Using a Variety of
Transitions in
Your Writing
When listing two or more things or ideas, you can any one
of the following transitional words or phrases:
 Then
(use this once only!)
 First
 Second
 Next
 Also
 In
addition
 After
 Before
 Last
Instead of:
The girl put on her clothes. Then she ate
breakfast. Then she brushed her teeth. Then
she went outside to go wait for her bus.
Try this:
First, the girl put on her clothes. Then, she ate
breakfast and brushed her teeth before
heading outside to wait for the bus.
Or this:
Before heading outside to wait for the bus, the
girl put on her clothes, ate breakfast and
brushed her teeth.
Some of these are a bit more sophisticated, but don’t be
afraid to try them!
 Currently
 Previously,
 Earlier
 Soon
 Meanwhile
 Later
on
 At last
 Ultimately
 finally
In the past
Instead of:
Sara is late to school all the time. She has a
hard time waking up in the morning. Her mom
used to wake her up. She decided to buy
herself an alarm clock.
Try this:
Sara is late to school all the time because she
has a hard time waking up in the morning. In
the past, her mom woke her up, but
ultimately it’s her responsibility. She finally
decided it was time to buy herself an alarm
clock.
Try these transitional words and phrases when you are
using evidence to back up what you have to say.
 For
example
 For instance
 Specifically
 Particularly
 As illustrated
 As the author states
 As is evident (or evidently)
 As is proven
 Case in point
 As confirmed
 Additionally
Instead of this:
Tim changed a lot because of the war. He had
to take care of the tavern after Father was
kidnapped. He had to become the man of
the house. He had to see things no child
should have to see. He witnessed the
beheading of Ned.
Try this:
Tim changed a lot because of the war. For
example, he had to take care of the tavern
and become the man of the house after
Father was kidnapped. Additionally, he had
to see things no child should have to see,
such as the beheading of Ned.
Use these to hammer your point home!
 Keep
in mind
 A major concern
 Obviously, clearly, apparently
 Certainly, undoubtedly, unquestionably
 Above all
 More importantly
 Primarily, chiefly, mainly
 Moreover, furthermore
 First and foremost
 Mostly, for the most part
Instead of this:
During the Salem witch trials, many people were
unfairly named as witches. They were tried
and put in jail. Many people were executed.
Some lost everything they had.
Try this:
During the Salem witch trials, many people were
unfairly named as witches. This was a major
concern because they were tried, put in jail
and executed. Moreover, many people lost
everything they had.
Sometimes we need to shift the focus of our writing in order
to make a point.
 But
 However,
while
 although
 Yet
 In
contrast
 Conversely
 Otherwise
 On the other hand
 On the contrary
 Thus far
Instead of this:
In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, Walter wants the
insurance money so he can open up a liquor
store. Bennie wants the money so she can go
to school and become a doctor. Mama
wants to use the money to buy a house.
Try this:
In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, Walter wants the
insurance money so he can open up a liquor
store, while Bennie wants it to go to school
and become a doctor. On the other hand,
Mama wants to use the money to buy a
house.
Wrapping up your ideas and your paper…
 In
conclusion
 In summary
 To conclude
 In closing
 Therefore
 As a result
 Thus, hence, so
 Finally
 consequently
Instead of this:
At the end of the story Walter decides to act
like a man. He doesn’t take the money from
Mr. Lindner. Mama, Ruth and Bennie are so
proud of him. Walter is at peace with his
decision.
Try this:
Finally, Walter decides to act like a man and
refuses to take the money from Mr. Lindner.
As a result, Mama, Ruth and Bennie are
proud of him. Ultimately, he is at peace with
his decision.
FLOWWWWW!