TYPES AND EXAMPLES
OF TRANSITIONS
Without transitions, your writing does not flow smoothly. Transitions are words and phrases that serve as bridges from on idea to the next, one sentence to the next, or one paragraph to the next. They keep the reader from having to find his or her own way and possibly getting lost in the reading.
Transitions can also be looked at as the glue that hold your ideas together. They are very important. Too many transitions can cause as much confusion as too few.
Therefore, you don"t necessarily need a transition between every idea or every sentence, but it is a good idea to use a transition between each paragraph. Transitions usually come near the beginning of a paragraph. However, you should use a transition wherever it works best.
Below are several ways transitions can be used. Also included are sample transitions that fit the category. Not every transition is listed.
|
Transitions To Emphasize A Point
|
|
again
|
another key point
|
first thing to remember
|
|
for this reason
|
frequently
|
important to realize
|
|
indeed
|
in fact
|
key point
|
|
most compelling evidence
|
most important information
|
must be remembered
|
|
on the negative side
|
on the positive side
|
point often overlooked
|
|
significant that
|
surprising
|
surprisingly enough
|
|
to emphasize
|
to point out
|
to repeat
|
|
truly
|
with this in mind
|
|
|
|
Transitions To Show Location
|
|
above
|
across
|
against
|
along
|
alongside
|
amid
|
among
|
|
around
|
away from
|
back of
|
behind
|
below
|
beneath
|
beside
|
|
between
|
beyond
|
by
|
down
|
in front of
|
in the center of
|
in the middle of
|
|
inside
|
into
|
near
|
off
|
on top of
|
outside
|
over
|
|
throughout
|
to the left
|
to the right
|
under
|
up
|
|
|
|
|
Transitions To Compare Items
|
|
accordingly
|
also
|
as
|
comparable to
|
|
in the same way
|
in the same manner
|
in conjunction with this
|
just as
|
|
like
|
likewise
|
similarly
|
sometimes
|
|
|
Transitions To Contrast Items
|
|
although
|
as opposed to
|
but
|
conversely
|
counter to
|
|
even so
|
even though
|
however
|
in spite of this
|
in the meantime
|
|
nevertheless
|
on the contrary
|
on the other hand
|
otherwise
|
sometimes
|
|
still
|
yet
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transitions To Show Time
|
|
about
|
after
|
afterward
|
as soon as
|
at
|
|
at the same time
|
before
|
during
|
finally
|
first
|
|
immediately
|
in the meantime
|
later
|
last
|
meanwhile
|
|
next
|
next week
|
next time
|
next year
|
prior to
|
|
second next
|
soon
|
then
|
third
|
till
|
|
today
|
tomorrow
|
until
|
when
|
yesterday
|
|
|
Transitions To Clarify
|
|
for example
|
for instance
|
in other words
|
put another way
|
|
seems clear from this
|
simply stated
|
stated differently
|
that is
|
|
to clarify
|
to illustrate the point
|
|
|
|
|
Transitions To Add Information
|
|
additionally
|
again
|
along with
|
also
|
and
|
|
another
|
as well
|
besides
|
equally important
|
finally
|
|
for example
|
for instance
|
further
|
furthermore
|
in addition
|
|
likewise
|
moreover
|
next
|
together with
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transitions To Conclude Or Summarize
|
|
accordingly
|
all in all
|
as a result
|
consequently
|
|
due to
|
finally
|
in closing
|
in conclusion
|
|
in short
|
in summary
|
in the last analysis
|
lastly
|
|
logical conclusion is
|
therefore
|
thus
|
to conclude
|
|
|
Transitions To Enumerate
|
|
These transitions are to be used as sets;
more transitions can be added to each set as needed.
|
|
|
| |
one important
|
| |
equally important
|
| |
most important
|
|
| |
a significant
|
| |
another significant
|
| |
of greatest significance
|
|
|
| |
in the beginning
|
| |
toward the middle
|
| |
at the end
|
|
|
|
Coherence
Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal bridges.
Logical bridges
- The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sentence
- Successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form
Verbal bridges
- Key words can be repeated in several sentences
- Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences
- Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences
- Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences
