What are transitions and how are they used?

• transitions are phrases or words that are used to connect one idea to the next
• transitions are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next; in other words, they make an essay coherent
• transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or even within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas
• different transitions do different things...

ADDITIVE TRANSITIONS: These show addition, introduction, similarity to other ideas, etc...

Words that show Addition relationships:

additionally, also, moreover, not to mention (this), in addition (to this), furthermore, further, and, too, either (neither), besides (this), not only (this) but also (that) as well, as well (as this), what is more, or, alternatively, nor, on the other hand, in fact, as a matter of fact, to tell you the truth, to say nothing of, actually, indeed, let alone, much less

Words that Introduce:

such as, for example, for instance, as, like, especially, particularly, in particular, notably, including, for one thing, by way of example, as an illustration, to illustrate

Words that Reference:

speaking about (this), as for (this), considering (this), concerning (this), regarding (this), on the subject of (this), with regards to (this), the fact that

Words that show Similarity:

similarly, likewise, in the same way, in a like manner, by the same token, equally

Words that Identify:

that is (to say), namely, specifically, thus

Words that show Clarification:

that is (to say), I mean, in other words, (to) put (it) another way

ADVERSATIVE TRANSITIONS: These transitions are used to signal conflict, contradiction concession, dismissal, etc.

Conflict:

but, however, in contrast, by way of contrast, (and) yet, when in fact, while, whereas, conversely, on the other hand, though (final position), still

Emphasis:

even more, above all, indeed, more importantly, besides

Concession:

but even so, however, (and) still, (and) yet, nevertheless, nonetheless, although, though, even though, on the other hand, despite (this), in spite of (this), regardless (of this), notwithstanding (this), be that as it may, granted (this), admittedly, albeit

Dismissal:

either way, whichever happens, in either case, in either event, whatever happens, all the same, in any case, in any event, at any rate

Replacement:

(or) at least, (or) rather, instead

CAUSAL TRANSITIONS: These transitions signal cause/effect and reason/result, etc.

Cause/Reason:

being that, seeing that, since, as, inasmuch as, forasmuch as, because (of the fact), due to (the fact that), in view of (the fact), owing to (the fact), for the (simple) reason that, for, in that

Condition:

if, in case, provided that, providing that, on (the) condition (that), in the event that, given that, granted (that), granting (that), as/so long as, even if, only if, unless

Effect/Result:

so that, so, so much (so) that, for this reason, as a result (of this), because (of this), therefore, consequently, as a consequence, thus, hence, in consequence, accordingly

Purpose:

so, so as to, so that, in order to, in order that, with this in mind, with this intention, in the hope that, for the purpose of, to the end that, for fear that, lest

Consequence:

then, if so, in that case, that being the case, under those circumstances, if not, otherwise

SEQUENTIAL TRANSITIONS: These transitions are used to signal a chronological or logical sequence.

Numerical:

in the (first, second, etc) place, initially, secondly, at first, to start with, to begin with, for a start, first of all

Continuation:

previously, after (this), afterwards, eventually, subsequently, before (this), next, then

Conclusion:

finally, eventually, at last, in the end, at last, last but not least, as a final point, lastly, to conclude (with)

Digression:

by the way, incidentally, to change to topic

Resumption:

anyhow, anyway, at any rate, to get back to the point, to return to the subject, to resume

Summation:

in conclusion, to sum up, to summarize, in summary, in sum, as I have said, as was previously stated, as has been mentioned, as has been noted, then, given these points, therefore, so, consequently, thus, hence, on the whole, altogether, in all, all in all, overall, to make a long story short, to put it briefly, briefly, in short, to be brief, in a word

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Copyright (C)1999 by Ed Reber. All rights reserved.This document may be distributed as long as it is done entirely with all attributions to organizations and authors. Commercial distribution is strictly prohibited. Portions of this document may be copyrighted by other organizations.