transition words used in persuasive essays

92 Essay Transition Words to Know

Abruptly switching topics in essays can be jarring; however , transition words can smooth the change for the convenience of the reader. Moreover , you can use essay transition words to start a paragraph, sentence, or clause more naturally. Additionally , essay transition words can connect new information to the previous statement so you don’t have to say everything at once.

This guide looks at how to use transition words in essays. We’ll explain what they are and how to use them, plus we even share an essay transition word list with the most common and useful transition words examples.

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What are essay transition words?

In general, transition words and phrases bridge the gap between two topics whose connection isn’t obvious. Transition words and phrases like however , although , likewise , and on the contrary cue the reader that a change is coming so they know to expect it.

The type of transition word or phrase signals which type of change is coming. For example, transition words like therefore show a cause-and-effect relationship, while transition words like in conclusion introduce a summary or wrap-up. Often, conjunctive adverbs work well as transition words.

Essay transition words are no different from other types of transition words. They are often the same words and phrases used in other pieces of writing, just used for all types of essay , such as an informative essay or a narrative essay .

How to use essay transition words

Transition words and phrases are used to make transition sentences , which either contain two opposing topics in the same sentence or join together the opposing sentences or paragraphs that come before and after the transition sentence.

Essay transition words aren’t necessary for every sentence; you need them only when a shift in topic is so pronounced that it interrupts the writing flow . For example, consider this example, which doesn’t use transition words:

The GPS told us to go left. We went right.

Although those two sentences are grammatically correct, the abrupt change in topic is a bit jarring to readers. Some may feel like they need to reread the passage because they’re worried they missed something. That’s where transition words come in handy.

The GPS told us to go left. However , we went right.

The transition word however acts as a signal to the reader to prepare for a change in topic. When the reader sees transition words like this, they know to expect the switch, so it’s not so jarring.

You can use transition words to start a paragraph, sentence, clause, or even a brief phrase or individual word.

Although tired , we had to continue.

Even in situations when the connection between topics is obvious, essay transition words can help keep your writing organized and comprehensible. This is especially true with ordinal numbers and transition words like next , then , and last , all of which keep items from a series or sequence in order.

First , you wet your hair, and then you apply the shampoo. Last , you rinse the shampoo with warm water.

Keep in mind that transition words aren’t always sentence starters . Sometimes essay transition words and phrases like also , too , or above all can come at the end of a sentence, clause, or phrase.

We were happy to get second place, but we wanted first place above all .

However, most essay transition words work best at the beginning of a sentence, where they can more effectively bridge the gap between two seemingly unrelated topics.

92 transition words examples

Essay transition word list for contradictions.

alternatively
nevertheless
nonetheless
notwithstanding
on the contrary
on the other hand

Essay transition word list for additions

accordingly
additionally
comparatively
coupled with
equally important
furthermore
in addition
in the same way
understandably

Essay transition word list for introducing examples

for example
for instance
in particular / particularly
specifically
to illustrate

Essay transition word list for conditions and cause and effect

as a result
consequently
for fear of
for this reason
in the event of
subsequently
under these/those circumstances

Essay transition word list for extra clarification

by all means
in other words
incidentally
predictably
significantly
undoubtedly

Essay transition word list for summarizing

briefly / in brief
in conclusion
in summary/summation
to summarize

Essay transition word list for time relations

at the same time
in the meantime

Essay transition word list for series and sequences

first , second , third , etc.

Essay transition words FAQs

When should you use essay transition words?

Use essay transition words and phrases to either contain two opposing topics in the same sentence or join together the opposing sentences or paragraphs that come before and after them. Essay transition words aren’t necessary for every sentence; you need them only when a shift in topic is so pronounced that it interrupts the writing flow.

What are some essay transition words examples?

Some of the most common essay transition words examples include however , although , ultimately , in summary , next , last , also , in general , for that reason , as a result , for example , in the meantime , therefore , similarly , and likewise .

transition words used in persuasive essays

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190 Good Transition Words for Essays

August 23, 2023

Essay writing consists of two primary procedures: coming up with the content we want to include and structuring that content. These procedures might take place in either order or they could occur simultaneously. When writing an essay it is important to think about the ways that content and structure complement one another. The best essays join these two elements in thoughtful ways. Transition words for essays (including for college essays) are some of our most primary tools when it comes to structuring a piece of writing.

When beginning an essay it is often recommended to begin with a messy first draft. The purpose of this draft is to get everything out on the page. You should put down as many ideas and trajectories as you can without worrying too much about phrasing or whether they will make it into the final draft. The key here is to be loose—to get ahead of our self-editors and expel everything we can from our minds.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Continued)

While this is a good strategy for beginning an essay it will likely leave you unsure how everything fits together. This is where transition words come in. As you will see in this list (which is necessarily incomplete) the range of transition words for essays is vast. Each transition word implies a different relation, often in subtle ways. After accumulating content, the next step is to figure out how the elements fit together towards an overall goal (this could be but is not necessarily an “argument”). Consulting this list of transition words for essays can provide a shortcut for determining how one piece might lead into another. Along with transition words, rhetorical devices and literary devices are other tools to consider during this stage of essay writing.

Transition Words for College Essays

While this list will be a useful tool for all types of essay writing it will be particularly helpful when it comes to finding the right transition words for college essays . The goal of a college essay is to give a strong overall sense of its author in the tight space of 650 words. As you might imagine, it’s not easy to encompass a life or convey a complex personality in such a space. When writing a college essay you are working with a huge amount of potential content. Students often want to squeeze in as much as they can. To this end, transition words for college essays are essential tools to have at our disposal.

Here is our list of transition words for college essays and other essays. It is organized by the different types of transition words/phrases and their functions. While this organization should be convenient, keep in mind that there’s plenty of overlap. Many of these words can function in multiple ways.

1) Additive Transitions

These words function in an additive manner, accumulating content to build upon what has already been stated. They can be used to construct an argument or establish a scene through the accumulation of details.

Additionally
In addition to
Furthermore
Not to mention
In all honesty
To tell the truth
Not only…but also
As a matter of fact
To say nothing of
What’s more
Alternatively
To go a step further

2) Comparative Transitions (Similarity)

These transition words draw a parallel or bring out a similarity between images or ideas. They can be used not only in a straightforward sense but also to establish relations of similarity between objects or ideas that might appear to be dissonant.

In the same way
In a similar vein
Along the lines of
In the key of

3) Comparative Transitions (Difference)

While also functioning comparatively, the following words demonstrate difference between ideas or images. These transition words are useful when it comes to establishing contrasting points of view, an important component of any argument.

On the other hand
On the contrary
In contrast to
In contradiction
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
In any event
In any case
In either event

4) Sequential Transitions

The following are particularly effective transition words for college essays. They will allow you to order ideas chronologically or in a sequence, providing a sense of continuity over time. This is particularly useful when an essay leans into something more creative or involves telling a story.

Subsequently
At the same time
Concurrently
In the beginning
At the start
At the outset
Off the bat

5) Spatial Transitions

Rather than organizing ideas or images in regards to sequence, these transitions indicate spatial relationships. They are particularly useful when it comes to painting a scene and/or describing objects, but they can also be used metaphorically. Consider, for example, how you might use the transition, “standing in […’s] shadow.”

Standing in […’s] shadow
In front of
In the middle
In the center
To the left
To the right
On the side
Adjacent to
Around the bend
On the outskirts
In the distance
On the horizon
In the foreground
In the background
Underground
Through the grapevine

6) Causal Transitions

These transition words for essays indicate cause and effect relationships between ideas. They will be particularly useful when you are structuring a logical argument, i.e. using logos as a mode of persuasion . Causal transitions are an important element of academic, legal and scientific writing.

Accordingly
Resultingly
As a result
Consequently
In consequence
As a consequence
For this reason
So much that
Granting that
That being the case
Under those circumstances
With this in mind
For the purpose of
For all intents and purposes
In the event that
In the event of
In light of
On the condition that
To the extent that

7) Examples/Illustration/Supporting Transition

These transition words for college essays can be used to introduce supporting evidence, emphasis, examples, and clarification. There is some overlap here with additive transitions and causal transitions. These transitions are also useful when it comes to building an argument. At the same time, they can signal a shift into a different linguistic register.

For example
For instance
In other words
As an illustration
To illustrate
To put it differently
To put it another way
That is to say
As the evidence illustrates
It’s important to realize
It’s important to understand
It must be remembered
To demonstrate
For clarity’s sake
To emphasize
To put it plainly
To enumerate
To speak metaphorically

8) Conclusory Transitions

These transition words for essays serve to bring an idea or story to a close. They offer a clear way of signaling the conclusion of a particular train of thought. They might be followed by a summary or a restatement of an essay’s argument. In this way they also provide emphasis, setting the reader up for what is about to come.

In conclusion
To summarize
To put it succinctly
To this end
At the end of the day
In the final analysis
By and large
On second thought
On first glance
That’s all to say
On the whole
All things considered
Generally speaking

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Final Thoughts)

Even when elements appear to be disparate on first glance, transition words are a great tool for giving your essay a smooth flow. They can also create surprising juxtapositions, relationships, and equivalences. The way a reader will understand a transition word depends on the context in which they encounter it.

Individual words and phrases can be used in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the literal to the figurative to the colloquial or idiomatic. “Through the grapevine” is an example of the colloquial or idiomatic. When we encounter this phrase we don’t interpret it literally (as hearing something “through” a grapevine) but rather as hearing news secondhand. There are, of course, a vast number of idioms that are not included in this list but can also function as transitional phrases.

This list of transition words for college essays (and really any form of writing you might be working on) is a resource that you can return to again and again in your life as a writer. Over years of writing we tend to fall into patterns when it comes to the transition words we use. Mixing things up can be exciting both as a writer and for your readers. Even if you don’t choose to stray from your trusted transitions, considering the alternatives (and why they don’t work for you) can offer a deeper understanding of what you are trying to say.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (An Exercise)

As an exercise in self-understanding, you may want to try highlighting all of the transition words in a piece of your own writing. You can then compare this to the transition words in a piece of writing that you admire. Are they using similar transitions or others? Are they using them more or less often? What do you like or dislike about them? We all use transition words differently, creating different tonal effects. Keeping an eye out for them, not only as a writer but also as a reader, will help you develop your own aesthetic.

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Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Change will not be effected, say some others, unless individual actions raise the necessary awareness.

While a reader can see the connection between the sentences above, it’s not immediately clear that the second sentence is providing a counterargument to the first. In the example below, key “old information” is repeated in the second sentence to help readers quickly see the connection. This makes the sequence of ideas easier to follow.

Sentence pair #2: Effective Transition

You can use this same technique to create clear transitions between paragraphs. Here’s an example:

Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Other experts argue that individual actions are key to raising the awareness necessary to effect change. According to Annie Lowery, individual actions are important to making social change because when individuals take action, they can change values, which can lead to more people becoming invested in fighting climate change. She writes, “Researchers believe that these kinds of household-led trends can help avert climate catastrophe, even if government and corporate actions are far more important” (Lowery).

So, what’s an individual household supposed to do?

The repetition of the word “household” in the new paragraph helps readers see the connection between what has come before (a discussion of whether household actions matter) and what is about to come (a proposal for what types of actions households can take to combat climate change).

Sometimes, transitional words can help readers see how ideas are connected. But it’s not enough to just include a “therefore,” “moreover,” “also,” or “in addition.” You should choose these words carefully to show your readers what kind of connection you are making between your ideas.

To decide which transitional word to use, start by identifying the relationship between your ideas. For example, you might be

making a comparison or showing a contrast Transitional words that compare and contrast include also, in the same way, similarly, in contrast, yet, on the one hand, on the other hand. But before you signal comparison, ask these questions: Do your readers need another example of the same thing? Is there a new nuance in this next point that distinguishes it from the previous example? For those relationships between ideas, you might try this type of transition: While x may appear the same, it actually raises a new question in a slightly different way.
expressing agreement or disagreement When you are making an argument, you need to signal to readers where you stand in relation to other scholars and critics. You may agree with another person’s claim, you may want to concede some part of the argument even if you don’t agree with everything, or you may disagree. Transitional words that signal agreement, concession, and disagreement include however, nevertheless, actually, still, despite, admittedly, still, on the contrary, nonetheless .
showing cause and effect Transitional phrases that show cause and effect include therefore, hence, consequently, thus, so. Before you choose one of these words, make sure that what you are about to illustrate is really a causal link. Novice writers tend to add therefore and hence when they aren’t sure how to transition; you should reserve these words for when they accurately signal the progression of your ideas.
explaining or elaborating Transitions can signal to readers that you are going to expand on a point that you have just made or explain something further. Transitional words that signal explanation or elaboration include in other words, for example, for instance, in particular, that is, to illustrate, moreover .
drawing conclusions You can use transitions to signal to readers that you are moving from the body of your argument to your conclusions. Before you use transitional words to signal conclusions, consider whether you can write a stronger conclusion by creating a transition that shows the relationship between your ideas rather than by flagging the paragraph simply as a conclusion. Transitional words that signal a conclusion include in conclusion , as a result, ultimately, overall— but strong conclusions do not necessarily have to include those phrases.

If you’re not sure which transitional words to use—or whether to use one at all—see if you can explain the connection between your paragraphs or sentence either out loud or in the margins of your draft.

For example, if you write a paragraph in which you summarize physician Atul Gawande’s argument about the value of incremental care, and then you move on to a paragraph that challenges those ideas, you might write down something like this next to the first paragraph: “In this paragraph I summarize Gawande’s main claim.” Then, next to the second paragraph, you might write, “In this paragraph I present a challenge to Gawande’s main claim.” Now that you have identified the relationship between those two paragraphs, you can choose the most effective transition between them. Since the second paragraph in this example challenges the ideas in the first, you might begin with something like “but,” or “however,” to signal that shift for your readers.

picture_as_pdf Transitions

Transitional Words and Phrases

One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement , Paragraphing , and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.

While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.

In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.

Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic. Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.

Categories of Transition Words and Phrases

Causation Chronology Combinations Contrast Example

Importance Location Similarity Clarification Concession

Conclusion Intensification Purpose Summary

Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships

Causation– Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s).

accordingly as a result and so because

consequently for that reason hence on account of

since therefore thus

Chronology– Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.

after afterwards always at length during earlier following immediately in the meantime

later never next now once simultaneously so far sometimes

soon subsequently then this time until now when whenever while

Combinations Lists– Connecting numerous events. Part/Whole– Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.

additionally again also and, or, not as a result besides even more

finally first, firstly further furthermore in addition in the first place in the second place

last, lastly moreover next second, secondly, etc. too

Contrast– Connecting two things by focusing on their differences.

after all although and yet at the same time but

despite however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless notwithstanding

on the contrary on the other hand otherwise though yet

Example– Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.

as an illustration e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)

for example for instance specifically that is

to demonstrate to illustrate

Importance– Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.

chiefly critically

foundationally most importantly

of less importance primarily

Location– Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other.

above adjacent to below beyond

centrally here nearby neighboring on

opposite to peripherally there wherever

Similarity– Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.

by the same token in like manner

in similar fashion here in the same way

likewise wherever

Other kinds of transitional words and phrases Clarification

i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) in other words

that is that is to say to clarify to explain

to put it another way to rephrase it

granted it is true

naturally of course

finally lastly

in conclusion in the end

to conclude

Intensification

in fact indeed no

of course surely to repeat

undoubtedly without doubt yes

for this purpose in order that

so that to that end

to this end

in brief in sum

in summary in short

to sum up to summarize

Improving Your Writing Style

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Clear, Concise Sentences

Use the active voice

Put the action in the verb

Tidy up wordy phrases

Reduce wordy verbs

Reduce prepositional phrases

Reduce expletive constructions

Avoid using vague nouns

Avoid unneccessarily inflated words

Avoid noun strings

Connecting Ideas Through Transitions

Using Transitional Words and Phrases

How To Write An Essay

Transition Words For Essays

Transition Words for Essays - An Ultimate List

12 min read

Published on: Jan 1, 2021

Last updated on: Jul 23, 2024

What are Transition Words?

Transition words are linking words used to connect sentences and ideas in the content. They help the audience move from one idea to another, building a coherent relationship within the document.

When writing an essay , it is essential to make sure that the information provided is readable and understandable by the readers. For this purpose, explicit language, transition words, and phrases are used.

Moreover, these words set a base for the idea that is going to be discussed next.

Transition words can either make or break the entire essay. It is mandatory to keep in view that not every sentence in your essay needs a transitional phrase.

Types of Transitions

Generally, there are three types of transitions that are used while drafting a piece of document. Depending on the length, complexity, and kind of text, transitions can take the following form:

Transition Between Sections - When your document is lengthy, transition paragraphs are used to summarize a particular section for the readers. In addition to this, it also links the information that is to be shared next.

For example:

"In the following section..." "Moving on to..." "Now, let's explore..." "Turning our attention to..." "To delve deeper, we will now examine..."

Transition Between Paragraphs - The transition between paragraphs is when you logically connect the two paragraphs. This connection summarizes the paragraphâs primary concern and links it to the next idea of the other paragraph.

"Furthermore..." "On the other hand..." "Similarly..." "In contrast..." "Moreover..." "Additionally..." "In addition to..." "Conversely..." "Likewise..." "In a similar vein...

Transition Within Paragraphs - They act as cues for the readers to prepare them for what is coming next. They are usually single words or small phrases.

"For instance..." "In particular..." "To illustrate..." "Additionally..." "Moreover..." "Furthermore..." "On the contrary..." "However..." "In contrast..." "In other words..."

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Types of Transition Words

Here's a table showcasing different types of transition words and their corresponding functions:


	Furthermore, Moreover, Additionally, In addition to	Adds information or ideas
	However, On the other hand, In contrast, Conversely	Shows a difference or contradiction
	Similarly, Likewise, In the same way, Just as	Draws a parallel or similarity between ideas
	Consequently, Therefore, As a result, Thus	Indicates a cause-and-effect relationship
	Firstly, Next, Meanwhile, Subsequently	Orders ideas chronologically or in a sequence
	For example, For instance, To illustrate, Specifically	Provides specific examples or illustrations
	Indeed, Certainly, Without a doubt, Undoubtedly	Highlights or reinforces a particular point or idea
	In conclusion, Overall, To summarize, All in all	Summarizes the main points or ideas
	Namely, That is to say, In other words, Specifically	Provides further clarification or explanation
	Consequently, Accordingly, Hence, Thus	Shows the outcome or result of a previous statement or action

Transition Words For Different Types of Essays

Transitional words depend on the relationship you want to convey to the audience about the ideas and paragraphs. Below is a list of words and phrases that can be used to link different sentences, paragraphs, and sections.

Identify which transition expression you want to share for your logical relationship.

Transition Words for Argumentative Essay

In the same way
Equally important
Furthermore
Comparatively
Additionally
In addition
Not only...but also

Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essay

In contrast
Different from
On the contrary
In spite of

Transition Words for Informative Essay

Provided that
With this in mind
For the purpose of
In the hope that
In order to
With this intention

Transition Words for College Essays

In other words
By all means
To demonstrate
As in illustration
To put it another way

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essay

As a result
For this reason
Because the
Under those circumstances
Accordingly
Consequently

Transition Words for Expository Essay

Not long after that
Specifically
To begin with
Without doubt
Undoubtedly
Due to circumstances
In similar fashion

Transition Words for Different Parts of Essay

Here's a table listing transition words for different parts of an essay:


Starting a Paragraph	Firstly, To begin with, Initially, In the first place
First Body Paragraph	Firstly, To start, To begin with, Initially
Second Body Paragraph	Secondly, Next, Additionally, Furthermore
Third Body Paragraph	Moreover, Furthermore, In addition, Another key point
Last Body Paragraph	Lastly, Overall, Ultimately, As a final point
	In conclusion, To summarize, Overall, Wrapping it up

How Transitions work

Transitions work by creating a bridge between ideas, sentences, paragraphs, or sections in your essay. They help to establish logical connections and guide the reader through the flow of your writing.

Here's how transitions work:

Coherence : Transitions create smooth connections between ideas, ensuring a coherent flow in your writing.
Signal Relationships: Transitions clarify how ideas are related, such as cause and effect, comparison, contrast, or sequence.
Guide the Reader: It acts as signpost, guiding readers through your essay and indicating the direction of your thoughts.
Enhance Clarity: Transitions improve clarity by organizing ideas and helping readers understand logical progression.
Improve Flow: It ensures a seamless flow between sentences, paragraphs, and sections, preventing choppiness.
Emphasize Key Points: Transitions can be used strategically to highlight important ideas and make them more impactful.

Let's consider an example:

"The use of renewable energy sources is crucial for combating climate change. Solar power is one such renewable energy source. It harnesses the energy from the sun and converts it into electricity. Wind power is another significant renewable energy source. It utilizes wind turbines to generate electricity. Both solar and wind power have numerous environmental benefits."

In the above example, transitions like " one such source " connect the idea of solar power to renewable energy sources. " Similarly " then introduces the concept of wind power, creating a logical progression. These transitions help readers follow the flow of ideas and understand the relationships between different energy sources.

Tips to Use Transition Words in your Essay

Here are some tips to effectively use transition words in your essay:

Understand the Purpose: Familiarize yourself with the different types and functions of transition words, phrases, or sentences. Recognize how they connect ideas, provide structure, and indicate relationships between different parts of your essay.
Plan your Essay Structure: Before you start writing, outline the main sections, paragraphs, and points you want to cover. Consider where transition words can be used to improve the flow and coherence of your essay.
Use Transition Words Appropriately: Ensure that the transition word you choose accurately reflects the relationship between ideas. Don't force a transition where it doesn't fit naturally.
Vary Transition Words: Avoid repetitive or excessive use of the same transition word throughout your essay. Use a variety of transition words to maintain reader interest and enhance overall readability.
Pay Attention to Placement: Place transition words at the beginning, middle, or end of sentences, depending on the desired effect. Consider the logical flow of your ideas and choose the appropriate placement for each transition word.
Use Transitional Phrases: Instead of using single transition words, consider incorporating transitional phrases or clauses. These can provide more context and clarity, strengthening the connection between ideas.
Revise and Edit: After completing your essay, review it for the effectiveness and smoothness of transitions. Ensure that they serve their purpose in guiding the reader and enhancing the overall coherence of your writing.
Seek Feedback: Share your essay with others and ask for feedback, specifically on the use of transition words. Others' perspectives can help you identify any areas that need improvement or where transitions could be strengthened.

To sum it up! While mastering transition words may require time and practice, it is a skill well worth developing. These words are crucial for creating coherence and flow in your essays. Throughout this blog, we have explored various transition words and phrases that can greatly enhance your writing.

Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't hesitate to apply these newfound skills in your future essays. You can utilize an AI essay writer to enhance and refine your writing skills.

If you still need assistance or have further inquiries, our team at CollegeEssay.org is available to provide legit essay writing service .

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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70+ Transition words for essays with examples

Transition words for essays.

Ever stared at a blank page, your thoughts swirling like a disorganized storm? Crafting a compelling essay often hinges on smooth transitions between ideas. Fear not, fellow writer! Here’s your guide to essential transition words , those linguistic gems that bridge the gaps in your essay and create a clear, logical flow.

List of Transition words for essays

Additionally
Furthermore
In addition
In the same way
In other words
That is to say
For example
For instance
Specifically
To illustrate
In particular
Without a doubt
Essentially
In conclusion
To conclude
On the whole
Consequently
Accordingly
As a result
For this reason
Because of this
Due to this
In light of this
Considering that
Seeing that
As a matter of fact
Nonetheless
Nevertheless
Even though
In spite of
On the contrary

Transition words for essays with examples

Here are examples of sentences using each of the transition words for cause:

Additionally : “She enjoys playing the piano. Additionally, she is proficient in playing the guitar.”
Furthermore : “The research indicated a positive correlation between exercise and mental health. Furthermore, it suggested that regular physical activity reduces stress levels.”
Moreover : “The company reported an increase in sales for the third quarter. Moreover, profits also saw a significant rise.”
In addition : “He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. In addition, he is passionate about photography.”
Also : “He enjoys playing tennis. Also, he participates in swimming competitions.”
Likewise : “She volunteered at the local shelter. Likewise, her brother also dedicated his time to community service.”
Similarly : “The team implemented new strategies to improve productivity. Similarly, other departments adopted similar approaches.”
In the same way : “She excels in academics. In the same way, her siblings also achieve high grades.”
Equally : “Both candidates possess strong leadership skills. Equally, they demonstrate excellent communication abilities.”
Besides : “She enjoys reading novels. Besides, she also enjoys writing short stories.”
In other words : “The product received mixed reviews due to its functionality issues. In other words, customers experienced difficulties with its performance.”
That is to say : “She loves traveling to exotic destinations. That is to say, she prefers exploring off-the-beaten-path locations.”
Namely : “The research focused on several key areas, namely, customer satisfaction, product quality, and market trends.”
For example : “Many countries have implemented strict environmental policies. For example, Denmark has achieved significant progress in renewable energy.”
For instance : “Some popular social media platforms, for instance, Facebook and Instagram, have millions of active users.”
Specifically : “The training program focuses specifically on enhancing leadership skills and fostering teamwork.”
To illustrate : “To illustrate the concept further, let’s consider a real-life example.”
In particular : “The company aims to expand its operations globally. In particular, it plans to target emerging markets in Asia.”
In fact : “Contrary to popular belief, exercise is not only beneficial for physical health but also for mental well-being. In fact, it has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
Indeed : “The company’s efforts to promote diversity have yielded positive results. Indeed, diversity has been linked to increased innovation and creativity.”
Actually : “Contrary to what many people believe, the situation is actually quite different.”
Truly : “She was truly dedicated to her work and always gave her best effort.”
Certainly : “The results of the study certainly support the hypothesis.”
Of course : “Of course, you are welcome to join us for dinner.”
Without a doubt : “Without a doubt, she is one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever met.”
In essence : “The policy change, in essence, aims to improve customer satisfaction.”
Essentially : “The project, essentially, involves redesigning the user interface.”
In summary : “In summary, the findings suggest a need for further research in this area.”
In conclusion : “In conclusion, it is evident that climate change poses significant challenges.”
To sum up : “To sum up, the main points of the argument are as follows.”
In brief : “In brief, the report highlights key areas for improvement.”
To conclude : “To conclude, let’s consider the implications of these findings.”
Overall : “Overall, the project was a success.”
All in all : “All in all, it was a memorable experience.”
On the whole : “On the whole, the feedback has been positive.”
Therefore : “The traffic was heavy; therefore, they arrived late to the meeting.”
Thus : “The factory implemented new safety measures; thus, the number of accidents decreased.”
Hence : “The flight was canceled; hence, they had to make alternative travel arrangements.”
Consequently : “He missed the deadline; consequently, he faced disciplinary action.”
Accordingly : “The instructions were unclear; accordingly, many participants made mistakes.”
As a result : “The market demand increased; as a result, prices rose.”
For this reason : “She forgot her umbrella; for this reason, she got wet in the rain.”
Because of this : “He missed the train because of this, he couldn’t attend the meeting.”
Due to this : “Due to this unforeseen circumstance, the event had to be postponed.”
In light of this : “In light of this new information, we need to reconsider our strategy.”
Since : “Since it was raining heavily, they decided to stay indoors.”
Because : “He didn’t study for the exam because he was feeling unwell.”
For : “He received a promotion for his outstanding performance.”
As : “As the temperature dropped, people bundled up in warm clothing.”
Owing to : “Owing to his persistent efforts, he achieved success.”
Given that : “Given that she had prior experience, she was appointed as the team leader.”
Considering that : “Considering that it was his first attempt, he performed exceptionally well.”
Seeing that : “Seeing that the store was closing soon, they hurried to finish their shopping.”
In view of : “In view of the current situation, we need to take immediate action.”
As a matter of fact : “As a matter of fact, he was the first to arrive at the party.”
Regardless : “He continued with the project regardless of the challenges he faced.”
Nonetheless : “The weather was unfavorable; nonetheless, they decided to go ahead with the outdoor event.”
Nevertheless : “The plan faced criticism; nevertheless, it was implemented successfully.”
However : “She forgot her passport; however, she managed to board the flight with a temporary permit.”
Although : “Although it was raining, they decided to go for a walk.”
Though : “Though she was tired, she continued working late into the night.”
Even though : “Even though he was warned about the risks, he proceeded with the plan.”
Despite : “Despite the challenges, they remained committed to their goal.”
In spite of : “In spite of the obstacles, they persevered and succeeded.”
On the contrary : “The results were contrary to expectations; on the contrary, they were favorable.”
Conversely : “He expected to feel relieved; conversely, he felt even more anxious.”
But : “The weather was sunny, but they decided to cancel the picnic due to other commitments.”
Yet : “He had a busy schedule, yet he managed to find time for his hobbies.”
Whereas : “She preferred coffee, whereas her sister preferred tea.”

By mastering the art of transition words, you’ll transform your essay from a disjointed collection of ideas into a powerful and persuasive piece of writing. So, the next time you sit down to write, remember these transition words and watch your essay flow majestically!

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The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Transitions

What this handout is about.

In this crazy, mixed-up world of ours, transitions glue our ideas and our essays together. This handout will introduce you to some useful transitional expressions and help you employ them effectively.

The function and importance of transitions

In both academic writing and professional writing, your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely, if not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers. In other words, transitions tell readers what to do with the information you present to them. Whether single words, quick phrases, or full sentences, they function as signs that tell readers how to think about, organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what you have written.

Transitions signal relationships between ideas—relationships such as: “Another example coming up—stay alert!” or “Here’s an exception to my previous statement” or “Although this idea appears to be true, here’s the real story.” Basically, transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent argument. Transitions are not just verbal decorations that embellish your paper by making it sound or read better. They are words with particular meanings that tell the reader to think and react in a particular way to your ideas. In providing the reader with these important cues, transitions help readers understand the logic of how your ideas fit together.

Signs that you might need to work on your transitions

How can you tell whether you need to work on your transitions? Here are some possible clues:

Your instructor has written comments like “choppy,” “jumpy,” “abrupt,” “flow,” “need signposts,” or “how is this related?” on your papers.
Your readers (instructors, friends, or classmates) tell you that they had trouble following your organization or train of thought.
You tend to write the way you think—and your brain often jumps from one idea to another pretty quickly.
You wrote your paper in several discrete “chunks” and then pasted them together.
You are working on a group paper; the draft you are working on was created by pasting pieces of several people’s writing together.

Organization

Since the clarity and effectiveness of your transitions will depend greatly on how well you have organized your paper, you may want to evaluate your paper’s organization before you work on transitions. In the margins of your draft, summarize in a word or short phrase what each paragraph is about or how it fits into your analysis as a whole. This exercise should help you to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.

If after doing this exercise you find that you still have difficulty linking your ideas together in a coherent fashion, your problem may not be with transitions but with organization. For help in this area (and a more thorough explanation of the “reverse outlining” technique described in the previous paragraph), please see the Writing Center’s handout on organization .

How transitions work

The organization of your written work includes two elements: (1) the order in which you have chosen to present the different parts of your discussion or argument, and (2) the relationships you construct between these parts. Transitions cannot substitute for good organization, but they can make your organization clearer and easier to follow. Take a look at the following example:

El Pais , a Latin American country, has a new democratic government after having been a dictatorship for many years. Assume that you want to argue that El Pais is not as democratic as the conventional view would have us believe.

One way to effectively organize your argument would be to present the conventional view and then to provide the reader with your critical response to this view. So, in Paragraph A you would enumerate all the reasons that someone might consider El Pais highly democratic, while in Paragraph B you would refute these points. The transition that would establish the logical connection between these two key elements of your argument would indicate to the reader that the information in paragraph B contradicts the information in paragraph A. As a result, you might organize your argument, including the transition that links paragraph A with paragraph B, in the following manner:

Paragraph A: points that support the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.

Transition: Despite the previous arguments, there are many reasons to think that El Pais’s new government is not as democratic as typically believed.

Paragraph B: points that contradict the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.

In this case, the transition words “Despite the previous arguments,” suggest that the reader should not believe paragraph A and instead should consider the writer’s reasons for viewing El Pais’s democracy as suspect.

As the example suggests, transitions can help reinforce the underlying logic of your paper’s organization by providing the reader with essential information regarding the relationship between your ideas. In this way, transitions act as the glue that binds the components of your argument or discussion into a unified, coherent, and persuasive whole.

Types of transitions

Now that you have a general idea of how to go about developing effective transitions in your writing, let us briefly discuss the types of transitions your writing will use.

The types of transitions available to you are as diverse as the circumstances in which you need to use them. A transition can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or an entire paragraph. In each case, it functions the same way: First, the transition either directly summarizes the content of a preceding sentence, paragraph, or section or implies such a summary (by reminding the reader of what has come before). Then, it helps the reader anticipate or comprehend the new information that you wish to present.

Transitions between sections: Particularly in longer works, it may be necessary to include transitional paragraphs that summarize for the reader the information just covered and specify the relevance of this information to the discussion in the following section.
Transitions between paragraphs: If you have done a good job of arranging paragraphs so that the content of one leads logically to the next, the transition will highlight a relationship that already exists by summarizing the previous paragraph and suggesting something of the content of the paragraph that follows. A transition between paragraphs can be a word or two (however, for example, similarly), a phrase, or a sentence. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places.
Transitions within paragraphs: As with transitions between sections and paragraphs, transitions within paragraphs act as cues by helping readers to anticipate what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions tend to be single words or short phrases.

Transitional expressions

Effectively constructing each transition often depends upon your ability to identify words or phrases that will indicate for the reader the kind of logical relationships you want to convey. The table below should make it easier for you to find these words or phrases. Whenever you have trouble finding a word, phrase, or sentence to serve as an effective transition, refer to the information in the table for assistance. Look in the left column of the table for the kind of logical relationship you are trying to express. Then look in the right column of the table for examples of words or phrases that express this logical relationship.

Keep in mind that each of these words or phrases may have a slightly different meaning. Consult a dictionary or writer’s handbook if you are unsure of the exact meaning of a word or phrase.


	also, in the same way, just as … so too, likewise, similarly
	but, however, in spite of, on the one hand … on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet
	first, second, third, … next, then, finally
	after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then
	for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate
	even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
	above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there
	accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus
	additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then
	finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Common transition words and phrases.

In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Transitions Return to Writing Studio Handouts

Transitions clarify the logic of your argument by orienting your reader as you develop ideas between sentences and paragraphs. These tools should alert readers to shifts in your argument while and also maintain the smoothness and clarity of your prose. Below, you’ll find some of the most commonly used transition categories and examples of each. Depending on the example, these suggestions may be within sentences or at the beginning of sentences.

Transitions by Category

1. addition.

Use when presenting multiple ideas that flow in the same direction, under the same heading/ idea also, another, finally, first, first of all, for one thing, furthermore, in addition, last of all, likewise, moreover, next, and, second, the third reason

2. Sequence/ Order

Use to suggest a temporal relationship between ideas; places evidence in sequence first, second (etc.), next, last, finally, first of all, concurrently, immediately, prior to, then, at that time, at this point, previously, subsequently, and then, at this time, thereafter, previously, soon, before, after, followed by, after that, next, before, after, meanwhile, formerly, finally, during

3. Contrast

Use to demonstrate differences between ideas or change in argument direction but, however, in contrast, on the other hand, on the contrary, yet, differ, difference, balanced against, differing from, variation, still, on the contrary, unlike, conversely, otherwise, on the other hand, however

4. Exception

Use to introduce an opposing idea however, whereas, on the other hand, while, instead, in spite of, yet, despite, still, nevertheless, even though, in contrast, but, but one could also say…

5. Comparison

Use to demonstrate similarities between ideas that may not be under the same subject heading or within the same paragraph like, likewise, just, in a different way / sense, whereas, like, equally, in like manner, by comparison, similar to, in the same way, alike, similarity, similarly, just as, as in a similar fashion, conversely

6. Illustration

Use to develop or clarify an idea, to introduce examples, or to show that the second idea is subordinate to the first for example, to illustrate, on this occasion, this can be seen, in this case, specifically, once, to illustrate, when/where, for instance, such as, to demonstrate, take the case of, in this case

7. Location

Use to show spatial relations next to, above, below, beneath, left, right, behind, in front, on top, within

8. Cause and Effect

Use to show that one idea causes, or results from, the idea that follows or precedes it because, therefore, so that, cause, reason, effect, thus, consequently, since, as a result, if…then, result in

9. Emphasis

Use to suggest that an idea is particularly important to your argument important to note, most of all, a significant factor, a primary concern, a key feature, remember that, pay particular attention to, a central issue, the most substantial issue, the main value, a major event, the chief factor, a distinctive quality, especially valuable, the chief outcome, a vital force, especially relevant, most noteworthy, the principal item, above all, should be noted

10. Summary or Conclusion

Use to signal that what follows is summarizing or concluding the previous ideas; in humanities papers, use these phrases sparingly. to summarize, in short, in brief, in sum, in summary, to sum up, in conclusion, to conclude, finally

Some material adapted from Cal Poly Pomona College Reading Skills Program and “ Power Tools for Technical Communication .”

Writing Effective Sentence Transitions (Advanced)

Transitions are the rhetorical tools that clarify the logic of your argument by orienting your reader as you develop ideas between sentences and paragraphs. The ability to integrate sentence transitions into your prose, rather than simply throwing in overt transition signals like “in addition,” indicates your mastery of the material. (Note: The visibility of transitions may vary by discipline; consult with your professor to get a better sense of discipline or assignment specific expectations.)

Transition Signals

Transition signals are words or phrases that indicate the logic connecting sets of information or ideas. Signals like therefore, on the other hand, for example, because, then, and afterwards can be good transition tools at the sentence and paragraph level. When using these signals, be conscious of the real meaning of these terms; they should reflect the actual relationship between ideas.

Review Words

Review words are transition tools that link groups of sentences or whole paragraphs. They condense preceding discussion into a brief word or phrase. For example: You’ve just completed a detailed discussion about the greenhouse effect. To transition to the next topic, you could use review words like “this heat-trapping process” to refer back to the green house effect discussion. The relative ability to determine a cogent set of review words might signal your own understanding of your work; think of review words as super-short summaries of key ideas.

Preview words

Preview words condense an upcoming discussion into a brief word or phrase. For example: You’ve just explained how heat is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. Transitioning to the theory that humans are adding to that effect, you could use preview words like “sources of additional CO2 in the atmosphere include” to point forward to that discussion.

Transition Sentences

The strongest and most sophisticated tools, transition sentences indicate the connection between the preceding and upcoming pieces of your argument. They often contain one or more of the above transition tools. For example: You’ve just discussed how much CO2 humans have added to the atmosphere. You need to transition to a discussion of the effects. A strong set of transition sentences between the two sections might sound like this:

“These large amounts of CO2 added to the atmosphere may lead to a number of disastrous consequences for residents of planet earth. The rise in global temperature that accompanies the extra CO2 can yield effects as varied as glacial melting and species extinction.”

In the first sentence, the review words are “These large amounts of CO2 added to the atmosphere”; the preview words are “number of disastrous consequences”; the transition signals are “may lead to.” The topic sentence of the next paragraph indicates the specific “disastrous consequences” you will discuss.

If you don’t see a way to write a logical, effective transition between sentences, ideas or paragraphs, this might indicate organizational problems in your essay; you might consider revising your work.

Some material adapted from Cal Poly Pomona College Reading Skills Program and “ Power Tools for Technical Communication .”

Last revised: 07/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 05/2021

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Transition sentences | Tips & examples for clear writing

Transition Sentences | Tips & Examples for Clear Writing

Published on June 9, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Clear transitions are crucial to clear writing: They show the reader how different parts of your essay, paper, or thesis are connected. Transition sentences can be used to structure your text and link together paragraphs or sections.

… In this case, the researchers concluded that the method was unreliable.

However , evidence from a more recent study points to a different conclusion . …

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Transitioning between paragraphs, transitioning to a new section, transitions within a paragraph, other interesting articles.

When you start a new paragraph , the first sentence should clearly express:

What this paragraph will discuss
How it relates to the previous paragraph

The examples below show some examples of transition sentences between paragraphs and what they express.

Transition sentence	This paragraph…
evidence in support of is provided by Smith (2019).	… the previous one, providing more support for .
, Patel’s arguments are on the matter.	… the previous one by presenting related to the previous discussion.
the relationship between these factors, to draw conclusions about the broader process.	…treats the preceding point as on which to more general arguments.

Placement of transition sentences

The beginning of a new paragraph is generally the right place for a transition sentence. Each paragraph should focus on one topic, so avoid spending time at the end of a paragraph explaining the theme of the next one.

The first dissenter to consider is …

However, several scholars dissent from this consensus. The first one to consider is …

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While transitions between paragraphs are generally a single sentence, when you start a new section in a longer text, you may need an entire transition paragraph. Transitioning to a new section involves summarizing the content of the previous section and expressing how the new one will build upon or depart from it.

For example, the following sentences might be an effective transition for a new section in a literary analysis essay.

Having established that the subjective experience of time is one of Mann’s key concerns in The Magic Mountain , it is now possible to explore how this theme facilitates the novel’s connection with World War I. The war itself is not narrated in the book, but rather hinted at as something awaiting Castorp beyond the final pages. In this way, Mann links his protagonist’s subjective experience of time to more than just his illness; it is also used to explore the period leading up to the outbreak of war.

As in academic writing generally, aim to be as concise as you can while maintaining clarity: If you can transition to a new section clearly with a single sentence, do so, but use more when necessary.

It’s also important to use effective transitions within each paragraph you write, leading the reader through your arguments efficiently and avoiding ambiguity.

The known-new contract

The order of information within each of your sentences is important to the cohesion of your text. The known-new contract , a useful writing concept, states that a new sentence should generally begin with some reference to information from the previous sentence, and then go on to connect it to new information.

In the following example, the second sentence doesn’t follow very clearly from the first. The connection only becomes clear when we reach the end.

By reordering the information in the second sentence so that it begins with a reference to the first, we can help the reader follow our argument more smoothly.

Note that the known-new contract is just a general guideline. Not every sentence needs to be structured this way, but it’s a useful technique if you’re struggling to make your sentences cohere.

Transition words and phrases

Using appropriate transition words helps show your reader connections within and between sentences. Transition words and phrases come in four main types:

Additive transitions, which introduce new information or examples
Adversative transitions, which signal a contrast or departure from the previous text
Causal transitions, which are used to describe cause and effect
Sequential transitions, which indicate a sequence

The table below gives a few examples for each type:

Type	Example sentence	Transition words and phrases
Additive	We found that the mixture was effective. , it appeared to have additional effects we had not predicted.	furthermore, moreover, for example, in regard to x, similarly, in other words
Adversative	The novel does deal with the theme of family. , its central theme is more broadly political …	however, although, nevertheless, regardless, above all, (or) at least
Causal	Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany.	because, therefore, consequently, if, provided that, so that, to
Sequential	This has historically had several consequences: , the conflict is not given the weight of other conflicts in historical narratives. , its causes are inadequately understood. , …	first, second, third, initially, subsequently, finally, lastly, to return/returning to x, as previously mentioned, in conclusion

Grouping similar information

While transition words and phrases are essential, and every essay will contain at least some of them, it’s also important to avoid overusing them. One way to do this is by grouping similar information together so that fewer transitions are needed.

For example, the following text uses three transition words and jumps back and forth between ideas. This makes it repetitive and difficult to follow.

Rewriting it to group similar information allows us to use just one transition, making the text more concise and readable.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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33 Transition Words and Phrases

Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .

as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY

The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.

in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE

The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.

at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER

Afterward, she got a promotion.

even though : ALTHOUGH

She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.

in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made

They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.

in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE

I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.

as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY

The words are often confused and are consequently misused.

in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.

used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said

These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.

used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"

I'm planning to go even though it may rain.

in addition : MOREOVER

I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.

in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.

because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE

He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.

from this point on : starting now

She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.

in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement

I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.

as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement

The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.

all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.

for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.

in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement

She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.

at or during the same time : in the meantime

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.

BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.

in spite of that : HOWEVER

It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.

in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS

The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.

without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.

if not : or else

Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.

more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said

We can take the car, or rather, the van.

in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

I tried again and still I failed.

by that : by that means

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

for that reason : because of that

This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.

immediately after that

The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.

because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY

This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.

while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different

Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.

NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way

It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.

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Persuasive & Argumentative Papers

Getting started
Primary & secondary sources
Scholarly, trade, & popular publications
Scholarly & peer-reviewed journals
Grey literature
Brainstorming
Choosing a position
Exploring the internet
Exploring background information
Narrowing/broadening your topic
Persuasive structure
Argumentative structure
Introduction
Thesis statement
Supporting paragraphs
Transitions

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What are transitions.

Transitional words and expressions are devices that allow you to move from one idea to the next without abrupt changes.

A good essay, research paper, or report uses transitions to help the reader follow the line of thought from sentence to sentence or paragraph to paragraph. Transitional expressions make your writing more readable and structurally coherent. Use them for clarity and smooth flow of thought.

Transitional words and phrases

Compare/Agreement
Contrast/Opposition
Cause/Condition
Examples/Support
Effect/Consequence
Summarize/Conclusion
Time/Sequence
Space/Location

Qualification

Compare or Agreement

additionally	again	also
as well as	besides	by the same token
coupled with	equally	equally important
even more	finally	first, second, third, etc.
further	furthermore	identically
in addition	in like manner	in similar fashion
in the same way	last, lastly	like
likewise	moreover	not only ... but also
not to mention	of course	second, secondly, etc.
similarly	together with	uniquely

Contrast or Opposition

(and) still	(and) yet	above all
after all	albeit	although
although this/it may be true	and yet	as much as
at the same time	besides	but
conversely	despite	different from
even so	even though	however
in contrast	in spite of	instead
nevertheless	nonetheless	notwithstanding
of course ..., but	on the contrary	on the other hand
otherwise	rather	regardless
then again	though	unlike
whereas	while	yet

Cause or Condition

... then	as	as long as
because	because of	due to
for that reason	given that	granted
in order to	in the event that	in view of
inasmuch as	on the condition that	on account of
only / even if	provided that	seeing that
since	unless	when
whenever	while	with this in mind
with this intention

Examples and Support

as an illustration	certainly	chiefly
e.g., (for example)	especially	for example
for instance	for this reason	frequently
i.e., (that is)	important to realize	in fact
in general	in other words	in particular
in this case	including	indeed
like	markedly	most compelling evidence
namely	notably	particularly
significantly	specifically	such as
surely	surprisingly	that is to say
to be sure	to clarify	to demonstrate
to emphasize	to enumerate	to explain
to explain	to illustrate	to point out
to put it another way	to put it differently	to repeat
to rephrase it	truly	with attention to
with this in mind

Effect or Consequence

accordingly	as a result	because the
consequently	for this reason	in effect
in that case	then	therefore
thus	under those circumstances

after all	all things considered	altogether
as can be seen	as has been noted	as shown above
by and large	for the most part	given these points
in any event	in brief	in conclusion
in either case	in essence	in fact
in short	in sum	in summary
in the final analysis	in the long run	obviously
on balance	on the whole	overall
to conclude	to summarize	ultimately

Time or Sequence

about	after	afterwards
always	as long as	as soon as
at length	at the present time	at the same time
at this instant	before	by the time
during	earlier	eventually
finally	first, second, third, etc.	following
formerly	from time to time	further
hence	henceforth	immediately
in due time	in the meantime	in time
instantly	last	later
meanwhile	never	next
now	now that	occasionally
once	presently	prior to
quickly	shortly	simultaneously
since	so far	sometimes
soon	straightaway	subsequently
suddenly	then	this time
till	to begin with	until
until now	up to the present time	when
whenever	while	without delay

Space or Location

above	across	adjacent to
alongside	amid	among
around	before	behind
below	beneath	beside
between	beyond	down
from	further	here
in the background	in the distance	near
nearby	next	on this side
opposite to	over	there
under	up	where
wherever

for this purpose	in order that
so that	to this end

almost	although	always
frequently	maybe	nearly
never	perhaps	probably

as a matter of fact	by all means	certainly
even	in fact	indeed
no	of course	surely
to repeat	truly	undoubtedly
without doubt	yes

although it is true that	granted that	I admit that
it may appear that	naturally	of course

To signal an addition

also	and	besides
furthermore	in addition	likewise
moreover

as a general rule	for the most part	in general
on the whole	typically	usually

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Last Updated: Jun 28, 2024 9:50 AM
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Transitional Words for Essays

Table of contents, introduction, understanding transitional words, the etymology and meaning of transitional words, categories of transitional words, transition words and phrases between sections.

These transitions often signal shifts in the topic or introduce new sections, helping readers understand the structure of your essay or paper.

Examples of Transitional Words Between Sections

Introducing a new section:, summarizing a previous section:, highlighting a shift in focus:, introducing detailed analysis:, presenting a related topic:, how to use transition words between sections.

“Renewable energy sources are vital for reducing environmental impact. While solar power harnesses sunlight to generate electricity, wind power uses wind turbines for energy. Both methods offer substantial environmental benefits.”

“Renewable energy sources are vital for reducing environmental impact. Solar power harnesses sunlight to generate electricity. Wind power uses wind turbines for energy. Both methods offer substantial environmental benefits. In the following section, we will discuss the economic advantages of renewable energy.“

Transition Words Between Paragraphs

Why it is crucial to use transition words between paragraphs in an essay.

These words and phrases create coherence, making your writing more engaging and easier to follow. Transition words between paragraphs help maintain a smooth flow from one paragraph to the next. They often summarize the previous idea and introduce the next one, guiding the reader through the broader structure of the essay.

Example Paragraph with Transition Words

Number	Paragraph
	The rise of renewable energy sources has significantly impacted global energy markets. Countries are increasingly investing in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power to reduce their carbon footprints and dependence on fossil fuels. This shift towards cleaner energy is not only beneficial for the environment but also creates economic opportunities.
	, the adoption of renewable energy technologies has led to job creation in various sectors. The renewable energy industry requires a skilled workforce for the installation, maintenance, and operation of solar panels, wind turbines, and other infrastructure. This demand for skilled labor has opened up new employment opportunities, contributing to economic growth and development.
	, reliance on fossil fuels continues to pose significant environmental and health risks. The burning of coal, oil, and natural gas releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and air quality issues. Communities living near fossil fuel extraction sites often experience higher rates of health problems, including respiratory illnesses and cancer.
	, there is a growing movement towards implementing stricter environmental regulations and investing in green technologies. Governments and organizations worldwide are recognizing the need to transition away from fossil fuels to protect both the environment and public health. These initiatives are driving innovation and encouraging the development of cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions.

Analysis of the Example

Examples of transition words between paragraphs, transition words within paragraphs, importance of transitions within paragraphs, common transition words within paragraphs, examples and tips, tips for using transition words within paragraphs, how to use transitional words for essays.

Down and Dirty Tips: Persuasion Essay: Adding Transitions

Getting Started
Adding Transitions

Persuasion Transitions

Transitional expressions can help tie ideas together and show relationships. They also reveal organization patterns to help your reader follow along.

Try out a few in your paper. Be sure that any transition you use makes logical sense.

first, second, third, next, in addition, moreover, furthermore, besides, as well

for example, for instance, as an illustration, to illustrate, as a case in point, in particular, in general, specifically

perhaps, probably, for the most part, many if not all

granted, certainly, of course, no doubt, surely, naturally, although this may be true

above all, in fact, especially, most importantly, equally important, primarily, mainly, most significant

overall, all in all, finally, in brief, on the whole, in summary, in other words, in conclusion

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Transition Words for Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays are those in which you must convince a reader that your position on an issue is the correct one. Thus, you may want to convince an audience that animal testing is immoral or that genetically modified foods are harmful. Perhaps you want to convince someone that the proposed Canadian pipeline or fracking poses dangers to our environment; maybe you believe that there is too much money spent on political campaigns. Whatever your topic and whatever your position, you must organize an essay that flows logically from one point to the next.

Good Transitions to Improve Logical Flow

You may have done great research and you may have great arguments in favor of our position. If they are not presented well, though, your essay will fall flat and your reader will not be convinced.

Part of a good presentation means than you understand how to use transition words for persuasive essays. So, let’s first look at what a transition is and then take a look at good transition words and phrases for essays .

Definition of Transitions: These are words or phrases that connect one thought or idea to the next. They can be used to connect thoughts in two sentences or to move the reader on to the next paragraph in a logical way. They can be single words, phrases, or complete sentences. Typical examples might include the following:

Words: Clearly, Definitely, Obviously, Furthermore, However, Notwithstanding, First (Second, etc.)
Phrases: Without question, What is more, In reality, In fact, Yet another, For example (instance), In other words, According to,
Sentences: These usually occur at the end of a paragraph as you are trying to move your reader into the point that will be covered in the next paragraph. For example, if you are writing a persuasive essay about money in politics, and you have just completed a paragraph on the Supreme Court “Citizens United” decision, you might end that paragraph with something like, “This decision has impacted campaign and elections in many ways.” Now, your reader is prepared for what is to come next – the ways in which that decision has affected campaigns/elections.

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Now, your next paragraph in such an essay will speak to one impact that the decision has had – perhaps the establishment of PAC’s into which donors can throw a much money as they wish. At the end of that paragraph, you will want to transition into the next point you will be making, so your transition sentence might read something like, “And once a campaign has been successful because of all of the donated money, the elected official will have certain obligations to those who have provided that campaign funding.” This sentence contains great a lead in to the next paragraph which will discuss how an elected official is then obligate to vote and make decisions based upon the desires of those who provided the funding.

Whether you are using persuasive essay transition words between sentences or entire phrases or sentences between paragraphs, your transitions connect your arguments and allow the reader to see where you are going next. If you don’t use these transitions, the reader cannot follow your argument!

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Primary Uses for Transition Words and Phrases of Essays that Attempt to Persuade

You have to think about the flow of your essay and what you are trying to do with your use of transitional words, phrases and sentences. Basically, the purposes of your transitions are any one of the following:

Adding to a Point You Have Made: You will use such words/phrases as: Furthermore, What is more, In addition to, Likewise, Moreover
Providing Examples: Use such phrases as, for instance, for example, in other words
Providing Lists: Use any of the following: First, second, third (etc.), yet another, the following.
Same Point Stated in a Different Way: Good phrases include, in other words, with this in mind, another way to look at this, etc.

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Transitions Can Be Tricky

You know that you need to use transitional words correctly, especially when you are trying to make points that will persuade someone to accept your point of view. Without them, your essay loses clarity and logic. If you are having trouble with transitions, you can get great help at GrabMyEssay, just ask us “ write an essay for me .” These pros can either write your persuasive essay in its entirety or provide a review and edit, adding the words, phrases, and/or sentences that should be included in order to achieve your persuasive purose.

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I’m Andy Preisler, and I’m super happy to be joining the blog team at GrabMyEssay.com!

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With my perpetual studies (my parents wonder if it will ever stop), I have become a bit of an expert on college life – academic, social, and financial – and love sharing my experiences and my methods of “circumventing the system” with others. I will be sharing all of these great tips and strategies with my readers, so stay tuned!

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A List of Transition Words to Use for Argumentative Essays

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Writing an argumentative essay requires a lot of effort aside from research. Besides grammar and structure, you definitely need to make sure your essay is coherent by using transitions.

Argumentative essay transition words allow you to wrap up a piece of evidence to support your main point and then move on to another. Keep reading for tips and an exhaustive list of transition words I put together for your argumentative essays.

What Is a Transition Word?

A transition word is critical to producing quality content. Also known as linking words, transition words make basic connections between sentences and paragraphs to show a relationship between ideas.

A strong transition is crucial when writing an essay. It’s not enough that you provide complete information about your main points and supporting details. You also have to make your argument attractive and logical by using transitions in your academic essay.

The absence of transition words will make your paper less readable and understandable. But too many transitions can also ruin your piece. Use them in moderation to avoid confusion about your document.

Function and Importance of Transitions

The goal of transition words is to convey ideas clearly and concisely to your readers. If you’re writing an argumentative paper, you want to make logical connections in your document to prove your central point.

Transitional phrases and words help you produce a logical flow from one sentence or paragraph to another. In other words, they introduce what the following information will be. Some transitions come in single words, while others come in complete phrases and sentences.

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There are many categories of transitions, including those that present counterarguments and others that build on your arguments. Be careful about using the wrong transition. Otherwise, you won’t achieve your goal of clarity and conciseness. Consider these examples.

“ For instance , an anonymous TikTok user reports having a shorter attention span because of its over-swiping feature.” (In this sentence, for instance is used to provide an example).
“ Here’s an exception to my previous point. ” (This entire sentence is a transition, showing a logical connection between the previous and following sentences).

Transition can also be a sentence to a paragraph long. I’ll show you an example.

Paragraph A: A point that supports co-sleeping as a parenting method.

Transition: Despite this, there are many reasons that prove co-sleeping leads to sleep-related accidents.

Paragraph B: Points that oppose co-sleeping.

Types of Transition Words

There are several types of transitions you can use for making high-quality essays.

Transition Between Paragraphs

A type of transition required for a well-written essay is one you can find between paragraphs. Once you’ve arranged each paragraph according to your outline, it’s important to start each with an effective transition. This word or phrase is usually present in the topic sentence of the body.

Some examples include however, similarly, and for example. But these transition expressions cannot be a single sentence long. The initial sentence of every paragraph should be clear and substantial instead of simply connecting ideas.

Transition Within Paragraphs

Creating a powerful transition within every paragraph of your academic papers avoids choppy sentences. It provides a sense of connection between complex ideas to help readers anticipate what is coming.

These are usually single words or short phrases like in addition, since, and if.

Transition Between Sections

The last type of transition phrases and sentences are those between sections. You’ll find them all over the entire paper to summarize the information. They can be restatements of arguments or a short closing sentence to ensure the flow of ideas.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

It’s a type of essay that requires you to research a subject matter and establish a position for or against it.

Aside from researching and evaluating evidence, showing a relationship between sentences and sections is essential when writing a paper. This will allow you to wrap up an idea and then start another. You must cite different sources to support your point of view, then show counterarguments.

The entire essay should include an introduction, a conclusion, and at least three body paragraphs.

How Do You Start an Argumentative Essay?

Every type of paper starts with an introduction, which usually includes a hook, background, and thesis statement.

The common essay introduction piques the reader’s interest through a surprising statistic or an interesting question. Provide readers with a background of your entire content piece, then state your main argument in a clear sentence.

Transition expressions are not yet essential in this stage of essay writing. Focus on setting up your point and discussing how you will argue it throughout the paper.

Common Transitions for Argumentative Essay Writing

Take a look at this list of transitional words and phrases commonly used to make strong arguments.

Additionally
In addition
Not only… but also
In the same way
Comparatively
Furthermore
Equally important

Counterargument Transition Words

Here’s a transition word list for essays showing different sides of an argument.

While it is true that
Nevertheless
Despite this
On the other hand
Be that as it may
Even though
Although this may be true

Transition Words and Phrases for Comparing and Contrasting

Here’s a breakdown of transition words and phrases you can use when comparing and contrasting.

In spite of
On the contrary
Different from
In contrast

Transition Words to Include in Your College Essay

Here are some examples of transition words you can use when applying for college admission or scholarship.

To put it in another way
To demonstrate
As an illustration
By all means
In other words

Transition Words for Cause and Effect

Consider this transition word list when showing cause and effect.

As a result
For this reason
Consequently
Accordingly
Under those circumstances
Because the

Transition Words for Essay Paragraphs

At the present time
In due time
To begin with
All of a sudden
Immediately
In a moment

Transitions to Emphasize a Point

Most of all
The main problem/issue is
Without question
More importantly
Most important of all

Transition Words for Additional Support or Evidence

Transition words for sequence or order, transition words for space or place.

In the middle of
In the distance
In the background
Here and there
On the side

To Cite a Source or Paraphrase

According to
This means that
Put it more simply

Transition Words to Begin a Body Paragraph

What is more
Beyond that

Transition Words to Introduce Details

For example
As an example
For instance
A case in point
Specifically
In particular
More specifically

Transition Words for Conclusion

As can be seen
By and large
On the whole
To summarize
In the final analysis
Generally speaking

More Transition Words

With this intention
In order to
In the hope that
With this in mind
For the purpose of
Provided that

Tips for Using Argumentative Essay Transitions

Follow these tips to improve your use of transitions in your essay.

Know What the Transitions Mean

Non-native speakers may need help knowing the meaning of every transition expression, so research every term before using it.

There are also many categories of transition words. You can use them to summarize points, show contradictions, express sequence, or begin a paragraph.

Start Your Essay with an Outline

Writing an outline will make it easier to map your ideas and move them around. This strategy will help you transition between paragraphs.

Don’t Overuse Transitions

The last mistake you shouldn’t make is overuse. Instead of making connections between sentences, you’ll make your paper more difficult to read. It creates more incoherence and distraction in your writing, contradicting its intended purpose in your paper.

Use Transition Words Properly

Now you know how to use transition words and phrases for your argumentative essay through this guide and list. These expressions will help you produce a coherent relationship between every idea.

Mastering transitions for your essay may not be a piece of cake, but practice makes perfect. Don’t forget to revise and proofread your argumentative before submitting it to your professor.

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45 Best Transition Words and Phrases For Essays

But how to make sure that everything ties together, and that you present your arguments in a logical, smooth manner? It’s simple. You do it by using transition words and phrases, which can turn your scattered thoughts into a well-organized, and neatly looking piece of prose. “Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.” – Tom Stoppard It is common knowledge that the ability to write a great essay is tremendously helpful to those who are pursuing higher education. So, it wouldn’t hurt to add all the weapons you can find to your essay-writing arsenal, like these transition words.

What are transition words?

Here are the main rules for the usage of transitional words:, using transitional words in essays.

Your regular essay will comprise five paragraphs – an introduction, three paragraphs to present your points, and a conclusion. Your job is to make the prose consistent, and that’s why you need words and phrases to create links between the ideas. The words and phrases below are mostly used in persuasive (argumentative) essays where you need to convince the readers of your opinion confidently. But in fact, they’re useful in almost any type of writing (such as expository essays ) simply to keep the structure intact. If you use them well, they can emphasize contrast, highlight a similarity, and solidify your conclusion. Transition, a formal definition: the process of changing from one situation, form, or state to another.

Transition words are used at the beginning of each new paragraph. For Example:

They can also be used when you present a new point in the same paragraph. for example:, there’s a multitude of transition words that will contribute to a sleeker essay.

Many students make the mistake of repeating the same words repeatedly. This causes them to lose impact and meaning. Among grammarians, this phenomenon is called grammar saturation. The important thing to know is that there are several categories to transition words depending on the type of impact you’d like to create in your writing . Often, there are several words suitable for one transition. Just remember that they don’t always mean the same and you might need some practice to recognize the subtle differences between them. To avoid this, look up synonyms and never use the same transition word more than once in a single piece of prose (especially in the same paragraph). If you need a more in-depth course on this topic, you may read A Writer’s Guide To Transitional Words and Expressions.

Here’s a list of the best transition words that’ll come to your rescue:

When you want to indicate similarity or addition:, examples of use:, when you want to indicate dissimilarity, contrast, or contradiction:, when you want to indicate similarity:, when you want to indicate cause, effect, purpose, consequence, or result:, when you want to emphasize something:, when you want to indicate the time or sequence of events:, when you want to indicate spatial order or reference:, how do these words relate to the format of your essay, introductory transitions.

These come in handy when you craft your first supporting paragraph (the one after the introductory one). Here you usually start building on your thesis and start giving arguments in its favor.

Words to use in an introductory paragraph:

Connecting the second paragraph to the third:, connecting the third paragraph to the fourth:, connecting the body to the conclusion:.

Pro tip: Words like ‘for’, ‘and’, ‘nor’, ‘but’, ‘or’, ‘yet’, and ‘since’ shouldn’t be used at the beginning of a sentence if you’re writing a formal essay. “The best part of your story is when it changes.” – Bella Bloom Bonus material – a printable PDF chart with link words (always keep it beside you): A complete list of transition words and conjunctions.

Now it’s your turn to use these transition words

Starting an essay is always challenging, even for advanced writers. Hopefully, by reading this article, I made your task easier by adding a valuable tool to your writer’s toolbox. Just remember to use these phrases originally, and without repetition. The last thing you want to do is to sound mechanical as if you’re writing from a template. Next up, you may want to check a list of amazing short pretty words in English .

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English transition words 101: Everything you need to know

Definition and purpose of transition words

Additive transition words, causal transition words, sequential transition words, comparative transition words, illustrative transition words, emphatic/repetitive transition words, conclusive transition words, improve flow and readability, enhance the logical structure of paragraphs and essays, keep the reader engaged, academic writing, creative writing and storytelling, persuasive and argumentative essays, consider the context and tone, avoid overuse and redundancy, make the most of them in fiction writing, additive transitions, causal transitions, sequential transitions, comparative transitions, illustrative transitions.

Welcome to the exciting world of transition words! If you’ve ever felt your writing could use some extra magic to connect your ideas seamlessly, it’s transition words you’ve been looking for.

As their name suggests, transition words are words or phrases that help you transition smoothly from one thought to another while speaking or writing . Using them improves flow and makes it easier for people to understand your ideas and how your thoughts are connected.

In this article, we’ll dive into the definition and purpose of transition words, what the different types are, and how they benefit your writing. We’ll also look at which ones to use depending on the writing style. By the end, you’ll have a range of tips on how to use transition words effectively as well as a treasure trove of examples.

So, let’s get started!

One of the most important goals of a piece of writing is to present information so that it’s easy to understand. This is where transition words – also known as conjunctive adverbs – come in. According to Merriam-Webster , transition words “give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous idea to the next one.” In other words, they bridge the gaps between your thoughts and arguments .

Their purpose? To make your writing feel like a coherent conversation rather than a disjointed monologue. They do this by guiding readers through the twists and turns of your thoughts, creating a clear and engaging path that’s easy to follow and comprehend.

Transition words and phrases can be used in a variety of ways including:

Threading similar thoughts and ideas together
Moving from one topic to another
Emphasizing the importance of a particular point
Connecting opposing arguments or ideas

There are also many different types of transition words, and we’ll look at these next.

Types of transition words and what they do

Think of transition words as connectors that help you link your ideas together. But different ideas require different connectors. Knowing which type to use can make all the difference when it comes to presenting your ideas clearly and logically.

Here are some of these types:

Additive transition words are the most common type. They are used to give additional information about your previous idea or to emphasize a point .

“Furthermore,” “just like,” “in a similar way,” “not to mention,” “with this in mind,” and “in relation to” are all examples of additive transition words.

Example sentences:

I love hiking. Furthermore , I adore exploring hidden trails that lead to breathtaking vistas.
You missed the offer because you didn’t come early. Not to mention , you don’t have the experience needed to qualify.

Causal transition words are best for when you want to show the link between a cause and the resulting effect . You can use words like “because” and “therefore” to help you explain how one thing leads to another.

Other commonly used examples include “as a result,” “in order to,” “accordingly,” “thus,” “hence,” “on account,” and “consequently.”

I’m tired. Therefore , I won’t be working tonight.
In order to win this competition, you must practice hard.

Sequential transition words are useful when outlining a step-by-step process or a sequence of events . They help readers understand the time, order, and sequence of your ideas.

Some good examples include “then,” “first,” “in addition,” “subsequently,” “afterward,” “to begin with,” “second,” and “before.”

Example sentence:

First , we’ll gather the ingredients. Next , we’ll mix them. Finally , we’ll bake the most delicious cookies the world has ever seen!

These transition words help you compare two ideas or concepts based on their similarities or differences . For instance, “similarly” is best used when highlighting things in common, while “on the other hand” helps to show differences.

Some other examples are “after all,” “despite,” “on the contrary,” and “at the same time.”

She passed all her exams. Similarly , her brother achieved excellent grades.
Dogs are very friendly. Cats, on the other hand , can be aloof.

Illustrative transition words come to the rescue when you want to give examples to support or illustrate your point . They are used to connect a general idea to a particular instance of the idea. “For example” and “for instance” are great transition words you can use in your writing.

Other examples are “to illustrate,” “to demonstrate,” and “that is.”

I enjoy nature a lot. For example , I could sit under a tree and watch birds fly all day.
My boss is physically active. For instance , he walks to the office most days, and I see him running in the park on weekends.

Sometimes, you want to add a touch of emphasis to your writing to ensure your point sticks. Words like “indeed,” “undoubtedly,” and “absolutely” can help you make a strong statement or highlight your confidence in your idea.

Other commonly used emphatic transition words are “again,” “as I said earlier,” “without a doubt,” “as I have noted,” and “I repeat.”

Transition words are gems to improve your writing. As I said earlier , they make your writing clearer.
Working from home is, without a doubt , a great way to maintain a better work-life balance.

These words are useful when wrapping up a topic or drawing a conclusion , especially when you’re finishing a piece of writing. Transition words like “in conclusion,” “to sum up,” and “ultimately” signal that you’re reaching the end of a thought.

Other examples of conclusive transition words are “finally” and “lastly.”

In conclusion , transition words are essential for smooth and clear communication in English.
To sum up , you should use transition words in essays to improve your writing.

These are just a few of the transition words you can use in English, but we’ve included even more examples later in this article. Before we get to them, let’s look at some of the ways transition words can help your writing.

Benefits of using transition words

There are many benefits of using transition words and phrases. These words can:

Transition words help to improve the readability and flow of your writing by guiding your readers from one point or idea to the next. They create a clear path from the start of the piece to the end, signposting important stops along the way.

Transition words work to glue your thoughts together. When used correctly in essays and academic writing, they make your argument or narrative easy to follow. Readers will be able to track your thoughts and get a complete sense of your ideas or opinions.

Tip: It’s best to use transition words at the beginning of each paragraph in an essay to establish clear links throughout the text.

Without transition words in English, readers can get bored or confused by your content or writing. A well-placed transition word sparks curiosity and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Transition words and different writing styles

By matching transition words to your writing style, you can enhance your communication in unique ways. This will allow you to make more of an impact. To help you do this, we’ll next explore different writing styles and which transition words are most effective for each.

In academic writing, transition words are a valuable tool to guide readers through complex theories, support evidence, and create logical arguments. “Moreover” and “furthermore” are commonly used to build upon existing points, while “conversely” and “nonetheless” help to navigate opposing viewpoints.

Using transition words in your term papers and theses can help you argue with finesse, prove a point, convey your idea, and make connections between different evidence points.

Stories and creative writing are full of actions and thoughts. But how do you switch from one scene, activity, or twist to another in an engaging way? The answer is by using transition words! They are the storyteller’s secret weapon, helping to keep readers on track with what’s going on. They ensure your narrative flows effortlessly and captivates readers through every twist and turn.

Transition words like “suddenly,” “meanwhile,” and “eventually” breathe life into your storytelling, keeping the reader spellbound from beginning to end.

Persuasive and argumentative essays often highlight well-thought-out evidence points in separate paragraphs to support an argument. To be effective, your essay should connect these paragraphs together using transition words that indicate when a new point is being discussed or when you are dissecting opposing arguments.

To strengthen your assertions, you can use “indeed,” “undoubtedly,” and “certainly.” “In contrast” and “however” will reveal the cracks in opposing arguments, leaving your readers convinced of your opinion.

Tips for effectively using transition words

When it comes to transition words in English, a little goes a long way. Here are some tips to wield them like a pro:

Choose transition words that match the tone of your writing. In formal pieces, lean toward words like “moreover” and “in addition.” In informal or creative pieces, “meanwhile” and “suddenly” fit better.

Transition words make your text or speech clearer, but overusing them will defeat their purpose. Like salt in a dish, too much can ruin the flavor. Don’t overload your writing with transition words. Learn to sprinkle them in strategically without overwhelming readers.

Transition words are essential in fiction to seamlessly move from one description or character’s point of view to another. They aid the smooth flow between paragraphs, scenes, actions, ideas, dialogues, time, and characters.

More examples of transition words

Earlier in this article, we shared a few different transition words you can use in your writing. But those were just the tip of the iceberg! Below, we’ve listed some of the most commonly used types of transition words and more examples of each.

1. Adding information

Use these words and phrases when you want to introduce extra information:

Furthermore	Additionally	In addition to
Moreover	Another key point	Also
By the same token	Just like	With this in mind
In the same fashion	Just as	In like manner
Indeed	Too	In the first place

2. Presenting alternatives

When exploring options, these examples guide your readers through the different choices available:

Alternatively	Instead	Not to mention
On the other hand	Rather	At the same time
This may be true	Then again	Although
Above all	In reality	Otherwise

1. Expressing cause and effect

Unlock the power of causality with these words, revealing how one action leads to a reaction:

As a result	Thus	For that reason
Consequently	Therefore	Because
Hence	On account of	Accordingly
Under these circumstances	As	Thereby
Due to	Subsequently	In which case
Granting that	On the condition	In the event that

2. Demonstrating purpose

These words and phrases help you show why actions are taken:

So that	In order to	For the purpose of
Granted that	Provided that	With this purpose
Owing to	Seeing that

1. Indicating time and sequence

These words are your timekeepers, ensuring your readers never get lost:

First, second, third, etc.	Subsequently	Finally
To begin with	Next	Before
Last but not least	Meanwhile	Initially
By the way	To resume	Anyhow
Finally	In short	Incidentally
To change the topic	In sum

2. Enumerating points

Want to present a series of points? These sequential transition words make sure each one gets its moment in the spotlight:

First and foremost	First, second, third, etc.	Lastly
Moreover	Further	In addition

1. Showing similarities and differences

Whether it’s agreement or contradiction, these words and phrases help you convey your ideas succinctly:

Similarly	In a similar fashion	Likewise
In like manner	In the same way	Nonetheless
On the contrary	In contrast	On the other hand
Notwithstanding	At the same time	Conversely
Regardless	While	Whereas
But	Although	Either way

2. Drawing comparisons

When making parallels, these examples help you draw comparisons between two elements:

In comparison to	Differing from	Unlike
Compared to	Similar to	In contrast to
Vis-à-vis	Yet	Nevertheless

1. Providing examples and illustrations

Ready to prove your point or support an argument? These illustrative transitions help to back up your claims:

For instance	To illustrate	As an example
Namely	According to	Including
For example	Such as	To demonstrate

2. Elaborating on points

If you’ve made a complicated point, these words and phrases signal that you want to put the idea in simpler terms or dive deeper into the topic:

In other words	In this case	Put another way
To put it differently	That is to say	To rephrase
Namely	To explain	To clarify

There you have it – a transition words 101! These important tools play an essential role in clear English communication. There are different types of transition words, and it’s essential to use them strategically to keep your readers engaged. By matching them with your writing style, they can effectively connect sentences and ideas to make text flow seamlessly.

So, embrace the power of transition words, sprinkle them in your texts, and let your writing shine! With practice, you’ll soon be using them effortlessly to turn a collection of separate ideas into a clear and coherent whole.

To further enhance your use of transition words in English, why not consider joining the vibrant community of learners at Preply? Preply has thousands of online English tutors who can guide you in becoming a better English speaker and writer. Some of the perks of Preply are personalized lessons, flexibility, budget-friendly classes, and the opportunity to learn from native speakers!

Take a class on Preply today to give your English a boost.

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Adam is a content marketing specialist with a passion for language. He's originally from Birmingham, England but now lives in Barcelona. He is currently learning Spanish on Preply with his tutor, Jordi.

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Using Persuasive Essay Transition Words to Craft a Perfect Piece

In academic writing and persuasive essays, transition words are used extensively. These transition words connect not only two paragraphs but two different concepts as well. Students must learn how to use persuasive essay transition words to make a perfect essay writing .

Table of Contents

What are Transition Words Anyways?

In the ultimate guide of persuasive essay , the main emphasis of the debate is to provide supporting information and connect them with each other. The task of connecting two paragraphs, two concepts, or two arguments is done with the help of transition words. You often read words like ‘next’, ‘accordingly’, ‘therefore’, and more in an article or an essay. Most of the time, they are used at the beginning of a new sentence which tells that they are being used to connect this sentence with the previous one.

Hence the reader’s concentration is not compromised. For your understanding, these are essential transition words you can use in your persuasive essay. These include “and,” “but,” and “but also,” as well as therefore, however, and more.

Persuasive Essay Transition Words That You Must Use

The point of a persuasive essay is to persuade a reader to your point of view. To do this effectively, you need to transition from one topic to another elegantly and logically. Transition words are those words that help move from one idea to the next. Transition words have their particular place of usage and you need to determine where to put them according to your persuasive essay outline that defines a path for content delivery. Let’s look at common transition words and how they are used in essays.

Here’s how you can use sum up in the persuasive essay. To sum up, the conclusion is different from the summary. Summarizing does not mean repeating what you have already said in your essay but rather summarizing it by stating the main points and how they relate to each other to make sense of your ideas.

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Summarizing the main points of your essay is a great way to end it. This can be done in several ways:

Use a transition at the end of each paragraph, such as “In summary…” or “Finally….”

Use a transition at the end of each section, such as “In conclusion…” or “And so on….”

Use a transition at the end of your entire essay (such as “Conclusion”)

As has been said

As has been said, the above statement is a quote from an author.

In this transition, you can use the exact words in a typical sentence: “As has been said” or “As has been written.” You can also add other things like “according to” or “in accordance with.”

The better way to understand how you can use ‘therefore’ is with an example like this. Suppose you are writing a persuasive essay on why bacterias are not the main reason for tooth decay. This is how you will use this transition word along with ‘however.’

‘Therefore, as you can see, I have no intention of advocating such a policy. But what about my response to your assertion that “bacteria cause tooth decay”? Well, I will say this: bacteria indeed cause tooth decay; however, the fact that they do so does not mean we should do anything about it.

Consequently

Consequently means “as a result.” As in, “Consequently, if you don’t do this, then I’ll be angry with you.” This can be used to connect two ideas. Mostly used in a cause and effect relationship essay. For example:

Suppose you are trying to say that if your audience is bored during the presentation, you will walk out of there.

Consequently, if my audience is bored during my presentation, I will walk out of there.

‘Thus’ is a good transition word to use if you want to introduce a conclusion. It’s also helpful if you are writing about a cause-and-effect relationship, as it can help readers focus on the main point of your essay. However, this word should never be used as part of an introduction because it can feel like an attempt at persuasion rather than simply stating what happened in your story.

In conclusion

In conclusion, you should reiterate the main idea of the essay. Writers need to make sure that the end conclusion is achieving the primary purpose of a persuasive essay .

Suppose you are writing a persuasive essay on education as an essential factor for economic growth. Here’s how you will use this transition word. Education helps individuals attain higher levels of knowledge and develops their talents and skills. In conclusion, it is essential for people who want careers in these fields to finish high school or college at least.

To conclude

The final sentence of a persuasive essay should be the strongest, most powerful one. It should be short but also powerful and convincing. It could be a summary statement summarizing all the information you’ve presented in your argumentative essay (or maybe just one part). Or it could be a conclusion that ties everything together: This is how you can use the transition word here. “To conclude, I think this is what we can learn from this conversation about love and friendship.”

For this reason

This transition tells what has made you act in such a way. Or what has made you decide this? For example, you can say. For this reason, the best way to move forward is through education.

It is used when the writer wants to conclude a paragraph or an essay.

This is how it is used:

Finally, I would like to conclude by stating that the main points of my essay are:

Persuasive writing is an art form.

It requires skill and creativity to be done correctly.

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This blog uncovers some of the best examples to use as persuasive essay transition words. Students need to learn and use them to enhance the writing effects of their persuasive essays. By doing this, they have a good chance of taking top grades. Students can also use an affordable college paper writing service to awestruck their professors with their creative skills.

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Transition Words: Examples In Sentences, Paragraphs & Essays

DESCRIPTION transition words in a sentence
SOURCE cake/ice cream: hollymolly / iStock / Getty Images Plus , girl: Qvasimodo / iStock / Getty Images Plus
PERMISSION Used under Getty Images license

Transitional words and phrases help make a piece of writing flow better and connect one idea to the next. Because there's more than one way to connect ideas, there are many types of transitional phrases to show a variety of relationships. View several transition words and examples of phrases used in sentences, paragraphs and essays.

What Are Transitional Words and Phrases?

So, what are transition words? Well, transition words work to connect thoughts, sentences and paragraphs together. Transition words are important within a sentence or paragraph because they allow your arguments to flow seamlessly from one sentence or thought to another. When introducing transition words , the most basic transition words are conjunctions that join words, phrases or clauses together. For example, words like and , but and or can connect two sentences together.

I ran home, and I got there just in time. ( and is a transition word that connects the two occurrences equally)
I ran home, but I was still late. ( but introduces a contrast)
I could run home, or I could stay at school and work. ( or presents two different options)

As you can see in the examples above, even simple conjunctions serve different purposes. Knowing the different categories of transition words , which you'll see below, will help you choose the ones that best get your point across.

Other transition words are adverbs that describe the way an action is performed or how it relates to another idea.

I went to the mall after he gave me my paycheck.
Bowling is a sport in which the player with the highest score wins. Conversely, the goal in golf is to get the lowest score.
First, we are going fishing. Then , we will get ready for dinner.

Paragraph Example With Transition Words

Simple transition words don’t just work on a singular sentence level. They can work to bring together an entire paragraph. Read through the paragraph without transition words. Then, look at the same paragraph with transition words added. Do you see how the example without transition words is choppy and abrupt? Transition words help your thoughts flow from one idea to the next and connect sentences for conciseness.

:

Drawing is all about taking the time to master each step. Mastering the art of drawing doesn’t happen in a day. It’s a skill that takes daily practice. You need dedication to hone your craft. It’s important not to burn yourself out. You need to stick with it.

:

Drawing is all about taking the time to master each step. , mastering the art of drawing doesn’t happen in a day. , it’s a skill that takes daily practice dedication to hone your craft. It’s important not to burn yourself out, you need to stick with it.

DESCRIPTION transition words animation
SOURCE redchocolatte / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Types of Transition Words and Phrases

There are several types of transition words and phrases, and each category helps the reader to make certain connections. Some signal the building of an idea, while others help readers compare ideas or draw conclusions. Here is a list of transition words and common transition sentence examples.


compare/contrast	point out alternatives or differences	he was afraid of cats. he did not like lions and tigers. , he liked animals that could fly, such as sparrows and falcons.
chronology	help define time	you go home, make sure you jot down your assignments. the evening, you can review your work. eat dinner and review your work.
cause/effect	show the consequences of an action	you're such a good student, you'll get into a good college. , you can get a job you like. , you should be a happy person.
illustration/examples	add emphasis or introduce evidence	, she'd be happy to eat sundaes every day. Ellen loves chocolate fudge brownie sundaes. her love of ice cream, Ellen is planning an ice cream social for all her friends.
addition	add information or reinforce ideas	obey his wife. he will do all the cooking and cleaning while he studies at home. he is grateful that his new wife earns enough money to pay the bills.
clarification	show support	, I dislike it intensely. , I want to drop out. , school is the worst place in the world.
qualification	present conditions or intentions	the greatest catch of all time, the Patriots won the Super Bowl. always win big games. , they could be called the greatest team of all time.
summary/conclusion	restate ideas	, the results are clear. , it's clearly time to consider some changes. , these recommendations will benefit our company.
sequence	shows order	, he will go to school. , he might meet up with some friends. , his family will meet him at the park.

List of transition words

Types of transitions in writing.

When it comes to the creation of essays and papers, using transitions becomes more important. You need to use transitions within and between sentences, to connect paragraphs and to connect whole sections of an essay. See how transition words and phrases work to connect sentences, paragraphs and sections through examples.

Transitions Within Sentences

Transition words can be used to connect thoughts within a sentence. This transition highlights chronology or the order in which events occurred. Check out these transition word examples.

Original: Susan spoke up, thinking of the right answer.
With Transitions: Susan spoke up after thinking of the right answer.
Original: Susan wanted cake. She wanted ice cream.
With Transitions: Susan wanted cake, but she also wanted ice cream.
Original: Drawing takes talent. Drawing takes dedication. Everyone can learn to draw.
With Transitions: While it may be true that drawing takes talent and dedication, everyone can learn to draw.

Transition Words Between Paragraphs

When transitions are used between paragraphs, they are often in the form of a phrase or clause that refers to the previous information while introducing a new idea. These transitions often come at the beginning of new paragraphs. See how this works by exploring these transition sentence examples.

In conclusion , the thesis is clear.
It follows logically that the answer results from the points made earlier in this paper.
Lastly , it is important to link all these points together.
Next , we will look at the evidence for improving nutrition in schools.
Despite the previous argument , it is also important to think about bees when discussing pollution.

Examine how this works through a longer paragraph example. Notice how the transition words and phrases make the flow from one paragraph to the next seamless.

Lastly , the effect poverty has on education needs to be examined. Many students below the poverty line do not have access to transportation and other resources that allow them to take advantage of school of choice. Additionally , the services available through programs within their area are lacking. It follows logically that these students lack access to quality education and services students in middle class homes have. As you can see , poverty can have an impact on several aspects of an individual’s life. Not only does it impact their work and home life, but their education as well. Therefore , as a community, it’s pivotal to provide advanced services and assistance to individuals in lower-income areas.

Transitions Between Sections

When writing a longer essay or research paper, it’s important to use transitions to link one section to another. Not only do you use transition words to create this section, but the paragraph itself is a transitional paragraph. Here's what a transition paragraph might look like.

In the previous section, this study explored the demographics of the Chicago, Illinois area. Understanding the diversity of the population throughout the area is particularly important to dissecting the implementation of after-school programs. In the following paragraphs, the study will consider the importance demographics play in understanding the need-based programs.

Using Transition Words

If you want a quick reference guide for using transition words in sentences, paragraphs and papers, this infographic is the perfect tool.

DESCRIPTION transition words examples infographic
SOURCE river: colematt / iStock / Getty Images Plus , people icons: browndogstudios / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Signs You Need Transition Words

When students start out as writers, it can be hard to know exactly when to use transition words. However, there are a few things you can look for to know when you should include transition words in your essay .

1. Section Sounds Choppy or Abrupt

If the paragraph or sentence you are writing sounds abrupt, transition words are needed.

Original: Michael didn't have enough money to buy his mom flowers. He wasn't old enough to get a job. He felt sad on Mother's Day.
With Transitions: Michael didn't have enough money to buy his mom flowers because he wasn't old enough to get a job. Nevertheless , he felt sad on Mother's Day.

2. Trouble Following Train of Thought

While writing without transitions can be abrupt, it can also be confusing. It’s important to guide readers from one thought to the next.

Original: Tracy did not have money. Jill had money. Tracy bought a gift for her mother.
With Transitions: While Tracy did not have money, Jill did. Therefore , Tracy bought a gift for her mother.

Without using the transition words, it’s hard to follow how Tracy could buy the gift.

3. Writing Jumps From One Idea to Next

Since you write the way you think, it can be easy to jump from one idea or point in your thesis statement to the next. However, this can be hard for readers to follow. Use transition words in these areas to guide readers from one idea to the next easier.

Original: Locations below the poverty level need more education services. It’s important to discuss how poverty affects work life.
With Transitions: As you can see , locations below the poverty level need more education services. Next , it’s important to also discuss how poverty affects work life.

Common Mistakes With Transition Words

While using transition words might seem easy, it’s anything but. Many times, transition words are used incorrectly in a sentence or paragraph. Explore a few common mistakes of transition words to ensure you use them correctly in your writing.

Mixing Up the Meaning of Your Transition Words

When adding transition words to your writing, you need to know what they mean to use them correctly. For example, therefore is commonly used incorrectly in a phrase.

Incorrect: Low-income households do not have disposable income. Therefore, backpacks are expensive.
Correct: Low-income households do not have disposable income. Therefore, it might be hard for them to buy expensive backpacks.

When using cause and effect words like therefore , make sure the connection from one sentence to the next is a logical one.

Additionally, words like and or as well as can get confused because people think they are interchangeable. However, they are not. When you’re presenting two things of equal importance, you need to use and . For two topics that are related but one is more important, you can use as well as .

Incorrect: Both my introduction as well as my conclusion presented my thesis statement.
Correct: Both my introduction and conclusion presented my thesis statement.

Transition Words Making Informal Sentences

Another area that’s important to watch when using transition words in technical writing is adding informal writing techniques. And , also and so are transition words you should be adding to sentences. However, adding them to the beginning of the sentence makes it less formal. Therefore, you might want to consider more formal transition words like additionally and furthermore .

Informal: So the research points to a clear correlation between demographics and location.
Formal: Furthermore, the research points to a clear correlation between demographics and location.
Informal: And the research examined the demographics of each area.
Formal: Additionally, the research examined the demographics of each area.

Creating Incomplete Sentences With Transition Words

When you use transition words, it’s important to ensure you don’t accidentally create an incomplete sentence. For example, words like, if , although and since are subordinating conjunctions . Therefore, you can easily create a fragment sentence if you aren’t careful.

Fragment: Jones argues for the Oxford comma. Although everyone doesn’t agree.
Complete: Jones argues for the Oxford comma, although everyone doesn’t agree.
Fragment: Because the research showed a correlation. We completed the experiment.
Complete: Because the research showed a correlation, we completed the experiment.

Overusing Transition Words

Transition words require a delicate balance. While you can have too few transition words, you can also add too many. Not only is using too many transition words distracting in the writing, but it can also make the piece hard to read and understand. See how too many transition words can disrupt a passage through this example.

Overusing transition words - During spring break, we went to see my aunt. Therefore, I wanted to bring a present. However, I wasn't sure what to bring. At the same time, we didn't have time to go to the store, so I went without a present.
Corrected version - During spring break, we went to see my aunt. I wanted to bring a present. However, I wasn't sure what to bring. We didn't have time to go to the store, so I went without a present.

See how the transition words "therefore" and "at the same time" aren't really serving any purpose in the article. By removing them the story actually flows better and is easier to understand.

Building a Smooth Transition

These are just a few examples of the many transition words and phrases available in the English language to make your writing more cohesive. Bear in mind that it is possible for some words to be placed in more than one category, depending on the way you use them or the ideas you're trying to connect. Additionally, transition words used by 2nd graders will differ from 6th grade transition word usage.

For even more on transition words, see our comprehensive list of 51 useful transitional words . The more transition words you use in your writing, the smoother and more interesting it will be for your readers. Now, with transition words firmly solidified in your mind, learn how to write a memorable speech .

Transition Words for Persuasive Essays

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Logical and Smooth Transitions

The importance of smooth transitions in persuasive essays, related blog posts from category "writing an essay".

This type of essay means that the writer’s task is to make readers change their stance on a certain issue. Thus, the topic for persuasive essays must always be debatable enough. For example, you may want to argue that being a vegetarian is healthy or that euthanasia is morally unacceptable. Perhaps you’d like to prove that modern factories harm the environment instead of making profit or that the authorities spend too much money on their political campaigns. Regardless of the topic you opt for, you must define your own opinion on the matter and follow a clear structure of the essay with the help of certain language devices.

However good your arguments could be, without a well-organized presentation you will fail to bring the reader to your point of view. Using proper transitions is a vital part of writing a good persuasive essay. The definition of the term goes as follows: these are the words that make the essay more coherent and cohesive. Oftentimes they are used to connect different ideas expressed in separate sentences or to make the transition to the next paragraph more smooth and logical. In such a way, the text becomes more easy-to-follow and interesting for readers. In fact, transitions are linking elements that can be represented as separate words, word groups, or full sentences. Here are some typical examples of the above-mentioned transitions:

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Words: definitely, despite, certainly, obviously, additionally, undoubtedly, however, firstly, etc.
Word groups: in addition to this, regardless of, what is more, in reality, for instance, in other words, according to, etc.
Sentences (serve as topic sentences that prepare the reader for the layout of the further points): “Many people claim that genetically modified food is harmful in many ways.” This example implies that the writer is going to present his/her arguments and examples why it is harmful. At the end of the paragraph you can summarize the most important points specifying particular examples that you’ve mentioned. For instance, “Thus, GMOs are not only unhealthy to humans and animals but also dangerous to the environment.”

Transition words are crucially important for the readers to be able to follow the writer’s thoughts. Otherwise, they won’t be convinced that the writer is right. Transitions might be used for the following purposes:

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To elaborate on the point that you’ve made: further, what is more, apart from, in addition to, similarly, etc.
To give examples: for instance, for example, to illustrate this, etc.
To put a couple of points in a list: first, second, third, etc.
To restate the same idea in a different manner: in other words, with this in mind, etc.

In conclusion, transition words help the writers to convey his/her ideas in a logical manner, which appeals to the readers and ideally makes them change their position on certain topics or at least think about alternative ways of the arguable point at hand.

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How to Use Transitional Phrases in English Writing for Clearer Communication

Transitional phrases play a crucial role in English writing. They help create a smooth flow of ideas and enhance the overall clarity of communication. Whether you are writing an essay, a blog post, or even an email, incorporating transitional phrases can significantly improve the effectiveness of your message. In this article, we will explore the importance of transitional phrases and provide practical tips on how to use them effectively.

Understanding Transitional Phrases

Transitional phrases, also known as linking words or signal words, are words or phrases that connect one idea to another within a sentence or between different sentences and paragraphs. They act as bridges that guide readers through your writing by indicating relationships between ideas.

Some common transitional phrases include “however,” “in addition,” “on the other hand,” “therefore,” and “in conclusion.” These phrases help establish logical connections, contrast ideas, provide examples, show cause and effect relationships, and summarize information.

Enhancing Coherence and Flow

One of the primary benefits of using transitional phrases is that they enhance coherence and flow in your writing. By providing clear connections between sentences and paragraphs, they make it easier for readers to follow your thoughts and understand your message.

For example: “Although she was tired from working all day, Sarah decided to go for a run.” In this sentence, the transitional phrase “although” establishes a contrast between being tired and deciding to go for a run. Without this transition, the sentence would lack coherence and might confuse the reader.

Signaling Relationships Between Ideas

Transitional phrases also play a vital role in signaling relationships between ideas. They help readers understand how one idea relates to another or how different parts of your argument fit together.

For instance: “Firstly, it is essential to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Secondly, analyzing market trends can provide valuable insights into potential opportunities. Lastly, consulting with a financial advisor is crucial for making informed choices.”

In this example, the transitional phrases “firstly,” “secondly,” and “lastly” indicate the order of importance or sequence of ideas. They help readers navigate through the information presented and understand the logical progression of your argument.

Adding Emphasis and Persuasiveness

Lastly, transitional phrases can add emphasis and persuasiveness to your writing. By using specific transition words, you can highlight key points, draw attention to crucial details, or emphasize the significance of your arguments.

For instance: “Undoubtedly, climate change poses a grave threat to our planet. Furthermore, immediate action is necessary to mitigate its devastating consequences.”

Here, the transitional phrase “undoubtedly” adds emphasis to the gravity of climate change. The word “furthermore” strengthens the urgency for immediate action. These transitions not only make your writing more persuasive but also convey a sense of confidence in your message.

In conclusion, incorporating transitional phrases in English writing is essential for clear and effective communication. These phrases enhance coherence and flow by connecting ideas within sentences and paragraphs. They also signal relationships between ideas and add emphasis or persuasiveness to your arguments. By mastering the art of using transitional phrases, you can elevate the quality of your writing and ensure that your message resonates with readers effectively. So next time you sit down to write, remember to make use of these powerful tools for clearer communication in English.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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The word "furthermore" strengthens the urgency for immediate action. These transitions not only make your writing more persuasive but also convey a sense of confidence in your message. In conclusion, incorporating transitional phrases in English writing is essential for clear and effective communication.

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