Transitional words and phrases are the connectors that help your reader follow the movement of your writing. When you change direction, offer an example, or provide additionial support, transitions make clear what you are doing. In other words, they take your reader with you as you negotiate the turns and changes in the movement of your essay. Transitional expressions, then, can be used between sentences, between paragraphs, or between entire sections of a work. The two kinds of transitions are those of logic and those of thought. Each of these kinds is discussed here.
Transitions of Logic
Transitions of logic consist of words or phrases that prepare your reader for understanding the relationship between what you just said and what you are going to say. Relationships include time, purpose, cause, and so on. There are several categories of transitions of logic. The table below lists many of these transitions, arranged by category and listed as milder or stronger. (Note that there is some double listing, because of the different ways words can be used.) Some hints for use:
- When you write, think about the relationship between your ideas and use an approopriate transition to let your reader know what you are thinking.
- be careful not to use too many strong transitions
- transitions become stronger when they are the first word in a sentence, milder when they are moved a few words into the sentence
- keep this list handy while you write, until the words come automatically
| Milder | Stronger | |
| Addition | a further x and and then then also too next another other nor |
further furthermore moreover in addition additionally besides again equally important first, second finally, last |
| Comparison | just as … so too a similar x another x like |
similarly comparable in the same way likewise |
| Contrast | but yet and yet still otherwise or though but another rather |
however still nevertheless on the other hand on the contrary even so notwithstanding for all that in contrast alternatively at the same time though this may be otherwise instead nonetheless conversely |
| Time | then now soon afterward later shortly earlier recently first, second, third next before after today tomorrow |
meanwhile at length presently at last finally immediately thereafter at that time subsequently eventually currently in the meantime in the past in the future |
| Purpose | to do this so that |
to this end with this object for this purpose for that reason because of this x |
| Place | there here beyond nearby next to |
at that point opposite to adjacent to on the other side in the front in the back |
| Result | so and so then |
hence therefore accordingly consequently thus thereupon as a result in consequence |
| Example | that is specifically in particular for one thing |
for example for instance an instance of this this can be seen in |
| Summary and Emphasis | in sum generally after all by the way in general incidentally naturally I hope at least it seems in brief I suppose |
in short on the whole as I said in other words to be sure in fact indeed clearly of course anyway remarkably I think assuredly definitely without doubt for all that on the whole in any event importantly certainly |
Transitions of Thought
Transitions of thought consist of words that help your reader follow the subject of your writing as you continue to explore the things related to it. Transitions of thought are produced by the following techniques:
Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns. Follow a noun with a pronoun (to continue the same subject) or a possessive pronoun (to move to something related to the original subject).
- Fido is asleep. He is a good dog. His house is near the tree.
- The oranges are in the kitchen bowl. Eat all you want, but check them for ripeness first.
- The Castells must be home from the beach. I see their car in the driveway.
Pronouns include he, she, it, we, they, us, them, him, her, I, me, and you
Possessive pronouns include his, her, hers, its, their, theirs, ours, our, my, mine, your, yours
Keyword Repetition. Repeat the word around which the discussion is focusing. Note that many sentences have two or more nouns, any of which might be the subject of interest in the following sentence. To help keep your reader focused, repeat the noun that represents the topic you want to continue:
- Many cities are overcrowded. But now there is help for the city. OR But overcrowding is being addressed by additional trasit lines, which will allow more people to live in the suburbs.
- Your gardener can apply this fertilizer to your lawn monthly. Just read the fertilizer label. OR Just ask your gardener about it. OR Your lawn will become greener and juicier. OR The monthly recommendation does not apply to August (when the weather is often too hot) and January and February (when it’s too cold).
Synonyms. A synonym is a word that means nearly the same as another word. The meaning is close enough so that the thought continues, but different enough so that the idea expands and gains greater definition than it would by simply repeating the same word over and over (which would be pretty boring, too, huh?). Using synonyms when you write is a much better way to help define and refine the meaning of your concept than, say, quoting a dictionary.
- Fred’s car is fast and powerful. But is such a vehicle legal? And don’t hot rods like that pollute the air?
- We hiked from the meadow to the peak on Monday. Then we walked from the peak to the bluff Tuesday. It was quite a trek.
- Peters Canyon Lake is really more like a large pond. Actually, it’s a small reservoir designed to collect runoff during heavy rains.
Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives. Demonstrative pronouns include this, that, these, and those. They are useful for both direction and emphasis. However, using them by themselves can sometimes create an unclear reference, if there are two or more possible referents in the previous sentence. For example:
- When the man saw the girl begging, he took a picture of her, even though she objected. He thought this was unusual. [What was unusual, the girl begging or her objecting to being photographed?]
It is a good idea to change demonstrative pronouns to demonstrative adjectives by adding a clarifying noun (so instead of saying, “This is good,” say, “This ice cream is good.”).
- Some people suggest giving up salt on popcorn. This idea, however, is ridiculous.
- Yes, Air Profit is our best selling shoe. That brand, however, is sold out right now.