Transition words for the word example

Main Transition Words Takeaways:

• Transitional words are important because they help improve the flow between words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs.
• They are important for SEO because they help make text easier to read and understand. Search engines and readers love content that is readable.
• Transition words help link ideas and statements.
• Using transitional words at the beginning or end of a paragraph can help the reader understand when you introduce a new topic.
• The four types of transition words are additive, adversative, causal, and sequential.
• Transition words and phrases don’t affect the grammatical structure of sentences and paragraphs.

What Are Transition Words?

As a writer, your primary goal is to present information and ideas to your target audience in a clear and understandable manner. The best way to do that is to use transition words. Transition words or transitional words are terms and phrases that help connect words, phrases, and even sentences together. They build connections between ideas in your content.

Transition words and phrases ensure that your written work will not look choppy and disjointed. They help your audience progress from one idea to the next. Think of them as a way to tell your readers how they should process and understand the information you are giving them. Transition words function like GPS, guiding your readers where they are going and how to get there.

What Are Some Examples Of Transition Words and Phrases?

Here are some of the most common examples of transition words and phrases:

Transition words are categorized based on their purpose. For instance, transition phrases like as a result of, due to, and as long as are used to emphasize cause and effect. Below are more examples of transition expressions that have been categorized based on their functions:

What Are Some Examples of Transition Sentences?

The best way to understand how transitional words work is to see them in action. Remember, as important as these grammatical tools are, it’s not a good idea to overuse them. Too many transitional phrases can make your text seem complicated and wordy. It could also make you seem like a chronic overexplainer, and nobody wins when that happens.

You can use transitions to go from sentence to sentence:

You can also use transition words and phrases to go from paragraph to paragraph:

What Are the Four Types of Transition Words?

There are a lot of different ways to categorize transition words. In this post, we will discuss the four main types of transition words: Additive, Adversative, Causal, and Sequential.

1. What are Additive Transitions?

These transition words add or introduce another idea. They may also reference a previously mentioned concept, identify a similarity, or clarify an idea. Additive transitional words include:

2. What are Adversative Transitions?

Adversative transitions may be used to signal opposing ideas or dismiss a previously discussed idea altogether. Some adversative transition words include:

3. What are Causal Transitions?

As for causal transitions, they’re most commonly used to denote cause and effect. They may also indicate the reason an idea or action is happening or has happened. Causal transition words include:

4. What are Sequential Transitions?

As the name suggests, sequential transitions are used to put a sequence of ideas in order (usually chronological). This helps the reader understand where ideas fall in a list or when you’re wrapping up your text. Sequential transitions include:

Are Conjunctions Considered Transition Words?

While conjunctions and transitions share the same purpose — to connect ideas between or within sentences — they are not used the same way. You must not confuse conjunctions with transitional words or expressions. Conjunctions connect phrases and clauses, whereas transitions indicate the relationship between sentences and paragraphs. Check the following examples:

Subordinating conjunctions connecting dependent clauses with independent clauses:

Read More: The Easiest Way To Get Subordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connecting two independent clauses:

Transition words connecting sentences and paragraphs:

Another significant difference between transitions and conjunctions is their grammatical functions. Since conjunctions join clauses, they become part of the sentence and affect it grammatically. On the other hand, transition words have no impact on the grammatical structure of a sentence or paragraph. In short, you can remove a transition word, and it won’t have any impact on the sentence at all. Check the examples below:

Do Commas Go Before Or After Transition Words?

The placement of commas when using transition words will depend on where the latter appears in your text.

If your transition phrase appears at the beginning of the sentence, it is always set off with a comma.

If the transition word or phrase appears within an independent clause, it should be preceded by and set off with a comma.

If the transitional word appears between two independent clauses in a compound sentence, it should be preceded by a semicolon and set off with a comma.

How Are Transition Words Used in SEO?

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a process that involves optimizing your content for search engines to help improve ranking. The higher you are in search results, the more visibility your content will have. The more visible your content, the more people will see and learn about your brand.

Unlike keywords or meta tags, transitions between sentences or paragraphs don’t directly help boost your search ranking. Instead, it’s all about readability and structure.

See, Google runs on algorithms and those algorithms are big fans of order and ease of use. In other words, clarity is everything.

In the olden days (you know, like the 2010s), Google was like a heat-seeking missile for keywords. Basically, the more keywords you could stuff in your copy, the better you’d rank. That led to a lot of web pages that said something like, “buckets buckets buy some buckets buckets for sale the best buckets.”

What are they selling? You guessed it: buckets!

Google (and the rest of the world) soon realized the keyword stuffing wasn’t really good for anyone. Instead, search engines began focusing on how web pages could best serve the reader. Now, algorithms analyze web content for readability, and transition words play a huge role in that determination.

Transition Words Give Direction

Transition words also help you structure your content. Remember our road map? Transitional words can act as street signs, pointing readers left or right, directing them to take a U-turn, or propelling them onward.

Bottom line: Transition words make your content easier to read and understand. For this reason, it’s vital to rely not only on helpful tools but also on your own mind. If it reads well to you, it’ll likely read well to your audience.

Transition To a Closing

Finally, you can use transitions to introduce a new section or conclude your previous one—or wrap up the entire text. You may even use a transition to reinforce the general idea of your content before ending your piece:

Quick Transition Words Grammar Quiz

Read More: How to use a question mark (?)

Author: Michael L

Date: Oct 3, 2019 | Grammar

Transition words and phrases are an important part of the English language. They are used to connect words and sentences, often by referring back to one idea and signaling the introduction of a new one. Transition words can also help a passage of writing flow better, although it is best not to overuse them.

Consider the example:

• James did not go to the movies. He visited his grandparents instead.

The transition word in the above example is instead. It links the two sentences together by referring back to the first sentence and signaling that an alternative idea has been introduced.

Consider the example without the transition word:

• James did not go to the movies. He visited his grandparents.

The lack of a link between the two sentences leaves things a bit vague. We do not explicitly know that the two sentences are related, whereas the previous example shows that James visited his grandparents as an alternative to going to the movies.

There are 100s of transition words and phrases in English. Indeed, because of the evolution of language over time, new transition phrases can appear all the time. Often transition words are conjunctive adverbs – words like however, also, indeed, instead, still, therefore – or phrases containing conjunctive adverbs, conjunctions and adverbs. The point is that transition words cover a wide variety of language, but it’s more important to recognize their function rather than categorize them.

When to Use Transition Words?

Fundamentally, we use transition words to connect sentences and words together. They often refer back to the previous sentence or words within a sentence, and let the reader know that there is some related or new information on its way. There are different types of transition words and phrases, and not all of them have this simplistic explanation for their use.

Consider the passage below, and notice the highlighted transition words and phrases:

I do not like dairy products very much, particularly cheese. However, I make an exception for ice cream, especially chocolate ice cream. Indeed, ice cream is probably my favorite thing to eat. Admittedly, I am also aware that ice cream is very fattening, not to mention full of sugar. In other words, ice cream isn’t very healthy. Nevertheless, life is too short to worry about these things. With this in mind, I will continue to eat ice cream every day. I may end up overweight, of course. On balance, this is a price I am willing to pay for delicious – especially chocolate – ice cream.

Can you see how the transition words and phrases stitch the fabric of the passage together? They act as signals by referring to the previous sentence and introducing new ideas in the next, or by referring back to previous information in the same sentence and changing the emphasis of it. Normally, transition words and phrases help a passage of writing flow better, but it’s also recommended not to use too many transition words, as it can make the writing a bit confusing or heavy. As an example, the passage above arguably uses too many transitional words and phrases from a stylistic standpoint and would be easier to read with fewer transtions.

Types of Transition Words

As we mentioned, transition words are normally used to link words and sentences by referring back to one idea and introducing a new one. However, transition words do this in a variety of ways. With that in mind, let’s break down the different types of transition words into categories based on the way they link words together.

Here are some of the main ways transition words are used:

To introduce a new idea or opposite point of view:

• But, while, conversely, however, nevertheless, yet, instead, nonetheless, although, though, even though, incidentally.
  • I went to his house hoping to find him; yet, he was not there.
  • They told her they weren’t happy with her designs, but she nevertheless resolved to go on.

To introduce a conclusion:

• Finally, so, as, therefore, thus, consequently, in conclusion, since, as such, finally, subsequently.
  • Finally, the choir began singing.
  • Since that is the case, we have no choice but to resign.

To introduce a list or point out a sequence of events:

• First, second, third, firstly, secondly, first of all, last of all, finally, lastly, after that, until, including, next.
  • We go to Paris this Sunday. After that, Rome.
  • First of all, let me tell you what happened. Then you can decide.

To admit a concession:

• Of course, admittedly, even so, naturally, alas.
  • There is another way to do it, of course.
  • Admittedly, it was my biggest mistake.

To add emphasis or additions.

• Likewise, in addition, furthermore, also, additionally, moreover, indeed, namely, in fact, for the most part, as a matter of fact.
  • David, Benjamin and Ellie laughed. Indeed, even Daniel found it funny.
  • For the most part, the kids in the classroom kept quiet.

To introduce clauses and conditions:

• On the condition that, in light of, in order to, provided that, whenever, while, as long as.
  • You can go, as long as you are back by midnight.
  • Whenever you return, lock the door after you.

The above just shows a small selection of different transition words and phrases, but there are many more words and phrases used in this way. It can also be somewhat confusing, because sometimes the words on the list above can be used in a sentence without it being a transition word.

Consider these two sentences:

• Despite nerves, Donna came first in the race. (First is not a transition word in this sentence.)
• To win a race, first you must believe you can win.  (First is a transition word in this sentence.)

Examples of Transition Words

Below are some more examples of transition words in sentences:

• The Queen is the UK’s Head of State. Additionally, she is also the Head of State for Australia.
• We were hungry. However, because the kitchen was already closed, we didn’t eat until morning.
• One doesn’t need to attend college. There are, in fact, many ways to obtain knowledge.
• She was very tired. Indeed, she hadn’t slept for weeks.
• In light of recent weather events, the show will be cancelled.
• Finally, the car came to a skidding halt.
• You should go to the conference. Likewise, Bill and Caren should go too.
• It’s obvious you don’t want me here. As a result, I have decided I will leave tomorrow.
• We are German citizens. But we are also citizens of Europe.
• He lowered his voice, as if to underline the seriousness of the matter.
• Monkeys groom each other in order to build relationships.
• Michael and Sarah are here. I was chatting with them earlier, as a matter of fact.

Why are Transition Words Important?

Without transition words and phrases, language would be somewhat stiff. They sew words and sentences together, helping them flow better by acting as a link to what was previously stated in the passage. Yet, they are more than that, they act as signals in writing to show shifts in ideas, tone and emphasis, and introduce conclusions, sequences and contradictions.

The key to understanding them lies in the name itself: Transition words. Transition means change, and these words indicate that there has been a change or that a change is forthcoming. This change could be subtle, like a shift in emphasis, or more obvious, like the offering of a contrary idea or conclusion, but transition words, nevertheless, act as a signal for that change. In the end, this is important because it gets to the root of how we understand language, as these transition words act like bridges through words, sentences and meaning.

When you need to introduce an example in an essay or give an example while speaking, it helps to use a phrase to indicate that this is what you are about to do. This is where you need some transition words for examples.

Probably the most common of these is ‘for example’. This can get repetitive if you use it too often, though. Fortunately, there are plenty of other transition words to give examples, so you can vary your vocabulary when you’re speaking or writing.

Here we’ll go through some of the most common example transition words, including sample sentences so you can see exactly how to use them.

When you’re presenting information or arguing a point, it can be useful to give examples to illustrate what you’re saying or back up a point you’ve made. You may also need to give examples when someone doesn’t understand exactly what you mean.

By using transition words to introduce examples, you let your listener or reader know that you are about to demonstrate an example. Transition words in general (also called discourse markers or signal words) are really helpful for structuring your thoughts logically, whether you’re writing an essay, giving a presentation, or just having a regular conversation.

Common transition words to give examples

The following transition words are most often used to give examples in everyday English:

• For example
• For instance
• Like
• Such as
• Including

“We need to see a change in your attitude to work. For example, you should arrive in the office on time and be more courteous towards your colleagues.”
“I have tried several extreme sports such as surfing and abseiling.”
“Shelly doesn’t eat tropical fruits like watermelon or pineapple. She’s concerned about food miles.”
“The team came up with some great fundraising ideas, including a garage sale and a silent auction.”

These are fine to use in both spoken and written English, and in most contexts, whether formal or informal. The only one which you may wish to exclude from more formal writing is ‘like’.

Example transition words and phrases in formal speech and writing

If you need some transition words for examples in an essay, report, presentation or article, there are some more formal phrases you might want to use. These are less often used in casual conversation but are more suitable for a formal academic or business setting.

• As illustrated
• As revealed
• As shown
• As we can see from
• As can be seen
• As found
• By way of illustration
• For one thing
• In the case of
• In this case
• Let’s look at this case in point
• Take the case of
• This is supported
• To demonstrate
• To illustrate

“This city is becoming a popular tourist destination, as shown by the steady increase in visitor numbers of the past five years.”
“As we can see from our customer feedback, we need to improve our delivery times.”
“By way of illustration, let me show you our year-on-year sales figures.”
“Thousands of species will become extinct in the next 50 years due to climate change. Take the case of polar bears.”
“To demonstrate this point, I would like to play you an interview with the author herself.”

So you can see that even if you need to give a lot of examples throughout your writing or speech, there is no need to keep repeating the transition phrase ‘for example’ over and over again.

Introducing a second example

If you’re giving a second example, transition words you can use include:

• In another case
• We can also look at the example of
• Another good example of this is
• To further this argument

You can also use these when providing information to support a point you are making in a debate or discussion.

Addition transition words will help you supplement your argument, while conclusion transition words are useful for summarizing key points.

Emphasising an important example

If you want to highlight an example as particularly important, you may use one of these discourse markers:

• Above all
• Especially
• In particular
• Notably

“I try to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, in particular leafy greens.”
“There are many bad habits that annoy me, but above all I can’t stand people speaking loudly on their phones in public.”

Using e.g. to show an example

This is another example discourse marker that is hardly ever spoken. E.g. is an abbreviation of the Latin exempli gratia and just means for example.

“You should always use a capital letter for days of the week and months of the year (e.g. Monday, April, September) in writing.”
“Casual clothes (e.g. shorts, tank tops and ripped jeans) should not be worn to work.”

If you are doing a formal piece of writing, you should consult your style guide to check whether it is acceptable to use an abbreviation like this. Some English abbreviations are widespread in writing whereas others are best saved for informal contexts like instant messaging.

Can you think of any other transition words for examples in English? If you have any comments or questions, leave a reply below to share them!

You might find these resources useful if you want to learn more transition words for different situations:

Transition words for cause and effect
Transition words for time order and sequence
Transition words for comparing and contrasting
Discourse markers for similarity