What is a transition word for so

Using transition words in your writing can help you enhance the readability of your content. These words help your text flow and show readers the relationship between phrases and paragraphs. That’s why the readability checks in Yoast SEO provide feedback on your use of transition words. But what are they exactly? Why are they so important? And how should you use them?

Table of contents

  • What are transition words?
  • Exploring transition words with an example
  • Types of transition words
  • Why are they important for SEO?
  • What does the transition words check in Yoast SEO do?
  • How to improve your use of transition words
    • 1. Know the words
    • 2. Be aware of how your thoughts and ideas relate to each other
  • Conclusion

What are transition words?

Transition words are words like ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’ and ‘because’. They show your reader the relationship between phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs. When you use them, you make it easier for your readers to understand how your thoughts and ideas are connected. What is more, they prepare your reader for what’s coming. 

Let’s consider an example.

I pushed the domino. As a result, it fell over.

When you start a sentence with ‘as a result’, your reader will immediately know two things:

  1. What happened in the first sentence caused something;
  2. The second sentence is going to describe the effect.

By using the phrase ‘as a result’ here, you show that the two separate sentences are part of one process. Without having even read the rest of the sentence, your reader can already guess what’s coming. In a way, transition words are the glue that holds your text together. Without them, your text is a collection of sentences. With them, the individual parts come together to form one whole.

Transition words don’t always have to be placed at the beginning of a sentence. Consider the following examples.

He’s a very nice guy. He took us out to dinner yesterday, for instance.


In this example, ‘for instance’ is placed at the end of the sentence. Nonetheless, it still provides the reader with information as to how the two sentences are related.

I enjoy his company because he always tells interesting stories.

In this example, ‘because’ doesn’t connect two sentences, but two clauses. Transition words can connect anything from short phrases to entire paragraphs.

Did you get a red or orange bullet for your use of transition words? Jump to the section about the Yoast SEO transition words check. Or go straight to learning how you can improve your use of transition words.

Exploring transition words with an example

Let’s use a more concrete example. Below, you see Text A and Text B. Text A contains no transition words. On the surface, Text B is the exact same, only we’ve added transition words to make it easier to read.

Text A
I’m going to discuss a few reasons why practice is important to learning skills. The only way to truly master a skill is by actually doing what you’ll have to do in the real world. I think practice can be a fun way of putting in the necessary hours. There are some people who will disagree. It is said that people tend to remember only 10-20% of what they’ve heard or read. That number rises to as much as 90% when you put theory to practice. Following up explanation with practice is key to mastering a skill.

Text B
In this paragraph, I’m going to discuss a few reasons why practice is important to mastering skills. Firstly, the only way to truly learn a skill is by actually doing what you’ll have to do in the real world. Secondly, I think practice can be a fun way of putting in the necessary hours. There are, however, some people who will disagree. Thirdly, and most importantly, it is said that people tend to remember only 10-20% of what they read or hear. Moreover, that number rises to as much as 90% when you put theory to practice. In conclusion, following up explanation with practice is key to mastering a skill.


Text A is not a terrible paragraph. However, the differences are clear as day. Text B does a better job of showing there are three separate arguments to support the statement with a definite conclusion. The reader never has to wonder whether a sentence still belongs to the previous argument or a new one. Moreover, it even shows the relationship between sentences within one argument. Therefore, people are going to find it easier to read this text and will stay on the page longer. And this is just one short, conveniently arranged paragraph!

Types of transition words

Transition words can be divided into several categories, based on the type of transition you want to make. There are often several words available for one transition. Sometimes they mean exactly the same, sometimes there are slight differences. If you’re not a native speaker or struggle with language in general, you’ll have to study and practice their use so that you can make better choices.

Transition Example word/phrase Example sentence
Cause and effect Therefore, as a result, so, consequently I’m tired. Therefore, I’m going to bed.
Clarification That is to say, in other words, to clarify We’re letting you go. In other words, you’re fired.
Contrast But, however, on the other hand I am not fond of fruit. However, I do like bananas.
Example For example, for instance In the evening, I like to relax. For instance, I enjoy watching TV.
Emphasis Above all, most importantly, certainly There are many reasons to exercise regularly. Above all, it keeps you healthy.
Enumeration Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition Today, I’m going to write a post. In addition, I’m recording some video lessons.
Time Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that I’ll start by telling you what transition words are. After that, I’ll tell you why you should always use them.
Similarity Likewise, similarly, in the same vein She tried really hard to entertain her guests. Similarly, he put all his heart and soul in cooking a great dinner.
Summarize/conclude In conclusion, to sum up, in short In conclusion, transition words are an important aspect of SEO copywriting.
Table 1: transition words with example sentences

Check out this article for transition words in other languages.

Why are they important for SEO?

Transition words make it easier to read and understand a text. And readability is very important for SEO. Although they don’t influence your SEO directly, they are one of the key factors to readability.

Transition words also play a crucial role in structuring your text. This leads to a better understanding of your text by your readers. A well-structured text helps to attract readers to your blog and contributes to SEO!

What does the transition words check in Yoast SEO do?

The transition words check in Yoast SEO assesses whether or not you use enough transition words. If at least 30% of the sentences in your text contain a transition word, the bullet will be green. You get an orange bullet if you use them in more than 20%, or in less than 30% of your sentences. The bullet will be red if less than 20% of the sentences of your text contain a transition word. That’s less than 1 in 5 sentences.

Want to read more on how we came to the exact measurements of the transition words check and of the other readability checks? Check out our article about the methodological choices of the readability analysis.

Want to find out which transition words Yoast SEO recognizes? Check out our article on transition words in your language.

How to improve your use of transition words

There are several potential problem areas when it comes to transition words. Let’s start with the good news: everyone uses them in some way. There are very few authors who never use the words ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘or’, and the like. Using them correctly or frequently enough, however, doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Using transition words successfully requires a couple of things. You have to:

  1. Know the transition words;
  2. Have a clear idea of the relationships between separate thoughts and ideas within your text;
  3. Know how to apply transition words properly and in context;

1. Know the words

Actually knowing the transition words is most commonly a problem for non-native speakers. However, many native speakers could also benefit from studying the less frequent ones. In any case, it is easy to do. You simply look up a list of transition words and study their definitions. Don’t underestimate it either, though! They are often quite nuanced and really depend on context.

2. Be aware of how your thoughts and ideas relate to each other

In the blog post assignments people hand in for feedback in our SEO training courses, we see a clear pattern. People who have a better idea of the structure of their text also use more transition words and do it more effectively. Too often, people just start writing and then basically just see what happens. So what can you do?

Break your text down into an introduction, body, and conclusion, and make sure you know what goal every paragraph serves. Then, survey your text on a sentence level. Find opportunities to make transitions that make sense. If you struggle with this, try reading texts by other authors and see how they use transition words.

Want to learn more about transition words and how to write great content? Our SEO Copywriting course can help you with that. You can get access to this course and all of our other SEO courses with Yoast SEO Premium, which also gives you access to extra features in the Yoast SEO plugin.

Go Premium and get free access to our SEO courses!

Learn how to write great content for SEO and unlock lots of features with Yoast SEO Premium:

Or if you’re on Shopify and want to work on the readability and SEO of your website, check out our Yoast SEO for Shopify app.

Conclusion

Transition words are very important for the readability of your text. However, many people struggle with them. If you do, study them and make sure you practice a lot. Our SEO Copywriting training can help you with that. In addition, make sure you’re aware of the structure of your text. In this way, it will be easier to pick the best transition words available.

Read more: How to use the readability analysis in Yoast SEO »

Marieke is the head of strategy at Yoast and founder of Yoast SEO academy. She loves coming up with new ideas and products to make SEO attainable for everyone, and ensure a healthy growth for Yoast!

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Table of Contents

  1. What is a transition word in a sentence?
  2. What is a transitional phrase examples?
  3. What are some examples of transition?
  4. Is consequently a transition word?
  5. Is apparently a transition word?
  6. Is one reason a transition word?
  7. Is more specifically a transition word?
  8. Is Fast forward a transition word?
  9. What is sequence word?
  10. What is a sequence signal word?

Transition words are words like ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’ and ‘because’. They show your reader the relationship between phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs. When you use them, you make it easier for your readers to understand how your thoughts and ideas are connected.

What is a transitional phrase examples?

Transitional expressions include conjunctive adverbs used to join or to connect independent clauses such as however, hence, also, consequently, meanwhile, nevertheless, moreover, and furthermore as well as transitional phrases such as after all, even so, in addition, on the other hand, for example, as a result, and in …

What are some examples of transition?

Transitional expressions

LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION
Example for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate
Emphasis even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
Place/Position above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there

Is consequently a transition word?

Some of these transition words (thus, then, accordingly, consequently, therefore, henceforth) are time words that are used to show that after a particular time there was a consequence or an effect.

Is apparently a transition word?

When you do use them, keep their broader functions (i.e., “causality,” “emphasis,” etc.) directly in mind….Transition Words.

Causality Emphasis Amplification
Consequently Certainly Also
For this reason Clearly Apparently
Hence Indeed Besides
Therefore In fact Equally important

Is one reason a transition word?

one reason, another reason.

Is more specifically a transition word?

These transitions are placed at the beginning of the second sentence and are often followed by a comma to improve readability….Introductory words or phrases.

I want to… Informal transition Formal transition
Specify Especially In particular, more specifically

Is Fast forward a transition word?

We often see this when a writer has been talking about something that happened in the past, in order to set the context and make a point about the current situation. When this happens, a common expression is used as a transition, and it’s often worded something like: Fast forward to now. Fast forward to the present.

What is sequence word?

Sequence words are words that help us understand the order of events that are happening in the story. They tell us things like what happened first, what happened next, and what happened that was unexpected. Think of them as signal words that help us identify the next event in a story and the end of a story.

What is a sequence signal word?

Sequence or time order signal words help the reader see which important details will be developed in a sequential pattern. Numbers may be used, but for the purpose of showing time order or steps in a process, not for the purpose of merely listing at random.

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.

Transition words are used to ensure that ideas flow seamlessly within a piece of content.

The primary purpose of transition words is to ensure that your ideas flow seamlessly within your content.

What Are Some Examples Of Transition Words and Phrases?

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

Not to mention
Equally important
As a matter of fact
Not only/But Also
In addition
In fact
For example
What is more

In particular
On the other hand
When in fact
But even so
Whatever happens
In any case
Because of
Due to

In the event that
With this in mind
To conclude
By the way
To return to the subject
As has been mentioned
Given these points

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:

Cause and Effect

granted that
as long as
for the purpose of
in order to
in view of
as a result of
due to
because
therefore
consequently
so
accordingly
thus
hence
Since
for
owing to
as a consequence of
leads to
contributes of
stems from
comes from
results from

Evidence

as well as
and
too
also
in addition to
or
not only… but also
further
furthermore
besides
in addition
moreover
then
again
finally
by the same token
identically
uniquely
certainly
truly
including
to be sure
namely
chiefly

Contrast

however
on the other hand
otherwise
but
unlike
conversely
in spite of
at the same time
nevertheless
alternatively
on the contrary
yet
whereas
apart from
even so
although
while

Comparison

as
as if
similarly
equally
like
in the same way
comparable
as with
of contrast
despite this
in comparison
in contrast
even though
likewise
in like manner

Opinion

I feel
I believe
in my opinion
as fast as I know
in my experience
as for me, I think
if I’m not mistaken
I think
in my view
it seems likely
it seems to me
what I mean is
i’d say that

Similarity

moreover
as well as
together
of course
likewise
comparatively
correspondingly
similarly
furthermore
additionally

Clarification

that is to say
in other words
to clarify
that is
to explain
to put it another way
to rephrase it
in this case
I mean
up to a point
under certain circumstance

Sequence/ Order

first
second
next
finally
at this time
following
previously
before
prior to
before

Time

later
after
before
soon
meanwhile
during
subsequently
after that
at the present time
sooner or later
in due time
as long as
in the meantime
in a moment
at this instant
from time to time

Condition / Purpose

provided that
given that
in case
even if
only if
so as to
in as much as
when
whenever
if… then
unless
because of
as
while
lest
since

Emphasis

also
especially
furthermore
indeed
in addition
in particular
certainly
of course
significantly
notably
in fact
actually
in reality
as it happens

Conclusion

in conclusion
to conclude
finally
summarizing
overall
on the whole
to sum up
evidently
briefly
in short
altogether
in summary
to summarize

Place

here
there
over there
under
beyond
to the left
opposite
in the distance

Illustration

such as
in this case
for one thing
for example
in the case of
illustrated by
as an example
for instance
in other words
as revealed by
an instance
to show that

Reservation

admittedly
even so
as a matter of fact
indeed
nevertheless
even though
despite this
notwithstanding
regardless

Transition words ensure the seamless flow of ideas in your content.

Transition words ensure the seamless flow of ideas in your content.

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:

Transition words give your work direction

Transition words give your work direction

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:

Transition words help you switch smoothly between ideas. Seamlessly like the changing of seasons

Transition words help you switch smoothly between ideas. Seamlessly like the changing of seasons.

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.

Still confused about transition words? Here's an INK visual guide to help you remember.
Still confused about transition words? Here’s an INK visual guide to help you remember.

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

Transition Words Question #1

A. Causal

B. Additive

C. Adversative

D. Sequential

Correct!
Wrong!

The correct answer is letter C. Adversative transition words may be used to signal opposing ideas or dismiss a previously discussed idea altogether.
(E.g., but, however, conversely, still, and besides)

Causal Transition Question #2

A. Additionally

B. Consequently

C. Either way

D. To illustrate

Correct!
Wrong!

The correct answer is letter B. Consequently along with words like for, since, unless, as a result, and hence are all causal transition words.
(E.g., «Flexible workers often find themselves in great demand, and consequently, earn high wages.»)

Transition Words in SEO Question #3

A. They make content more interesting.

B. They make content easier to read.

C. They help increase word count.

D. Trick question! They’re not important for SEO at all.

Correct!
Wrong!

The correct answer is letter B. Transition words help improve the flow of ideas within a piece of content, making it more readable and easy to understand. Content with a high readability score can boost your SEO.

Transition Words Quiz Result

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Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

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

transition words for paragraphs

Good transition words for starting a paragraph include addition phrases like ‘furthermore’, cause and effect words like ‘consequently’, and contradiction words like ‘however’. Scroll down for a full table of transition words.

Using transition words in your writing can help you improve the readability and flow of your paragraph to the next.

These words help your text flow seamlessly into the next idea, which shows your readers the relationship between paragraphs and phrases.

What are Transition Words?

Transition words for beginning paragraphs help writers to introduce a shift, opposition, contrast, agreement, emphasis, purpose, result, or conclusion from what was previously written. They are essential in argumentative essays.

Transition words are like bridges between the different paragraphs in your pieces. They serve as the cues that help your reader understand your ideas. They carry your ideas from one sentence to the next and one paragraph to the next.

Transitional words and phrases link an idea from a sentence to the following paragraph, so your work is read smoothly without abrupt jumps or sudden breaks between concepts.

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Types of Transition Words for Starting a Paragraph

Transition words can fall into more than one category based on what type of transition in your paragraph you’re planning to make.

For example, you’d want a different transition word if your second paragraph contradicts your first than if it supports it. Take the following examples:

Purpose Transition Word
Second body paragraph supports statement in the first body paragraph Furthermore, What’s more, Similarly, Supporting evidence finds, Likewise.
Second body paragraph contradicts statement in the first body paragraph However, Nevertheless, Contradictory evidence finds, Despite the above points.

Here is a list of transition words and what category they fall under.

  • Addition – A transition that combines two or more ideas and shows their relationship. Examples include, what’s more, equally important, again, also, and, furthermore, moreover, besides.
  • Cause and Effect – When one idea triggers another. This lets the reader know that they are directly connected. Examples include, consequently, hence, therefore, thus, next, as a result.
  • Clarification – This is to rephrase what was said to clarify a statement and provide emphasis. Examples include, in other words, that is to say, to clarify.
  • Compare and Contrast – This shows a relationship between two ideas that are compared based on differences or similarities. Examples are, after all, although this may be true, in contrast, likewise, on the contrary, similarly, whereas, yet.
  • Emphasis (Boosting) – This shows certainty. Examples include, emphatically, in fact, surprisingly, undeniably, in any case, indeed, never, without a doubt.
  • Exception or Contradiction – This happens when an action with a pre-conceived notion ends with a different action. Examples are, however, nevertheless, in spite of, of course, once in a while, despite.
  • Summarize or Conclude – This signals the reader that they are at the end of the paragraph. Examples are, as this essay has shown, as a result, In conclusion, therefore, thus, hence, in short, in brief.
  • Sequential– This expresses a numerical sequence, conclusion, continuation, resumption, or summation. Examples are to change the topic, to conclude with, afterward, incidentally, by the way, initially.

List of Transition Words for New Paragraphs

Type of Transition Word Transition Word for Paragraphs Examples
Emphasis Boosting Emphatically, In fact, Surprisingly, Undeniably, Without a doubt, Indeed, Of course, Surely, Undoubtedly, Without a doubt.
Addition Furthermore, Moreover, Supporting the above points, Similar research has found, In fact (See more transition words for addition here).
Providing Evidence To demonstrate, Evidence of this fact can be seen in, Proof of this point is found in, For instance, Compelling evidence shows, For a case in point, In fact, Notably, One study found, Supporting evidence shows. (See more transition words for evidence here).
Cause and Effect Consequently, Hence, Therefore, Thus, As a result, accordingly, The consequence is.
Clarification In other words, That is to say, To clarify, For example, More evidence can be found, Furthermore.
Compare and Contrast However, However, Conversely, Despite this, In spite of the above statements, Nonetheless, Nevertheless, A contradictory argument, Regardless.
Summarize or Conclude As this essay has shown, In conclusion, To summarize, The balance of evidence finds, The research compellingly indicates
Sequence and Order Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, Subsequently, Next, Afterwards, Later, Consequently.

Transition Words to Avoid

I recommend avoiding the following transition words:

Transition Word Reasoning
As mentioned before Your teacher may write: “If you mentioned this before, why are you saying it again?”
In conclusion, This is a cliché transition word for beginning conclusion paragraphs. Instead, try using the callback method discussed in my 5 C Conclusion Formula.
In a nutshell, With that said Too colloquial. Try using more formal language such as: “The weight of evidence finds…”
In my opinion, I feel like, In my experience Many teachers don’t like first person language in essays. Use third person language and back claims up with academic research rather than personal opinion (except if it’s a reflective piece).
Generally, In general, As a general rule, By and large Teachers like to pick at you if you talk in generalizations. Instead, hedge your statements by saying “Sometimes”, “Often”, or “The majority of” and back this up with references.

Examples in Sentences

The best way to understand transition words is to provide examples. Let’s look at this sentence:

“Amy did not study for her test. Therefore, she did not get a good result.”

When you see the word ‘therefore,’ the reader knows that this is a cause and effect. What happened in the first sentence caused a resulting action.

The transition word provided a seamless flow into the next sentence that describes this effect.

Using the transitional word, ‘therefore,’ shows that the two sentences are part of one idea/process. Even with skimming, the reader can guess what’s the resulting action. This is how transition words hold your ideas together. Without them, it’s like your piece is just a jumble of coherent words.

Transition words don’t have to be placed at the start of a sentence. Let’s look at this sentence:

“Many people came to the event. Cristine, Emily, and David, for instance.”

In this sentence, ‘for instance’ is at the end of the sentence. However, it still gives the reader the necessary information to see how the two sentences are linked.

Why use Transition Words

Proper communication of your ideas through paragraphs is important in writing. In order for your reader to read your piece with a thorough understanding of each idea and point conveyed in the piece, you have to use transition words and phrases.

With the examples provided, you would see that transitions string together your ideas by establishing a clear connection between the sentences and paragraphs.

Without transition words, your work may seem daunting and stressful to read, and the reader will not understand the idea you’re trying to convey.

Transitional phrases are especially important when writing an essay or thesis statement, as each paragraph has to connect ideas effortlessly.

Therefore, when a paragraph ends, the next idea must have some link to the previous one, which is why transition words play an important role.

Where Else to use Transition Words in an Essay

Transition words are important English devices for essays and papers. They enhance the transitions and connections between the sentences and paragraphs, giving your essay a flowing structure and logical thought.

Transition terms may seem easy to remember; however, placing them in the incorrect manner can cause your essay to fall flat.

Here are some places where essays transition words may fit:

  • To show a connection between evidence and the ending
  • To flow into the next paragraph, use your closing statement at the conclusion of each one
  • At the start of the first body paragraph
  • At the start of the second body paragraph
  • In some of the starting sections of your summary or introductory paragraphs
  • In an overview of your opinions/solutions in the conclusion

When adding your transition words and phrases in your essay, make sure not to accidentally form an incomplete or fragmented sentence. This is common with transitions, such as, if, although, and since.

Conclusion

While transition words are important in any writing piece, you have to make sure that the word or phrase you choose matches the logic of the paragraph or point you’re making. Use these words and phrases in moderation, as too much of them can also heavily bring the quality of your work down.

Chris

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education.

Different Types of Transition Words in a List Pdf!

What are Transition Words in English?

In English, a transition word is a word that indicates a relationship between two phrases or different parts of writing. Sometimes transition words are used to show important stages of thinking in common writing practice.

Here is a shortlist of Transition Words for quick understanding:

  • Accordingly
  • Thus
  • Thereupon
  • Therefore
  • Then
  • Hence
  • Forthwith
  • For this reason
  • Due to

What are the Types of Transition Words?

There are two basic types of transitions, conjunctive adverbs and conjunctions.

But on the basis of relationship and different stages of thinking transition words can be divided into the following categories:

  1. Order
  2. Emphasis
  3. Reason
  4. Illustration
  5. Contrast
  6. clarifications
  7. Comparison / similarity
  8. Conclusion
  9. Condition
  10. Concession
  11. Generalization
  12. Restatement
  13. Reference
  14. Space / Location
  15. Result

List of Transition Words / Examples

Order

  • Before
  • At this time
  • After
  • Above all
  • About
  • Tomorrow
  • To begin with
  • Third/ thirdly
  • Subsequently
  • Since
  • Second/ secondly
  • Prior to
  • Previously
  • Once
  • Now
  • Not long after
  • Next
  • Momentarily
  • Later
  • Lastly and most importantly
  • Last but not least
  • In turn
  • In the first place
  • From this point
  • Following
  • First/ firstly
  • Finally
  • Eventually

Emphasis

  • Besides
  • As well as that
  • As well as
  • Apart from this
  • And
  • Also
  • Along with
  • Additionally / an additional
  • Absolutely
  • Above all
  • Without a doubt
  • With attention
  • Unquestionably
  • Undoubtedly
  • Truly
  • Too
  • Together with
  • To repeat
  • To emphasize
  • To clarify
  • Third
  • Surprisingly
  • Similarily
  • Second
  • Positively
  • Particularly / in particular
  • Of course
  • Obviously
  • Not to mention
  • Not only…but also
  • Never
  • Naturally
  • Moreover
  • Last
  • It should be noted
  • Indeed
  • In truth
  • In the same fashion
  • In detail
  • In addition to this
  • In addition
  • Importantly
  • Furthermore
  • Further
  • First
  • Finally
  • Even
  • Especially
  • Definitely
  • Coupled with
  • Clearly
  • Chiefly

Reason

  • Granted that
  • Given that
  • For the purpose of
  • Because of
  • With this purpose
  • With this intention
  • With this in mind
  • So that
  • Seeing that
  • Provided that
  • Owing to
  • In view of
  • In order to
  • In fact

Also check: 100 Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

Illustration

  • Illustrated by
  • For one thing
  • For example/ For instance
  • As an example of
  • To simplify
  • To demonstrate/ To clarify
  • To demonstrate
  • To clarify
  • Such as
  • Specifically
  • Proof of this
  • On this occasion
  • Namely
  • Like
  • Including
  • In this situation
  • In this case
  • In the case of
  • In another case

Contrast

  • Conversely
  • Contrary to
  • Contrarily
  • As opposed to
  • Alternatively
  • Yet
  • While
  • Whereas
  • Up against
  • Unlike
  • Though
  • Rather
  • On the other hand
  • Notwithstanding
  • Nor
  • Nonetheless
  • Nevertheless
  • Instead
  • In opposition
  • In contrast (to)
  • However
  • Even so
  • Differing from
  • Despite/in spite of

Clarification

  • To simplify
  • To put it in another way
  • To put it clearly
  • To make plain
  • To explain
  • To clearly define
  • To break it down
  • That is to say
  • Simply stated
  • Simply put
  • In simple terms
  • In other words
  • Inlay terms
  • In explanation
  • I mean

Comparison/Similarity

  • By the same token
  • Both
  • As with
  • As with
  • Alike
  • Still another
  • Similarly
  • Similarly
  • Similar to
  • Same as
  • Resembles
  • Of contrast
  • Most important
  • Likewise
  • Likewise
  • Like
  • Just like
  • Just as…so too
  • Just as
  • In the spitting image of
  • In the same way
  • In the same way
  • In like manner
  • In contrast
  • In comparison
  • In common
  • In a similar manner
  • Even though
  • Equally
  • Equal
  • Either
  • Despite this
  • Correspondingly
  • Compare / compare(d) to (with)

Also check: List of adverbs

Conclusion

  • By and large
  • Briefly
  • As you can see
  • As shown above
  • As noted
  • As demonstrated above
  • Altogether
  • All things considered
  • Usually
  • Ultimately
  • To summarize
  • To sum up
  • To end
  • To conclude
  • Therefore
  • Overall
  • On the whole
  • In the final analysis
  • In the end
  • In summary
  • In short
  • In essence
  • In conclusion
  • In brief
  • In any event
  • In a word
  • Given these points
  • Generally speaking

Condition

  • Given that
  • Even if
  • Because of
  • As
  • Although this may be true
  • While
  • Whenever
  • When
  • Unless
  • Then
  • Since
  • Only if
  • On the condition that
  • Lest
  • In the event that
  • In that case
  • If
  • Granted that

Concession

  • And yet
  • And still
  • Although/Even though
  • Although
  • All the same
  • Albeit
  • Admittedly
  • Up to a point
  • Regardless of this
  • Nonetheless
  • Nevertheless
  • In spite of
  • However
  • Even though
  • Even so
  • Even if
  • Be that as it may

Generalization

  • Commonly
  • Broadly speaking
  • As a rule
  • Usually
  • Typically
  • Regularly
  • Predominately
  • Overall
  • On the whole
  • On the whole
  • Often
  • Normally
  • Mostly
  • More often than not
  • Mainly
  • In most cases
  • In general/ Generally
  • Generally speaking
  • For the most part

Restatement

  • In other words
  • In a nutshell
  • Expressed simply
  • Alternatively stated
  • Alternatively
  • To put it differently
  • That is to say
  • Simply put
  • Simplified
  • Said differently
  • Reiterated
  • Put in another way
  • Put differently
  • Otherwise stated
  • Namely
  • In summation
  • In simple terms
  • In simple language
  • In short

Reference

  • Considering
  • Concerning
  • As far as
  • As applied to
  • With respect to
  • With regards to
  • The fact that
  • Speaking about/of
  • Regarding
  • Pertaining to
  • In terms
  • In connection to

Also check: Confused Words List

Space/ Location

  • Beneath
  • Below
  • At the rear
  • Around
  • Adjacent
  • Adjacent
  • Across
  • Underneath
  • To the left
  • Surrounding
  • Over
  • Opposite
  • On top
  • On bottom
  • Next to
  • Nearby
  • Near

Result

  • Consequently
  • As a result
  • As a consequence (of)
  • Accordingly
  • Thus
  • Thereupon
  • Therefore
  • Then
  • Hence
  • Forthwith
  • For this reason
  • Due to

Info-Graphics (Different Transition words List)

Different Types of Transition Words in a List Pdf

Transition words list pdf
transition words in english

What are Transition words – Video Lesson

Different Types of Transition Words in a List Pdf

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