Using Transitional Words and Phrases
One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement and Paragraphing.
While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.
In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.
Two recommendations:
Use transitions strategically
Make sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic.
Use transitions sparingly
If you use too many transitions, your readers might feel like you are over-explaining connections that are already clear.
Categories of Transition Words and Phrases
Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships
- accordingly
- as a result
- and so
- because
- consequently
- for that reason
- hence
- on account of
- since
- therefore
- thus
Chronology
Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.
- after
- afterwards
- always
- at length
- during
- earlier
- following
- immediately
- in the meantime
- later
- never
- next
- now
- once
- simultaneously
- so far
- sometimes
- soon
- subsequently
- then
- this time
- until now
- when
- whenever
- while
Combinations
Lists: Connecting numerous events.
Part/Whole: Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.
- additionally
- again
- also
- and, or, not
- as a result
- besides
- even more
- finally
- first, firstly
- further
- furthermore
- in addition
- in the first place
- in the second place
- last, lastly
- moreover
- next
- second, secondly, etc.
- too
- after all
- although
- and yet
- at the same time
- but
- despite
- however
- in contrast
- nevertheless
- nonetheless
- notwithstanding
- on the contrary
- on the other hand
- otherwise
- though
- yet
Example
Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.
- as an illustration
- e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)
- for example
- for instance
- specifically
- that is
- to demonstrate
- to illustrate
Importance
Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.
- chiefly
- critically
- foundationally
- most importantly
- of less importance
- primarily
- above
- adjacent to
- below
- beyond
- centrally
- here
- nearby
- neighboring on
- opposite to
- peripherally
- there
- wherever
Similarity
Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.
- by the same token
- in like manner
- in similar fashion
- here
- in the same way
- likewise
- wherever
Other kinds of transitional words and phrases
- i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”)
- in other words
- that is to say
- to clarify
- to explain
- that is
- to put it another way
- to rephrase it
Concession
- granted
- it is true
- naturally
- of course
- to be sure
Conclusion
- finally
- lastly
- in conclusion
- in the end
- to conclude
Purpose
- for this purpose
- in order that
- so that
- to that end
- to this end