Using Transitional Words and Phrases is a way to guide readers through your writing. Transitions alert readers to your purpose for adding an idea by connecting your ideas in meaningful ways. You should use transitions between ideas within a paragraph. Transitions are also necessary to move smoothly from one paragraph to the next. Which transition you use depends on what type of relationship the connected ideas have. You may need to show that you are merely adding to the previous thought, that you intend to show contrast between ideas, or that you are about to make a generalization. Whichever transition you use, connecting your ideas in this way improves the overall flow of your essay.
To Show Addition:
and, also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, further, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly, too
To Show Consequence:
accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore
To Generalize:
as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily, usually, typically
To Give Examples:
chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly, namely, particularly, including, specifically, such as, in fact
To Illustrate a Point:
for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration, illustrated with, as an example, in this case
To Emphasize:
above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly, mainly
To Show Similarity:
comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similarly, moreover, together with
To Make Exceptions:
aside from, barring, besides, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save
To Restate:
in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put it differently
To Compare:
by the same token, likewise, similarly, also, in the same manner
To Contrast:
by contrast, in contrast, conversely, instead, likewise, however, on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast, although, even though
To Give Sequence:
at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, in the meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind
To Summarize:
after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event,
in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis,
in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally, ultimately, essentially
To Diverge:
by the way, incidentally, it is worth mentioning
To Show Direction:
here, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above, below, to the left, to the right, in the distance
Source consulted: The University of Arizona-Global Campus website
Guide created by: E. Raley 4/21/2021
Revised by: J. Brown 1/18/2024
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