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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