Some Transition Words and Phrases
Addition
additionally
again
along with
also
among other things
and, and then
another
at the same time
by the same token
besides
equally important
finally
first of all
further
furthermore
in addition
in like manner
in the first place
in the same way
lastly
likewise
moreover
next
not only…but also
similarly
then too
Time
after
afterwards
and then
as soon as
at length
at that time
before
by and by
directly
earlier
eventually
finally
henceforth
immediately
in the meantime
later (on)
meanwhile
next
now
presently
shortly
since
soon
subsequently
thereafter
whereupon
Capturing Authorial Action
acknowledges emphasizes
adds
endorses
admits
express
agrees
find
allows
grants
analyzes
identifies
answers
illustrates
argues
implies
asserts
insists
believes
interprets
celebrates
maintains
charges
notes
claims
objects
comments
observes
compares
offers
complains
points out
concedes
proposes
confirms
questions
contends
reasons
criticizes
refutes
declares
rejects
demonstrates reminds us
deplores
reports
describes
responds
denies
shows
discuss
states
disputes
stresses
does not deny suggests
thinks
urges
writes
Intensity
certainly
in any event
in fact
indeed
most of all
naturally
of course
the point is
to be sure
truly
while keeping in
mind
Examples
a case in point
for example
consider the
following
for instance
to cite a case
to illustrate
as an illustration
for instance
specifically
Order
consequently
finally
first
in conclusion
in the first place
more importantly
next
second (secondly)
then
to begin with
Contrast
after all
although
and yet
anyhow
at the same time
but
conversely
despite
even though
for all that
however
in contrast
instead (of)
just the same
on the contrary
on the other hand
nevertheless
nonetheless
otherwise
still
whereas
yet
though
in spite of
while
Place
Frequency
commonly
consistently
frequently
often
now and then
sometimes
Concession
admittedly
granted
I agree that…
Although it is true that…
of course…
there is no question that
to be sure
without doubt
even though
undoubtedly
I concede that
occasionaly
Elaboration
actually
by extension
in short
that is
in other words
to put it another way
to put it bluntly
to put it succinctly
ultimately
Repetition
again
as above
as mentioned
as noted
in other words
that is
then too
to be sure
let me repeat
I repeat
that is to say
while keeping in mind
above
adjacent
below
beside
beyond
contiguous
here
next to
on the right
opposite
to the right
nearby
Latin
Useful words for argumentation, theorization
ad absurdum—to the point of absurdity
- ad hominem-- appealing to feelings or
prejudices rather than intellect; attacking an
opponent's character rather than answer
contention.
ad infinitum—without limit or end
a fortiori—with more convincing force, more
convincingly, similar to “undoubtedly”
i.e.–that is, in other words.
e.g.—for example
qua-as
predicate
operationalize
perennial antagonisms
trivialize
contemporaneous
simultaneously
inscribe
popularization
intersection
transcend
elusive
constituent
predisposed
restore
reinvent
constellation
denaturalize
situated
located
displace
destabilize
intensification
-
non sequitur-- a statement that does not follow
logically from or is not clearly related to
anything previously said
par excellence – the best of its kind; preeminent
sin qua non – something essential
per se – in itself, as such
- a priori–formed or conceived beforehand;
deductive; reasoning derived by self-evidence;
presumptive
- a posteriori–from the latter; inductive; reasoning
from observed facts
- ad hoc--for a particular end or case at hand
without wider consideration
de facto-in reality; actually; from the fact
ergo-therefore
- mutatis mutandis—with the respective
differences having been considered; with
necessary changes having been made
- vis a vis—face to face; in relation to; as compared
to
tensions
paradoxes, contradictions
refurbish
premise
penetration
intelligibility
logic
intensify
prevaricate
exaggerate, hyperbole, embellishment,
misrepresents, falsehood
politicize
received wisdom
essentialize
contingent
normalize
reductive
coterminous
pivotal
contradictio in adiecto—contradiction in terms
(oxymoran—deafening silence)
Result
accordingly
all in all altogether
as a result
clearly
consequently
it follows that
finally
for this reason
hence
namely
then
therefore
thereupon
thus
indicative of
representative of
Summary
in brief
in short
in sum
on the whole
to summarize
to sum up
therefore
Comparison
as
at the same time
correspondingly
in like manner
in the same way
just as
likewise
similarly
with regard to
incidentally
Purpose
for this end
for this purpose
in order that
in order to
to this end
with this in mind
with this object
argumentation
towards a methodology
dialectic—two extreme views as unity
definitional
creating terms
creating a dialogue
arguable claims:
- issues of definition (of an object,
event, person)
- issues of causation
- issues of evaluation
- issues of recommendation
- reason, authority, emotion
avoid logical fallacies (errors in
reasoning)
- false premises
o overreaching to make
point
o generalizations
- irrelevance
o red herring (beside the
point)
o ad hominem attacks
- ambiguity
o begging the question
o strawman
o weak analogy
- bandwagon (ad populum)—
suggesting agreement because it is
popular
- begging the question—using circular
reasoning to prove a conclusion
- red herring—saying something that
distracts from the issue
- slippery slope—suggesting that one
event will automatically lead to a
chain of events
- post hoc—arguing that one even
caused another when they are
unrelated
- tu quoque—improperly turning an
accusation back on the accuser
Critiques
reductionism
positivism
naïve empiricism
mechanistic
reification
economism
Introducing quotations
Explaining Quotations
Adding Metacommentary
- X states…
- As the prominent philosopher x puts it…
- According to X…
- X himself writes…
- In her book, …, X maintains that...
- Writing in the journal…X complains
that…
- In X’s view…
- X agrees when she writes…
- X disagrees when he writes…
- X complicates matter further when he
writes…
- Basically, X is saying…
- In other words, X
believes…
- In making this comment,
X urges us to…
- X is corroborating the
age-old adage that…
- X’s point is that…
- The essence of X’s
argument is that…
- In other words, ____.
- What ____ really means by this is ____.
- Ultimately, my goal is to demonstrate ____.
- My point is not ____, but ____.
- To put it another way ____.
- In sum, then, ____.
- My conclusion, then, is that ____.
- In short, ____.
- Incidentally ____.
- By the way, ____.
- Chapter 2 explores ____, while Chapter 3 examines ____.
- Having just argued that ____, let us not turn our attention to
____.
- Although some readers may object that ____, I should
answer that ____.
Introducing what “they say” (adapted from Graff)
Introducing “standard views”
- A number of _________have recently suggested that_______.
- It has become common today to dismiss__________.
- In their recent work, Y and Z have offered harsh critiques of _____ for
_____.
- Americans today tend to believe that _____.
- Conventional wisdom has it that _____.
- Common sense seems to dictate that _____.
- The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that
_____.
- It is often said _____.
- My whole life I have heard it said that _____.
- Many people assume that _____.
Making what “they say” something you say
Introducing something implied or assumed
-
-
-
I’ve always believed that _____.
When I was a child, I used to think that _____.
Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that
_____.
At the same time that I believe_____, I also believe _____.
-
Although none of them have ever said so directly, my
teachers have often given me the impression that _____.
One implication of X’s treatment of ____is that _____.
Although X does not say so directly, she apparently
assumes that _____.
While they rarely admit as much, _____often take for
granted that_____.
Introducing an ongoing debate
- In discussion of X, one controversial issue has been_____. On the one hand, _____argues_____. On the other had,
_____contends_____. Others even maintain _____. My own view is _____.
- When it come to the topic of _____, most of us will readily agree that _____. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the
question of _____. Whereas some are convinced that _____, others maintain that _____.
- In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of _____can’t have it both ways. Their assertion that _____ is contradicted by their
claim that _____.
Disagreeing, with reasons
Agreeing—with a difference
- I think X is mistaken because she overlooks…
- X’s claim that …rests upon the questionable assumption that…
- I disagree with X’s view that…because, as recent research has
shown…
- X contradicts herself when she argues that…
- X can’t have it both ways. On the one hand, she argues…On the
other hand, she also says…
- By focusing on…X overlooks the deeper problem of…
- This side of the argument escapes X’s attention
- I agree that ____because my experience____confirms it.
- X surely is right about____because, as she may not be aware,
recent studies have shown that____.
- X’s theory of ____is extremely useful because is sheds insight
on the difficult problem of____.
- Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested
to know that it basically boils down to ____.
- I agree that ___, a point that needs emphasizing so many people
believe____.
- If group X is right that____, as I think they are, then we need to
reassess the popular assumption that ____.
Agreeing and disagreeing simultaneously
Signaling Who is Saying What
- Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overall
conclusion that____.
- Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final
conclusion that ____.
- Though I concede that____, I still insist that ____.
- Whereas X provides ample evidence that ____, Y and Z’s research
on ___and ____ convinces me that ____ instead.
- X is right that ____, but she seems on more dubious ground when
she claims that ____.
- While X is probably wrong when she claims that ____, she is right
that ____.
- I’m of two minds about X’s claim that ____. On the one hand, I
agree that ____. On the other hand, I’m not sure if ____.
- My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support X’s position that
____, but I find Y’s argument about ____ and Z’s research on
____to be equally persuasive.
- According to both X and Y____.
- Politicians____, X argues, should____.
- Most athletes will tell you____.
- My own view, however, is that____.
- I agree, as X may not realize, that____.
- But____are real and arguably, the most significant factor in
____.
- But X is wrong that ____.
- However, it is simply not true that ____.
- Indeed, it is highly likely that____.
- X’s assertion that ____ does not fit the facts.
- X is right that ____.
- X is wrong that ____.
- X is both right and wrong that ____.
- Yet a sober analysis of the matter reveals ____.
- Nevertheless, new research shows ____.
- Anyone familiar with ____should agree that ____.
Embedding Voice Markers
Entertaining Objections
- X overlooks what I consider an important point about____.
- My own view is that what X insists is a ____is in fact a ____.
- I wholeheartedly endorse what X calls ____.
- These conclusions, which X discusses in ____, add weight to the
argument that ____.
- At this point I would like to raise some objections inspired by
the skeptic in me. She feels that I have been ignoring____.
“____,” she says to me, “____.”
- Yet some readers may challenge the view that ____.
- Of course, many will disagree with this assertion that ____.
Naming Your Naysayers
Introducing Objections Informally
- Here many feminist would probably object ____.
- But social Darwinist would certainly take issue with the argument
that ____.
- Biologists, of course, may want to question whether ____.
- Nevertheless, both followers and critics of Malcolm X will
probably argue that ____.
- Although not all Christians think alike, some of them will probably
dispute my claim that ____.
- Non-native English speakers are so diverse in their views that it’s
hard to generalize about them, but some are likely to object on the
grounds that ____.
Making Concession While Still Standing Your Ground
- But is my proposal realistic? What are the chances of its actually
being adopted?
- Yet is it always true that ____? Is it always the case, as I have
been suggesting, that ____?
- However, does the evidence I’ve cited prove conclusively that
____?
- “Impossible,” some will say. “You must be reading the research
selectively.”
- Although I grant that____, I still maintain that ____.
- Proponents of X are right to argue that ____. But they exaggerate
when they claim that ____.
- While it is true that ____, it does not necessarily follow that ____.
- On the one hand, I agree with X that ____. But on the other hand, I
still insist that ____.
- ____used to thing ____. But recently [or within the past few
decades] ____ suggests that ____.
- These findings challenge the work of earlier researchers, who
tended to assume that ____.
- Recent studies like these shed new light on ____, which
previous studies had not addressed.
- Researchers have long assumed that ____. For instance, one
eminent scholar of cell biology, _____ assumed in ____, her
seminal work on cell structures and functions, that fat cells
____. As ____ herself put it, “____”. Another leading scientist,
____, argued that fat cells “____”. Ultimately, when it came to
the nature of fat, the basic assumption was that ____. But a new
body of research shows that fat cells are far more complex and
that ____.
- If sports enthusiasts stopped to think about it, many of them
might simply assume that the most successful athletes ____.
However, new research shows ____.
- These findings challenge neoliberals’ commons assumptions that
____.
- At first glance, teenagers appear to ____. But upon closer
Indicating Who Cares
inspection ____.
Establishing Why Your Claims Matter
- X matters/is important because ____.
- Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over ____.
- Ultimately, what is at stake here is ____.
- These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of ____.
- My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of ____.
- These conclusions/This discovery will have significant applications in ____ as well as in ____.
- Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of ____, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about ____.
Comparing Two or More Studies’ Findings
- Our data support/confirm/verify the work of X by showing that
____.
- By demonstrating ____, X’s work extends the finding of Y.
- The results of X contradict/refute Y’s conclusion that ____.
- X’s findings call into question the widely accepted theory that
____.
- Our data are consistent with X’s hypothesis that ____.
Explaining an Experimental Result
- One explanation for X’s findings of ____ is that ____. An
alternative explanation is ____.
- The difference between ___ and ____ is probably due to ____.
Introducing Gaps in the Existing Research
- Studies of X have indicated ___. It is not clear, however, that this
conclusion applies to ____.
- ____often take for granted that ____. Few have investigated this
assumption, however.
- X’s work tells us a great deal about ____. Can this work be
generalized to ____?