Transition Words and Phrases

What are Transitions and how

are they used?

Transition words and phrases help make clear connections between ideas and see that sentences and paragraphs flow together smoothly, making them easier to read.

Transitional expressions help achieve better clarity, readability and structural coherence for writing.

Transition Words and Phrases

1) To indicate a time relationship

2) To list or present a series of Ideas

3) To add information or continue a line of thought

4) To summarize or show conclusion

5) Comparison words

6) Contrast transition words

7) To repeat information or stress a point

8) To show cause and effect

9) To state the obvious

1) To indicate a time relationship

after
afterwards
after that
at first
at this time
before
begining with
beyond
during
earlier
ending with
eventually
finally
following
from then on
in the meantime
last
later
meanwhile
next
now
since
soon
then
until
while

2) To list or present a series of Ideas

after
after that
finally
first
lastly
next
second
third

3) To add information or continue a line of thought

Common Words
And
Also
Besides
Too
First
Next
Last

Power Terms
Moreover
Furthermore
In Addition

4) To summarize or show conclusion

Briefly
In brief
Overall
Summing up
To put it briefly
To sum up
To summarize

Transition words that provide a conclusion

Given these facts
Hence
In conclusion
So
Thus
To conclude
Therefore

5) Transitions of Comparison

Simple Ones
Also
Too

Complex Ones
In the same way
Likewise
Similarly

6) Transition words that provide a sequence

After
Before
Currently
During
Eventually
Finally
First,...Second,..., etc.
Formerly
Immediately
Initially
Lastly
Later
Meanwhile
Next
Previously
Simultaneously
Soon
Subsequently

7) To repeat information or stress a point

above all
in fact
in other words
most important
once again
to repeat

8) To show cause and effect

as a result
because
because of
caused by
consequently
fot that reason
that is why
therefore
thus

9) To state the obvious

certainly
granted that
in fact
most certainly
nautrally
obviously
of course
surely
undoubtedly
without a doubt