Transitions Guide

Transitions are bridges in your writing which take the reader from one thought to the next. These bridges link your ideas together and help you avoid choppy writing. Use the following transitional expressions as an aid in moving smoothly from one idea to another in a paragraph or essay.

Keep your transitions brief and inconspicuous. Here are some choices of transitional phrases you can use to illustrate certain points or relationships.

Adding a point:

furthermore, besides, finally, in addition to, moreover, additionally, besides, likewise, also, too, even more important

Emphasis:

above all, indeed, in fact, in other words, most important

Time:

then, afterwards, eventually, next, thereafter, immediately, meanwhile, previously, already, often, since then, now, later, usually, first, second, third, in the first place, in the second place, finally, last, at length, soon, in the meantime, in the past

Space:

next to, across, from, above, below, nearby, inside, beyond, between surrounding, opposite to, adjacent to, on the opposite side

Cause and Effect:

consequently, as a result, therefore, thus, accordingly, then, because, hence

Examples:

for example, for instance, to illustrate, specifically, let me name a few

Progression:

first, second, third, furthermore (see Time)

Contrast:

but, however, in contrast, instead, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, though, still, unfortunately, conversely, even so, notwithstanding, for all that, at the same time, although this may be true, otherwise, nonetheless

Similarity:

like, also, likewise, similarly, as, then too, in like manner

Concession:

although, yet, of course, after all, granted, while it is true

Conclusions:

therefore, to sum up, in brief, in general, in short, for these reasons, in retrospect, finally, in conclusion, on the whole, as I have said, in other words, to be sure, as has been noted, fore example, for instance, in fact, indeed, to tell the truth, in any event, in closing