases fall into seven categories. These categories are determined by the purpose and use of the word. For example, if you are using a transition word to add information, reinforce ideas or express agreement with what you have already said/made, you would use a phrase from the “agreement, addition, or similarity” category.

Main categories of transition words for essays unlocked:

1) Agreement, Addition, or Similarity

2) Sequence or Time

3) Contradiction or Opposition

4) Cause and Effect

5) Examples, Support, or Emphasis

6) Location, Space/Place, or Time

7) Conclusion, Clarification, or Summary

List of Transitional words and phrases

Click here!

Agreement, Similarity, or Addition.

in the first place moreover as well as
together with of course likewise
comparatively correspondingly not only … but also
as a matter of fact in like manner to say nothing of
in addition coupled with not to mention
in the same fashion / way uniquely
first, second, third by the same token
in the light of additionally
equally important identically and
again like as
too similarly furthermore
to also then equally

NB: Phrases like also, in addition, and, likewise, add information, reinforce ideas, and express agreement with preceding
material.

Sequence or Time

at the present time
from time to time
sooner or later
at the same time
up to the present time
to begin with
in due time
as soon as
as long as
in the meantime
in a moment
without delay
in the first place
all of a sudden
at this instant
first, second
immediately
quickly
finally
after
later
last
until
till
since
then
before
hence
since
when
once
about
next
now
formerly
suddenly
shortly
henceforth
whenever
eventually
meanwhile
further
during
in time
prior to
forthwith
straightaway
by the time
whenever
until now
now that
instantly
presently
occasionally

Contradiction or Opposition

although
instead
whereas
despite
but
(and) still
unlike
or
(and) yet

be that as it may
then again
above all

 

conversely
otherwise
however
rather

while
albeit
besides
as much as
even though

in reality
after all

 

nevertheless
nonetheless
regardless
notwithstanding

although this may be true
in contrast
different from
of course …, but
on the other hand
on the contrary
at the same time
in spite of
even so / though

Cause and Effect

in the event that
granted (that)
as / so long as
on (the) condition (that)
for the purpose of
If
… then
unless
when
in case
provided that
given that
only / even if
so that

with this intention
with this in mind
in the hope that
to the end that
for fear that
in order to
seeing / being that
in view of
whenever
while
because of
as
since
while
lest
so as to
owing to
inasmuch as
due to

Examples, Support, or Emphasis

for example
for instance
to demonstrate
to emphasize
to repeat
to clarify
to explain
to enumerate

in fact
in general
in particular
in detail

important to realize
another key point
first thing to remember
most compelling evidence
must be remembered
point often overlooked
to point out
on the positive side
on the negative side
with this in mind

in other words
to put it differently
for one thing
as an illustration
in this case
for this reason
to put it another way
that is to say
with attention to
by all means

especially
explicitly
specifically
expressly
surprisingly
frequently
significantly
particularly

notably
including
like
to be sure
namely
chiefly
truly
indeed
certainly
surely
markedly
such as

Location/Place/Space

here
there
next
where
from
over
near
above
below
down
up
further
beyond
nearby
wherever
around
in the middle
to the left/right
in front of
on this side
in the distance
here and there
in the foreground
in the background
in the center of
adjacent to
before
alongside
amid
among
beneath
between

Conclusion, Clarification, or Summary

on the whole
in any event
in either case
all in all
Obviously
Ultimately
Definitely
as can be seen
generally speaking
after all
usually
in the final analysis
all things considered
as shown above
in the long run
given these points
as has been noted
in a word
for the most part
in fact
by and large
to sum up
in summary
in conclusion
in short
in brief
in essence
to summarize
on balance
altogether
overall
ordinarily


WHEN AND WHERE TO USE TRANSITION WORDS

There are a few different spots where you can use transition words within your essays or writing assignments/homework/research papers etcetera:

● In your topic sentences at the start of each paragraph.

● When creating connections between the evidence presented and the result or argument.

● In your closing sentence at the end of each paragraph to segway into the next one.

● At the beginning of your introduction or summary paragraphs.

● When concluding your work.

Transition Words to Start a Paragraph

Chronology before, next, earlier, later, during, after, meanwhile, while, until, then, first, second
Clarity for example, for instance, in other words
Continuation and, also, moreover, additionally, furthermore, another, too

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