TRANSITION WORDSWhat are transitions and how are they used?- transitions are phrases or words 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
- transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas
- different transitions do different things....
Transitions may be "Additive," "Adversative," "Causal," or "Sequential."Additive Transitions | Adversative Transitions | Causal (not casual) Transitions | Sequential Transitions |
Additive Transitions: These show addition, introduction, similarity to other ideas, &c.
Addition:indeed, | further, | as well (as this), | either (neither), | not only (this) but also (that) as well, | also, | moreover, | what is more, | as a matter of fact, | in all honesty,
| and, | furthermore, | in addition (to this), | besides (this), | to tell the truth, | or, | in fact, | actually, | to say nothing of, | | too, | let alone, | much less | additionally, | | nor, | alternatively, | on the other hand, | not to mention (this), | |
Introduction: such as, | as, | particularly, | including, | as an illustration, | for example, | like, | in particular, | for one thing, | to illustrate | for instance, | especially, | notably, | by way of example, | |
Reference: speaking about (this), | considering (this), | regarding (this), | with regards to (this), | as for (this), | concerning (this), | the fact that
| on the subject of (this)
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Similarity: similarly, | in the same way, | by the same token, | in a like manner, | equally | likewise, | | |
Identification: that is (to say), | namely, | specifically, | thus, |
Clarification:that is (to say), | I mean, | (to) put (it) another way | in other words, |
Adversative Transitions: These transitions are used to signal conflict, contradiction concession, dismissal, &c.
Conflict: but, | by way of contrast, | while, | on the other hand, | however, | (and) yet, | whereas, | though (final position), | in contrast, | when in fact, | conversely, | still |
Emphasis: even more, | above all, | indeed, | more importantly, | besides |
Concession: but even so, | nevertheless, | even though, | on the other hand, | admittedly, | however, | nonetheless, | despite (this), | notwithstanding (this), | albeit | (and) still, | although, | in spite of (this), | regardless (of this), | | (and) yet, | though, | granted (this), | be that as it may, | |
Dismissal: either way, | whichever happens, | in either event, | in any case, | at any rate, | in either case, | whatever happens, | all the same, | in any event, | |
Replacement: (or) at least, | (or) rather, | instead |
Causal Transitions: These transitions signal cause/effect and reason/result, etc. . .Cause/Reason: for the (simple) reason that, | being that, | for, | in view of (the fact), | inasmuch as, | because (of the fact), | seeing that, | as, | owing to (the fact), | | due to (the fact that), | in that | since, | forasmuch as, | |
Condition: on (the) condition (that), | granted (that), | if, | provided that, | in case, | in the event that, | as/so long as, | unless | given that, | | granting (that), | providing that, | even if, | only if, | |
Effect/Result: as a result (of this), | consequently, | hence, | for this reason, | thus, | because (of this), | in consequence, | so that, | accordingly | | as a consequence, | so much (so) that, | so, | therefore, | |
Purpose: for the purpose of, | in the hope that, | for fear that, | so that, | with this intention, | to the end that, | in order to, | lest | with this in mind, | in order that, | so as to, | so, |
Consequence: under those circumstances, | then, | in that case, | if not, | that being the case, | if so, | otherwise | |
Sequential Transitions: These transitions are used to signal a chronological or logical sequence.Numerical:in the (first, second, etc.) place, | initially, | to start with, | first of all | thirdly, (&c.) | to begin with, | at first, | for a start, | secondly, | |
Continuation:subsequently, | previously, | eventually, | next, | before (this), | afterwards, | after (this), | then |
Conclusion:to conclude (with) | as a final point, | eventually, | at last, | last but not least, | in the end, | finally, | lastly, |
Digression: to change the topic | incidentally, | by the way, |
Resumption: to get back to the point, | to resume | anyhow, | anyway, | at any rate, | to return to the subject, |
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Summation:as was previously stated, | so, | consequently, | in summary, | all in all, | to make a long story short,
| thus, | as I have said, | to sum up, | overall, | as has been mentioned, | then, | to summarize, | to be brief, | briefly, | given these points, | in all, | on the whole, | therefore, | | as has been noted, | hence, | in conclusion, | in a word, | | to put it briefly, | in sum, | altogether, | in short, | |
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