Word transitions for essays

List of transition words for essays! All right, everyone in the world who enjoys writing essays, turn all your lights on for two seconds. Right…NOW! Whoa…was it our imagination, or did the world go black for two seconds? There is no denying that on a list of 100 hobbies and fun things to do, essay writing tops out at about 201.

But, like clipping toenails, sometimes you just have to do it. And if you are going to write an essay, you might as well do the best you can, and write one that is great! In this article, we are going to take a look at some important transition words for the essay. With these lists of transitions, you can do just that.

When writing essays, it is always important to know how to make a smooth progression from one subject or division to another. Otherwise, you will end up with a lot of brilliant information, but no one will be able to understand it. Transitions are street signs in writing. They tell the reader what street the writer is headed toward, and which thoughts need to be brought to the on-ramp – among other things.

In order to arrive at your destination, and impart knowledge – perhaps even causing someone to see your point of view on a topic, transitions are a necessity.

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List of Transition Words for Essays

Following is a list of transition words for essays you can use to master your writing skill.

Beginning

Some of these are a bit more argumentative than others. It’s smart to weigh the first words of an essay very carefully since they set the tone for the rest of the piece. Do you wish it to be thoughtful? Insightful? Assertive? Aggressive? That’s why we have transitions—

  • To begin with
  • First
  • Generally speaking
  • To be sure
  • Once upon a time
  • In the first place
  • On the one hand
  • Ordinarily

Example: Generally speaking, the concept that all politicians are extroverts is a fallacy.

Division

  • So then
  • This is why
  • Granted
  • This can be seen in

Example: Granted, the way politics forces people in the office to behave can be misleading.

Sub-division

  • Also
  • For that matter
  • Yet

Example: For that matter, politics is simply misleading.

Now, unless your essay is bone dry, there will be more—much more—to it than just a couple of divisions and a conclusion. It will manipulate time like a Sci-fi writer, be more interesting than a romance novel, be as accurate as an atomic clock, and will stick in the reader’s mind like an old Temptation’s song. Transitions exist to help your essay do all of this. And they can serve very specific purposes.

Here are transitions that serve to…

Accent or Highlight a Point

  • Certainly
  • Usually
  • As a rule
  • Admittedly
  • In this situation

Example: Usually, that market sold two types of tomatoes.

These Accent or Highlight, but with a touch of drama, seeming to “stop the show”:

  • Above all
  • Unquestionably
  • Undoubtedly
  • Obviously

Example: Unquestionably, that market sold the best tomatoes.

The difference between the two accent transitions is rather obvious. The top words are more laid back. The ones that add drama leave no wiggle room.

To manipulate time or the concept of time:

Control Time

  • Also, next, last
  • Generally, for now, later on
  • Additionally, in the meantime, last
  • Indeed, by and large, finally

Example: Generally, politicians deserve to be pelted with tomatoes from that market. They can deal with cleaning their suits later on.

Highlight Instances

  • Chiefly
  • Illustrated by
  • Including
  • This has been seen in
  • An example of this is

Example: Chiefly, irritating politicians with too much tan and bad hair deserve to pelted with tomatoes.

One transition which is often overlooked so far as importance is concerned is the comparison/contrast. This might be one of the most important in essay writing. In all forms of speech, really, because it shows the ability of the person speaking or writing to see other perspectives and weigh them in an intelligent, objective manner.

Comparison/Contrast

  • On one hand/on the other hand
  • Still
  • Yet
  • However
  • In spite of
  • Despite
  • Because of
  • At the same time
  • Nevertheless
  • On the contrary

Example: Still, it would be a terrible waste of tomatoes, so we won’t pelt the politicians.

Along with the argument for or against something, is the expansion of an idea. These transitions help lay the foundation for taking an idea or thought, then adding more to it.

Expand on an idea

  • Yet another
  • Furthermore
  • Also
  • Additionally
  • Indeed
  • Correspondingly
  • Another thing
  • Likewise

Example: Indeed, we need tomatoes right now. Politicians? Not as much.

When you are moving into the cause with its accompanying effect.

Cause/Effect

  • Since
  • Afterward
  • Consequently
  • Accordingly
  • Due to
  • This is why
  • Following
  • In effect
  • Under these circumstances
  • For all of these reasons
  • Wherefore
  • Therefore

Example: Under these circumstances, I believe we need to ignore politicians and grow tomatoes.

When Concluding

  • Finally
  • To sum up
  • Overall
  • To summarize
  • Taking everything into account
  • All things considered
  • Ultimately
  • Given these points
  • On the whole
  • That is to say
  • In the final analysis
  • Briefly

Learn more about conclusion transition words in English. 

Tips for Using Transition Words for Essays

Now you have the tools—the transition words for essays. All you need now is to remember a couple do’s and don’ts.

DO:

  • Change transitions as you change ideas.
  • Read through what you have written several times. Make sure the transitions you have used are appropriate and make sense.
  • Have an idea of what direction you wish to go with your writing before you start. That way, when you use a transition, it is more likely to be in a place that works.

DON’T:

  • Keep repeating a transition.
  • Keep adding more and more transitions in the same sentence or paragraph, thinking that more is best. Use them when and where they are needed and try to keep how many transitions you use to a reasonable amount.
  • Throw a transition into your writing without knowing its true meaning, and proper usage.

Transitions are great tools, but tools aren’t really usable unless the person wielding them understands how they are supposed to be used. When writing your essay, do it as required, then do the all-important task of reading and re-reading it. This will check for usage and flow.

Transition Words for Essays | Infographic

Transition Words for Essays | Useful Tips for Using Transition Words for EssaysPin

Last Updated on February 18, 2023

Tired of stumbling through clunky, disjointed paragraphs? Want to elevate your writing game and captivate your readers? 

Here’s your solution! 

Today we’re diving into the magic of transition words, the secret weapon of great essay writing. These power-packed words seamlessly connect your ideas and keep your readers engaged from beginning to end. 

So, grab your pen and paper, and get ready to take your writing to the next level!

What are Good Transition Words for Essays?

Transition words are used to show your readers the relationship between words, phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs.

The transition will make it easier for you to convey your ideas and thoughts in an understandable way. The additional purpose of a transitional word or phrase is to prepare the reader for what is coming.

It is important to pay attention to these words if you are writing an essay that can easily convey your ideas.

In addition to that, transition words are also important when it comes to switching from one idea to another. Without transition words, your readers can easily lose direction.

Another important thing here is moderation. Lacking or even overusing transition words and phrases can lead to a clunky and confusing piece of paper.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays

Transition words are extremely important. They not only connect thoughts and ideas but also highlights a shift, opposition or contrast, agreement or emphasis, purpose, result, etc, in the line of argument.

So, transition words are used to achieve various purposes. Other than connecting ideas better, you will be able to put your sentences together smoothly.

Therefore, below you can find some good transition words for essays in different categories.

This transition words for essays list will make it easier for you to understand what words to use in what situation.

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Transition Words for Argumentative Essays

  • To begin with
  • To show
  • By contrast
  • One alternative is
  • Chiefly
  • Mainly
  • To put more simply
  • At the same time
  • On the contrary
  • Afterall
  • With this in mind
  • All things considered
  • As a result
  • To clarify
  • Generally speaking
  • That is to say
  • Yet another

Conclusion Transition Words for Essays

  • Overall
  • Altogether
  • In short
  • In fact
  • After all
  • Ultimately
  • All in all
  • In any event
  • As mentioned
  • In general
  • In other words
  • In summary
  • As you can see

Transition Words for Persuasive Essays

  • Consequently
  • In addition
  • Then
  • furthermore
  • Clearly
  • Additionally
  • Moreover
  • Because
  • Besides that
  • In the same way
  • Pursuing this further

List of Common Transition Words 

To help you further, here are some common transition words for essays that can be used in almost any situation. 

For Addition

  • As Well As
  • Besides That 
  • Equally Important 
  • Furthermore
  • In Addition
  • In The Second Place

For Comparison

  • Similarly
  • In Comparison
  • In The Same Way
  • Just Like
  • Likewise
  • At The Same Time
  • But At The Same Time 
  • Conversely 
  • Even So/Though 
  • On The Contrary 

For Time

  • Now That 
  • Soon   
  • Immediately
  • Afterward   

For Emphasizing

  • Primarily 
  • In Essence 
  • Indeed 
  • To Put It Another Way             
  • More Accurately                     
  • Namely  

For Repetition

  • In Other Words 
  • To Repeat
  • Again
  • To Put It Another Way
  • Also  

Sequence Transition Words

  • Firstly  
  • Subsequently 
  • Lastly
  • In The First Place 
  • To Begin With 
  • Then

For Showing Exception

  • At The Same Time 
  • Nevertheless  
  • On The Other Hand 
  • But At The Same Time 
  • Conversely 

For Proving

  • For This Reason 
  • Certainly 
  • To Demonstrate
  • In Fact 
  • Clearly 
  • As A Result

Paragraph Transition Words for Essays

  • Generally speaking
  • Earlier
  • To put it differently
  • Once and for all
  • In the meantime
  • As you can see
  • Furthermore
  • To begin with
  • In time
  • In the meantime
  • Thereby
  • By the way

Transition Words for Essay’s First Body Paragraph 

  • At first
  • To start with
  • In the first place
  • First and foremost
  • In the beginning
  • Initially

Transition Words for Essay’s Second Body Paragraphs

  • Simultaneously
  • Meanwhile
  • After that
  • Subsequently
  • Moreover
  • In addition to this 
  • Likewise
  • Furthermore 

Transition Words for Essay’s Last Body Paragraphs

  • In conclusion
  • Finally 
  • Last but not least 
  • To sum up 
  • Altogether 
  • All in all

Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays

  • Similarly
  • Also
  • In the same way
  • Likewise
  • Although
  • At the same time
  • But
  • Conversely
  • Even so
  • However
  • In contrast
  • Nevertheless
  • Nonetheless
  • Notwithstanding
  • On the contrary
  • Otherwise
  • Still
  • Yet

Transition Words for Informative Essays

  • After all
  • As can be expected
  • Clearly
  • Generally
  • Namely
  • Naturally
  • Obviously
  • Of course
  • Specifically
  • Usually
  • Surely

Transition Words for Expository Essays

  • To begin
  • Firstly
  • For one thing
  • In addition
  • Equally important
  • Another reason
  • Likewise
  • After that
  • Afterward
  • Not long after that
  • Looking back

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Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays

  • When
  • If…then
  • Because
  • In order to
  • Since
  • Whenever
  • Due to
  • Provided that
  • With this in mind
  • Thus
  • As a result
  • Therefore
  • Consequently
  • Accordingly
  • And so
  • Hence
  • Because of this

Transition Words for Synthesis Essays

  • As noted earlier
  • Hence
  • Consequently
  • Whereas
  • This leads to
  • Another factor
  • This lead to
  • Likewise
  • Besides
  • The underlying concept
  • In this respect

Transition Words for Analysis Essays

  • (once) again
  • Primarily
  • Due to
  • Accordingly
  • That is to say
  • Subsequently
  • Thus
  • With this in mind
  • To demonstrate
  • However

Transition Words for Quotes in Essays

  • Says
  • Notes
  • Declares
  • Observes
  • Expresses
  • Shows
  • Confirms
  • Mentions
  • Acknowledges
  • Response
  • Confirms
  • Shows
  • States
  • Comments

Beginning Transition Words for Essays

These are some introduction transition words for essays to start writing:

  • In the first place
  • First of all
  • To begin with
  • Generally
  • For the most part
  • On one hand
  • Similarly
  • By the way
  • Accordingly
  • As a rule

Transition Words for Essays College

Here are some college level transition words for essay:

  • Additionally
  • Again
  • Further
  • Finally
  • Pursuing this
  • Similarly
  • What’s more
  • Moreover
  • Also
  • As much as
  • In a like manner
  • In the same fashion

Transition Words for Essays Middle School

  • After
  • Next
  • Above all
  • As a result
  • Now
  • Therefore
  • In conclusion
  • For instance
  • Since
  • Though
  • Additionally
  • All in all

Transition Words for Essays High School

  • Then
  • Now
  • Today
  • At last
  • Finally
  • In addition
  • Nevertheless
  • To summarize
  • To sum up
  • On the other hand
  • Likewise
  • As well as
  • Although

Transition Words for College Essays

  • Such as
  • To summarize
  • To begin with
  • That is
  • The next step
  • There is no doubt
  • Therefore
  • Thereupon
  • Thus
  • Usually
  • Wherefore
  • While
  • Whereas
  • Especially
  • Corresponding to
  • At first glance
  • Certainly
  • In the long run

Do’s and Don’ts of Using Transition Words

So, now you have some strong transition words for essays at hand. But how do you use these transition words?

Here are the basic do and don’ts of using transition words for essays.

Do:

  • Understand that these terms are an important part of any type of essay or paper, adding to its overall flow and readability.
  • Use these words when you are presenting a new idea. For example, start a new paragraph with these phrases, followed by a comma.

Don’t:

  • Do not overuse transition words. It is one of the most common essay writing problems that students end up with. It is important to only use those words required to convey your message clearly. It is good to sound smart by using these words but don’t overdo it.
  • Avoid using these words at the start and in the middle. Always try to use transition words only a few times where it is necessary to make it easy for the readers to follow the ideas.

So, now you have an extensive list of transition words. These are some of the best transition words for essays that you can add to your essays.

If your essay seems redundant because you used similar transition words, you can always have a look at this list to find some good replacements. 

So, whenever you’re writing an essay, refer back to this list and let your words flow!

If you still feel that your essay is not properly conveying your ideas, turn to our expert essay writers at MyPerfectWords.com.

If you have some write-up, our essay writing service will make it flow without changing the entire content. Or, if you wish to have an essay from scratch, we will write a paper for you!

Simply contact us and place your order now. Our writers will take care of everything to help you ace your assignment. 

Nova A.

Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

Published on:
Jul 9, 2019

Essay writing is a technical process that requires much more effort than simply pouring your thoughts on paper.

What the writer is trying to convey and how they do it plays a significant role in this process. Also, your essays are assessed according to a particular criteria and it is your responsibility to ensure that it is being met.

Along with other aspects, you need to make sure that the paper is coherent and maintains a logical connection throughout the paper. This can successfully be achieved with the help of transition words for essays.

If you are new to the concept of transition words and phrases, deep dive into this article in order to find out the secret for improving your essays.

What are Transition Words?

As writers, our goal is to communicate our thoughts and ideas in the most clear and logical manner. Especially when presenting complex ideas, we must ensure that they are being conveyed in the most understandable way.

To ensure that your paper is easy to understand, you can work on the sequencing of ideas. Break down your ideas into different sentences and paragraphs then use a transition word or phrase to guide them through these ideas.

Think of a transition as a conjunction or a joining word. It helps create strong relationships between ideas, paragraphs, or sentences and assists the readers to understand the word phrases and sentences easily.

They form a bridge and logical flow to connect sentences and different types of transitions to connect ideas making sure that there’s a smooth writing flow. In addition to tying the entire paper together, they help demonstrate the writer’s agreement, disagreement, conclusion, or contrast.

However, you must keep in mind that just using or including transitional words isn’t enough to highlight relationships between ideas. The content of your paragraphs must support the relationship as well.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays

As mentioned above, there are different categories of transitions that serve a unique purpose. Understanding these different types will help you pick the most suitable word or phrase to communicate your message.

Here we have categorized transition words for different types of essays and relationships for your assistance – use them appropriately!

Transition Words for Argumentative Essays

To begin with

To show

By contrast

One alternative is

Chiefly

Mainly

To put more simply

At the same time

On the contrary

Even if ‘A’ is true

Afterall

With this in mind

All things considered

As a result

To clarify

Generally speaking

Another way to view this

That is to say

Yet another

Another possibility is

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Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays

Despite

In contrast

Nevertheless

On the contrary

On the other hand

Otherwise

As an illustration

That is

Conversely

In spite of

Similarly

At the same time

Likewise

Still

In a similar fashion

Equally

Also

Yet

But

Simultaneously

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays

Despite

In contrast

Nevertheless

On the contrary

On the other hand

Otherwise

As an illustration

That is

Conversely

In spite of

Similarly

At the same time

Likewise

Still

In a similar fashion

Equally

Also

Yet

But

Simultaneously

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays

As a result

Under those circumstances

Thus

In effect

For this reason

Thereupon

Henceforth

Accordingly

Consequently

Because

Since

Otherwise

Due to

So

As a

Hence

In order to

If…then

For

Afterward

Transition Words to Start a Paragraph

Generally speaking

In the first place

To begin with

To be sure

Assuredly

Earlier

First of all

The next step

As you can see

For now

In time

Once and for all

First… second… third…

To put it differently

Foundationally

In addition

Basically

Furthermore

Besides

In the meantime

Transition Words for Conclusions

All things considered

Given these points

In summary

To summarize

In short

Briefly

After all

That is to say

Finally

All in all

In the final analysis

As previously stated

In essence

Ultimately

To sum up

On the whole

By and large

Overall

Everything considered

Taking everything into account

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Do’s and Don’ts of Using Essay Transitions

Do

Don’t

Add transitions only where introducing new ideas.

Don’t overuse them.

Go through the paper to make sure they make sense.

Don’t keep adding transitions in the same paragraph.

Start by creating an outline, so you know what ideas to share and how.

Don’t completely rely on transitions to signal relationships.

Use different transitions for each idea.

Don’t incorporate it in your content without understanding its usage.

You have probably understood how transition words can save you from disjointed and directionless paragraphs. They are the missing piece that indicates how ideas are related to one another.

If you are still unable to distinguish transitions to open or conclude your essays, don’t be upset — these things require time and practice.

If you have an important paper or research paper due now, you can get in touch with the expert writers at 5StarEssays.com and pay to write my essay. They will incorporate the right transitions according to the type of paper, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas.

Place your order today and get quality content at the most pocket-friendly rates available.

Essay writing is one academic assignment type that is based on some essential factors to be drafted professionally. Many students with excellent writing skills fail to provide good essays as they are not conscious of the basic technicalities.

One factor that contributes the most to the overall balanced and well-connected content is the usage of transitional words. These words tie the whole information together and maintain a logical flow.

Learn how transition words for your essays are and how to use them in this simple guide.

What are Transition Words?

Transition words are linking words used to connect sentences and ideas in the content. They help the audience move from one idea to another, building a coherent relationship within the document.

When writing an essay, it is essential to make sure that the information provided is readable and understandable by the readers. For this purpose, explicit language, transition words, and phrases are used.

Moreover, these words set a base for the idea that is going to be discussed next.

Transition words can either make or break the entire essay. It is mandatory to keep in view that not every sentence in your essay needs a transitional phrase. Use it in moderation to make sure that your document is not confusing.

Types of Transitions

Generally, there are three types of transitions that are used while drafting a piece of document. Depending on the length, complexity, and kind of text, transitions can take the following form:

  • Transition Between Sections — When your document is lengthy, transition paragraphs are used to summarize a particular section for the readers. In addition to this, it also links the information that is to be shared next.
  • Transition Between Paragraphs — The transition between paragraphs is when you logically connect the two paragraphs. This connection summarizes the paragraph’s primary concern and links it to the next idea of the other paragraph.
  • Transition Within Paragraphs — They act as cues for the readers to prepare them for what is coming next. They are usually single words or small phrases.

Transitional words depend on the relationship you want to convey to the audience about the ideas and paragraphs. Below is a list of words and phrases that can be used to link different sentences, paragraphs, and sections.

Identify which transition expression you want to share for your logical relationship.

Transition Words for Argumentative Essay

  • Also
  • In the same way
  • Just as
  • Likewise
  • Similarly
  • Equally important
  • Moreover
  • Furthermore
  • Comparatively
  • Additionally
  • Too
  • As
  • Like
  • In addition
  • Not only…but also

Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essay

  • But
  • Although
  • Instead
  • Whereas
  • Despite
  • In contrast
  • Different from
  • On the contrary
  • In spite of
  • Then again
  • In reality
  • Afterall
  • While
  • Besides
  • As much as

Transition Words for Informative Essay

  • If
  • In case
  • Unless
  • Provided that
  • So as to
  • When
  • Whenever
  • With this in mind
  • For the purpose of
  • In the hope that
  • In view of
  • In order to
  • With this intention
  • Owing to
  • Even if

Transition Words for College Essays

  • In other words
  • Notably
  • In fact
  • By all means
  • Surely
  • To clarify
  • Such as
  • To explain
  • Including
  • In general
  • In detail
  • Truly
  • To demonstrate
  • As in illustration
  • To put it another way

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essay

  • As a result
  • In effect
  • For this reason
  • Thus
  • Because the
  • Then
  • Hence
  • Under those circumstances
  • Therefore
  • Henceforth
  • Accordingly
  • Thereupon
  • Consequently
  • So
  • Since

Transition Words for Essay Paragraphs

  • At the present time
  • After
  • Whenever
  • To begin with
  • Since
  • Until
  • Meanwhile
  • In due time
  • As soon as
  • Prior to
  • In a moment
  • During
  • All of a sudden
  • As long as
  • Immediately

Transition Words for Space or Place

  • In the middle
  • There
  • Further
  • Here
  • Beyond
  • On this side
  • Next
  • In the distance
  • From
  • Around
  • In the background
  • Among
  • Beneath
  • Beside
  • Here and there

Transition Words for Conclusion

  • As can be seen
  • After all
  • To sum up
  • By and large
  • To summarize
  • In the final analysis
  • Generally speaking
  • In a word
  • On balance
  • Obviously
  • Ultimately
  • Altogether
  • Overall
  • In brief
  • On the whole

Tips to Use Transition Words in your Essay

Choosing the right transition word is one thing and using it appropriately is another. Professionals suggest first to analyze where and how to use the transition word to make the content appropriate.

Expert essay writers at MyPerfectWords.com have provided some tips for the students. These tips will help them accurately use transition words and bring a logical balance to the content.

  • It is essential to first understand that transitional words are as important as any factor in writing an essay. So use them wisely.
  • Use these words only when introducing a new idea and want to link it to the previous one.
  • Avoid overusing transition words in your essay. Use them where it is necessary.
  • Never use a transition word at the end of a sentence.

The success of your essay depends on many small factors. Transitional words are one of those factors that contribute to a well-written essay.

It might take time for you to learn these words, but practice makes the man perfect.

If you are anxious about drafting a flawless essay but are not aware of the transition words and how to use them, let professionals do their job.

Get help from the expert essay writers at CollegeEssay.org to produce a perfect document that will fulfill all academic requirements.

Whether you are looking for assistance in a simple college essay or a complicated research paper, we can help you create quality content.

Simply place your order to hire a professional for your custom essay at the most reasonable price.

Barbara P

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

Transition Words for Essays

Content:

  1. Sample Research Paper Paragraph
  2. Explanation
  3. Adding Additional Information to Support a Point
  4. Demonstrating Contrast
  5. Adding a Proviso or Acknowledging Reservations
  6. Giving Examples
  7. Signifying Importance
  8. Summarizing
  9. Stating Your Opinion

Transition Words for Essays: Words and Phrases Used in Academic Writing

In academic writing, there are certain transition words and phrases that are used consistently. If a student is able to become familiar with these words and phrases, their academic writing will certainly improve faster and their comprehension of academic texts will increase.

The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” – Mark Twain, The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain

In this post, I will share the words and phrases you can equip yourself with when writing or reading academic papers.

research, read up on, do research, look into, investigate, examine, study

Transition Words for Research Paper

Research is an essential part of any good academic paper. Without it, claims and opinions are not viable and hardly believable. Plus, without research, it is difficult to know much about your chosen subject.

“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” – Zora Neale Hurston”

By providing evidence of research, readers can trust what you write is concrete, accurate to the best of your knowledge, and reliable. Here is a sample of research writing in action, with citations given. It is a paragraph from a research essay:

Transition Words within a Paragraph

Video games encourage children to associate happiness and pleasure with the capability to cause pain to others. They develop the feeling that in order to be happy, one has to make other people suffer.

Children who play video games tend to develop selfish behavior (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). Video games teach the player to be dependent and since the child is often left alone while playing on a game console, he or she can develop selfish behaviors.

A certain study that was done at a Minneapolis-based national institute for media indicated that kids can get addicted to video games and exhibit social phobias. The interactive quality of virtual games is quite different from passively viewing movies or television.

The games allow players to be active participants in the script. The players who are able to benefit from acts of violence are then able to proceed to the next level (Sherry, 2001).

Transition Words and Phrases

  • a few studies…
  • other studies…
  • a certain study, … indicated that…
  • little attention has been devoted to the impact…
  • given the lack of critical attention paid to…
  • there is a divergence between …… and what they actually do. This divergence
  • occurs because…
  • several schools of thought have emerged…
  • as shown previously…
  • prior research has suggested…
  • another factor…
  • the underlying concept…
  • the likelihood that…
  • research indicates…
  • what is demonstrated…
  • against this backdrop…
  • the central issue addressed here is the relationship between…
  • the topic of …… warrants research attention for …… reasons.
  • to answer these questions…
  • the present study attempts to crystallize …… factors which influence …… by….
  • analyzing the relationship between …… and…
  • in examining…
  • in order to better understanding…
  • a deeper understanding of the process of…
  • we illustrate this procedure by…
  • we illustrate this procedure by using…
  • our contention is that…
  • this research builds on existing knowledge in the fields of…
  • insights drawn from scholarly literature are supplemented with those from…
  • it accentuates the realization that…
  • the issue is whether or not…
  • there is evidence that …… has a positive affect.
  • these arguments suggest…
  • given this orientation…
  • the same logic underlies…
  • in this context, it is worthwhile to consider…
  • in this respect, …
  • in contrast, …
  • a major trait…
  • typically, …
  • traditionally, …
  • this leads to…
  • generally, …
  • as noted earlier…
  • whereas…
  • briefly…
  • also, …
  • still, …
  • yet…
  • accordingly…
  • initially, it may seem…
  • surprisingly, …
  • next,…
  • in contrast…
  • nevertheless…
  • as a result…
  • hence…
  • accordingly…
  • respectively…
  • as a consequence…
  • consequently…
  • thus, …
  • therefore, …
  • for this reason…
  • because of this…

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Punctuation Marks – Quotation Marks – Question Mark


explain, illustrate, clarify, make clear, describe, teach, point up, demonstrate, put in other words

Explanation

Explaining the topics and issues within your main subject is intrinsic for writing well in academic writing. Without going into detail about the information you present, you are doing a disservice to your readers who expect to know more about the subtle side of an issue or topic.

Explanation gives readers the needed substance for learning about something new and extraordinary. You should not over-explain, as well as you should not under-explain. Find a balance in your academic writing.

Knowing key transition phrases and words that will lead into your section for explanation is a great way to get a head start on making your essay well-rounded and in-depth.

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” Anton Chekhov”

Sample Of Explanation

On the other hand, chauvinism as sexism refers both to males and females, as it assumes the belief in the superiority of one sex over the other.

Male chauvinists believe women must stay at home, cook and raise children, while men are supposed to live an active life, build careers and self-actualize (Iota 156). At the same time, some forms of modern feminism can be referred to as female chauvinism.

For example, despite the fact that Islam strictly prohibits male chauvinism, it is widely believed in western media that Islam accepts it as a norm. For example, Muslims are often considered disdainful in the way they treat their women, though it is not true for the majority of Muslims.

On the contrary, women often furiously argue about the numerous advantages of women over men. This can also be called chauvinism.

Phrases and Words

  • in order to…
  • in other words…
  • to put it in another way…
  • that is to say…
  • to that end….
  • besides, …
  • furthermore, …
  • in addition, …
  • moreover…
  • likewise…
  • indeed…
  • in truth…
  • in fact…
  • also…
  • as well…
  • foremost…
  • ranking above all others…
  • preceding all others…

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support, take care of, keep an eye on, care for, look after, sponsor

Transition Words in Addition: Adding Additional Information to Support a Point

It is never enough to give one line of thought to describe or support a claim. A claim is always weak if it is backed up in a one-sided way. That is why it is important to give a comprehensive view of your main topic to your readers.

“Sometimes I like to list the strongest arguments I can find to support a point of view I think is wrong. When I have them before me, I am up against a real opponent rather than a hypothetical one that is an easy target for me to hit.” – Lewis B. Smedes

Sample of Adding Additional Information to Support a Point

The risks associated with drug experimentation depend on various factors, such as quantity, frequency of use, combinations used, and the way a certain drug is taken.

An excess of sedatives leads to fatal overdoses. Stimulant and hallucinogenic drugs, on the other hand, lead to psychotic behavior and to the loss of the sense of reality.

Besides, constantly increasing doses lends to drug tolerance: the user needs to take more of the narcotic substance to achieve the desired effect. High tolerance levels also prompt overdose and even death – this especially refers to heroin.

Most of the cases of drug overdoses which have been reported involve combinations of tranquilizers, opiates and alcohol (Lyons, 2003).

Transition Words in Addition to

  • moreover…
  • furthermore…
  • what’s more…
  • likewise…
  • similarly…
  • another key thing to remember…
  • as well as…
  • not only…. but also…
  • coupled with…
  • initially…
  • subsequently…
  • not to mention…
  • additionally, …
  • in addition, …
  • also, …
  • besides that, …
  • and…
  • apart from…
  • in addition to…
  • such as…
  • another…
  • besides, …
  • further…
  • too…
  • then…
  • of equal importance…
  • equally important…
  • another…

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demonstrate, show, make evident, confirm, prove

Transition words for Demonstrating Contrast

When writing persuasive essays, compare and contrast essays, or any essay that focuses on giving a comprehensive view on a subject, knowing how to contrast your main topic and subtopics with opposing information is important.

In order to fully present your main topic and its components, it is important to show other views that are valid. Usually, these other views are shown to demonstrate which side of the argument or issue is most appropriate to consider.

“There’s a rule of writing: if everything is funny, nothing is funny; if everything is sad, nothing is sad. You want that contrast.” – J. Michael Straczynski

Example of Demonstrating Contrast

Material goods are as easily lost as obtained: malfunctions, loss, theft, and other misfortunes easily affect the material welfare of an individual who connects their happiness only with items they possess.

At the same time, non-material factors of happiness cannot be lost so easily; in most cases, a person must undergo severe psychological pressure or go through various life obstacles to change in a negative way.

Transition Words for Contrast

  • however, …
  • on the other hand, …
  • having said that, …
  • by contrast, …
  • by comparison, …
  • then again, …
  • that said, …
  • yet…
  • at the same time, …
  • nonetheless, …
  • on the contrary, …
  • after all, …
  • though…
  • in contrast…
  • nevertheless, …
  • but…
  • otherwise…
  • notwithstanding…
  • conversely, …
  • instead, …
  • rather…
  • on one hand…
  • on the other hand…
  • a clear difference…
  • a conflicting viewpoint…
  • despite…
  • even so, …
  • for all that…
  • still another…
  • in another way…
  • the antithesis of…
  • still…
  • and yet…
  • of course, …
  • or…
  • in spite of this…
  • actually, …
  • a year ago, …
  • for all that, …
  • strangely enough, …
  • ironically, …

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idea, concept, conception, thought

Transition Words to Start a Paragraph: Adding a Proviso or Acknowledging Reservations

Sometimes in academic papers, it is important to note the lack of what can be said in reference to either research or comprehensive understanding.

Writers cannot always find the perfect sources or enough information for their papers, and not all subjects have enough information on them to warrant a comprehensive paper.

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” -Aldous Huxley”

Example of Adding a Proviso

Though the death penalty has had many studies done on it to record its effectiveness in deterring criminals, the studies are usually biased and run by lobbyists.

This means that the studies, even nationally recognized ones, are often flawed based on bias of the research team. Due to this issue, we have to rely on logical reasoning rather than studies that tout to be exact, when in fact they are formed out of special interests.

Transition Words to Begin a Sentence

  • though…
  • this means…
  • due to this issue…
  • despite this…
  • with this in mind…
  • provided that…
  • in view of…
  • in light…
  • nonetheless…
  • nevertheless…
  • notwithstanding…
  • due to a lack of…
  • however, there are drawbacks to
  • due to insufficient evidence…
  • a comprehensive view of the issue cannot be formed due to…
  • since the claims were unsubstantiated…
  • since the evidence was not validated…
  • according to….the amount of information on this topic is insufficient to…

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example, illustration, case, sample, citation, case in point, pattern model, prototype, stereotype, for instance

Transition Words for Giving Examples

It is extremely important to supply examples to your readers which will illustrate your points. Without examples being given to illustrate your claims, a realistic picture cannot be given to your readers of what you mean to say or what you are trying to demonstrate.

Giving examples also makes your writing more comprehensive, showing other ways of looking at a topic and allows readers to investigate information further. Without giving examples in your writing, your writing can be dry, unsubstantiated, and not well-rounded.

“Really good writing, from my perspective, runs a lot like a visual on the screen. You need to create that kind of detail and have credibility with the reader, so the reader knows that you were really there, that you really experienced it, that you know the details. That comes out of seeing.” – Ann Voskamp

Example of Giving Examples

Usually, people write in their CVs something along the lines of, “Enjoy working in a team,” or “Work best in a team.” However, working in a team often means devaluing the work done.

For example, if you are a lone wolf who has just accomplished a complicated project, you get all the credit, your reputation grows faster, and you get paid more.

On the other hand, in a team, the credit cannot be given to someone specific; instead, a team manager usually gathers everyone in a conference room and says something like, “Good job everyone.”

This might be satisfying if you have a strong self-identification with your team, but usually this is not enough. This may lead to a decrease of personal interest and motivation in the work done. Do you want all the credit for the work done to be shared among a number of people? (Silverton Internet College)

Transition Words Examples

  • for instance, …
  • for example, …
  • on the other hand, …
  • to give an illustration, …
  • demonstrating this…
  • illustrating this…
  • specifically, …
  • in particular, …
  • some notable examples are…
  • some exemplary examples of this are…
  • an obvious example of this is…
  • to give a brief example, …
  • to give a simple example, …
  • a case in point…
  • such as…
  • supposing…
  • let us say that…
  • some examples are…
  • like…
  • take this scenario into consideration:…
  • imagine this situation:…
  • to be specific, …
  • moreover, …
  • furthermore, …
  • just as important…
  • similarly, …
  • in the same way…

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important, significant, considerable, momentous, essential, decisive, critical

Transition Words for Signifying Importance

When you want to show that a certain point in your writing is significant or should be paid more attention to, you can use certain transition words and phrases to do so. Sometimes, without words and phrases that mark or point out the importance of a certain point, an essay can get disorganized.

“Show what is important in order to guide others to meaning.”
- Anonymous”

Example of Signifying Importance

Why poetry matters to the masses significantly relies on individual perception. Notably, the subjective view of what poetry’s place is in social culture can be interpreted in a myriad ways.

The key subjective view to take into consideration is how poetry affects our perception of what we call reality.

The main proponents of poetry claim, above all, that poetry affects individual perception in a way that shifts one’s consciousness either permanently or temporarily.

Transition Words Showing Importance 

  • significantly…
  • notably, ….
  • the key… to take into consideration…
  • importantly…
  • indeed…
  • without a doubt…
  • undoubtedly…
  • certainly…
  • surely…
  • to repeat, …
  • of course…
  • by all means…
  • make no mistake,…
  • ultimately, … is the greatest … we have.
  • above all, …
  • first and foremost…
  • again, …
  • to be sure, …
  • in fact, …
  • as a matter of fact, …
  • as I have said, …
  • as have been noted, …

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summarize, review, shorten, memory up, put in a nutshell

Transition Words for Summarizing

When you have written a large chunk of information, it is important to summarize information for your readers so they can firmly grasp what has been presented.

Summarizing can seem simple, but in fact, it is an art. It takes great effort to write simply and coherently about a vast amount of information, and to make it come together as a cohesive whole in writing.

“If I had to summarize, most broadly, my concerns as a writer, I’d say the question ‘How then must we live?’ is at the heart of it, for me.” – Claire Messud

Example of Summarizing

Overall, we can see the effect that video games have on modern American children. Studies have shown that rampant attention deficit disorder in America coincides directly with the amount of video game usage among children of 6-13 years of age.

Also, with conclusive evidence, we can see how these games are tangibly tied to outward violence at school, as the studies mentioned before illustrated that the actions seen by children within certain games were reenacted in real life (usually in the school yard).

As a last note, I would like to add that the issues associated with the link between video games and children is ever-increasing, and the United States government should take action against the high usage of such games among youth in order to salvage whatever we have left of a stable American society.

Transition Words Ending

  • as a last note, …
  • conclusive evidence…
  • overall…
  • in conclusion…
  • above all…
  • compelling…
  • all things considered…
  • at last…
  • in summary, …
  • to summarize, …
  • to conclude…
  • in light of all these…
  • on the whole…
  • in summation, …
  • to sum up, …
  • in sum, …
  • in short, …
  • in brief, …
  • to repeat, …
  • briefly, …
  • finally, …
  • therefore…
  • as I have said…
  • as you can see…
  • in a nutshell, …
  • to recap, …
  • to give you a digest of…
  • to give you a snippet of…
  • here is a regurgitation of…
  • here is a run through of…
  • here is a run down of…
  • it all boils down to the fact that…
  • to get the meat of the issue…
  • as was previously stated, …
  • as has been mentioned, …
  • given these points, …
  • as has been noted, …
  • to put it briefly, …
  • consequently, …
  • in consequence, …
  • altogether, …
  • in a word, …
  • in the end, …
  • thus, …
  • as I have shown, …
  • hence, …
  • accordingly, …
  • as a result…

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opinion, belief, notion, view, viewpoint

Transition Words for Stating Your Opinion

In many types of essays, you will need to state your opinion about the main issue contained in your essay. Supplying your opinion can make your essay more personal and multi-dimensional. Often, teachers ask students to give their opinion on heated topics to demonstrate critical thinking.

“Our opinions become fixed at the point where we stop thinking.” – Ernest Renan”

Example of Stating Your Opinion

To tell the truth, I barely managed to finish reading, “The Hunger Games.” After reading such novels as “1984,” “Brave New World,” “Dr. Strangelove,” or even the recent “Metro 2033,” where dystopia and the post-apocalypse are shown in all their grimness, “The Hunger Games” looks, to put it mildly, unconvincing.

This is perhaps the best word to describe literally everything in this novel, starting with the main characters and ending with the world events that take place. If you are a logical person able to think critically, try not to take this book too close to heart.

Transition Words in Conclusion

  • to tell the truth, …
  • to put it mildly, …
  • in my experience, …
  • as far as I’m concerned, …
  • speaking for myself, …
  • in my opinion, …
  • personally, I think…
  • I would say that…
  • I would suggest that…
  • I would like to point out that…
  • I believe that…
  • what I mean is…
  • it is unjustifiable to say that…
  • to my mind…
  • if you ask me…
  • to my way of thinking…
  • in my view…
  • what I think is that…
  • as for me…
  • for me…
  • if you ask me…
  • the way I see it…
  • as far as I am concerned…
  • from my point of view…
  • I hold the opinion that…
  • my impression is that…
  • I consider…
  • my conviction is that…
  • I am under the impression that…
  • speaking personally, …
  • I dare say that…
  • I gather that…
  • I have no doubt that…
  • I hold the view that…
  • I believe that…
  • as far as I understand…
  • as far as I can see…
  • in my perception…
  • as I see it, …
  • according to me, …
  • I agree with this view/opinion…
  • I agree with this point of view, but…

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About the Author

Nicholas Klacsanzky is a professional technical writer and editor. He is currently the content coordinator of AcademicHelp.net, a website dedicated to housing a one-stop online guide to writing that benefits students and professionals alike.

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