TRANSITION WORDS
Easy ways to improve your writing!
Example 1: No transition words
The cat sat on the mat. The mat’s fibres were
flattened. The mat was less comfortable. The mat's
appearance was spoiled. The owner gave the mat to
the dog to lie on. The dog was greatly pleased by the
new mat. The cat was very resentful. There was
tension between the cat and the dog. They had been
good companions for years. They fought over the
mat. The cat had tactical superiority. The dog had
greater physical strength. The dog killed the cat. The
owner wrapped the cat's body in the mat. The owner
buried it in the yard. The dog died of grief.
Example 2: Transition words
The cat sat on the mat. As a result, the mat’s fibres were
flattened. The consequence of this was to make the mat
less comfortable. Furthermore, the mat’s appearance was
also spoiled. The owner therefore gave the mat to the dog
to lie on. Although the dog was greatly pleased by the new
mat, the cat was very resentful. The result of this was to
create tension between the cat and the dog, despite the
fact that they had been good companions for years.
Ultimately, they fought over the mat. Unfortunately, in
spite of the cat’s tactical superiority, the dog had greater
physical strength and killed the cat. The owner then
wrapped the cat’s body in the mat and buried it in the
yard. Subsequently, the dog died of grief.
Why use transition words?
• Using transitional words and phrases helps essays
read more smoothly, and at the same time allows
the reader to flow more smoothly from one point
to the next.
• Transitions enhance logical organization and
understandability and improve the connections
between thoughts. They indicate relations, whether
within a sentence, paragraph, or paper.
• This list illustrates categories of "relationships"
between ideas, followed by words and phrases that
can make the connections.
ADDITION
COMPARISON
CONTRAST
further
furthermore
moreover
in addition
additionally
then
also
besides
again
equally important
firstly, secondly
finally, last
as well as
similarly
comparable
in the same way
likewise
as with
equally
just as…so too
a similar…
another…like
however
nevertheless
on the other hand
on the contrary
even so
notwithstanding
alternatively
at the same time
though
otherwise
instead
nonetheless
conversely
yet
RESULT
CONSEQUENCE
SUMMARY
hence
therefore
accordingly
consequently
thus
as a result
in consequence
so
then
such a…that
because
due to
causes
leads to
because of
due to
since
as a result
consequently
in short
on the whole
in other words
to be sure
clearly
anyway
on the whole
after all
in general
it seems
ILLUSTRATING
QUALIFYING
EMPHASISING
for example
but
above all
as such
However
in particular
for instance
Although
especially
in the case of
unless
significantly
as revealed by
except
indeed
illustrated by
apart from
notably
as long as
specifically
aside from
particularly