SIGNAL/TRANSITION WORDS/PHRASES & CORRESPONDING THOUGHT PATTERNS
Time Order / Process
Used when a specific order
need be followed to achieve
desired or intended result or
1.
delineate a clear sequence of
events; can be cyclical or
linear; changing its order
changes its meaning
Description /Space
Used to paint a picture of a
person, place, or thing by
2. providing sensory details
about the attributes or
characteristics of that
person, place, or thing
Listing / Addition
Used to make a point or
clarify an idea by providing
two or more related reasons,
3. points, or details after the
original idea; usually more
specific than the original
idea; often identifiable by
punctuation
Classification
Used to sort items into
4. smaller groups or subgroups
and describe shared traits or
characteristics of each
About the same time
After
Afterwards
Already
Always
Another
As soon as
At first
At the onset
At the same time
Before
Directions
During
Earlier
Above
Above the
Across
Adjacent
Against
Alongside
Among
Around
At
Final
Finally
First
Former
Formerly
How to
Immediately
In the beginning
In the past
Last
Lately
Later
Latter
Meanwhile
Behind
Below
Beneath
Beside
Between
By
Down
East
Far from
Method
Next
Not long ago
Now
O'clock
Once
Preceding
Previously
Prior to
Procedure
Second
Since
Stages
Starting with
From a distance
In
Inside
Near
Nearby
North
On
Opposite
Out
A number of …
Additionally
Again
Also
And
Another
Besides
Final
Finally
First
First of all
Further
Furthermore
In addition
Last
List using bullets or dashes
List using letters
List using numbers
Moreover
Next
Second
Several
There are many reasons …
There are various …
Third
Too
Another
Categories
Characteristics of
Classify
Divisions
Elements of
First
Group
Groups of
Includes
Kinds
Kinds of
Traits
Type
Types of
Varieties
Steps
Subsequently
The first step is
Then
Third
To begin
To begin with
To start
Until
When
While
Yesterday
Outside
Over
South
Toward
Under
Up
West
Within
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Compare/Contrast
Used to show how two or
more ideas, people, places,
or things are similar to or
different from one or more
alternative ideas, people,
places, or things
Problem/Solution
Used to explain a problem;
may or may not offer one or
more solutions; will likely
also explain how, why, when,
and where the problem
originated and who or what
is/was involved
Cause/Effect
Used to show how an action
or event directly or indirectly
led to or resulted in another
action or event (why
something happened); can
be confused with
problem/solution
Definition
Used to clarify the meaning
of a new, difficult, or special
term; may include examples
to show how the word is
used or applied in the
content; often highlighted,
italicized, underlined, or
placed in bold font
Illustration / Exemplification
Used to explain and further
develop or elaborate on
complex ideas by providing
examples, graphs, or pictures
Also
Although
As
As well as
Both
But
Correspondingly
Different from
However
In comparison
In contrast
In the same way
Just as
Like
Likewise
On the other hand
Resembles
Similar to
Similarly
Than
The same
The same as
Too
Unlike
Whereas
While
Yet
A solution
Because
Challenge
Dilemma is
For this reason
If…then
Issue
One answer is
One reason for…
Propose
Question is
Recommend
Since
So that
Some strategies include
Suggest
The issue is
The problem is
The puzzle is
This led to
To solve this
As a result
As a result of
Because
Cause
Consequently
Contribute(s) to
Creates
Due to
Effect
For
For this reason
Hence
If
Is/are more likely to
Lead(s) to
Produce(s)
Reasons
Result(s) in
Since
So
Stems from
Therefore
Thus
When
Yields
Are
Are those that
Consists of
Entails
Exists when
For example
For instance
Involves
Is
Is a term that
Is called
Is characterized by
Is defined as
Means
Occurs when
Such as
That is
To illustrate this
An illustration
Example
For example
For instance
In particular
Including
Much like
Specifically
Such as
To demonstrate
To illustrate
Typically
Statement/Clarification
Used to show
readers/listeners that a
particular idea or detail is
especially important; often
10.
restates ( in different words)
or interprets previous
statement; can be confused
with more than one other
structure or thought pattern
Summary
Used to review what came
11. before by repeating a
shortened version of the
main ideas
Qualifying Signals
Words that are used to
enhance or limit ideas; allow
a reader/speaker to turn a
12.
false fact into a fact; can lead
a reader/listener to
misinterpret the idea or
message; may indicate bias
Emphasis Signals
13. (What’s coming or what was
just said is really important.)
Although
But
Clearly
Conversely
Despite
Different from
Even though
Evidently
However
In contrast
In fact
In other words
In spite of
Instead of
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Obviously
Of course
On the contrary
On the other hand
Otherwise
Rather
Still
That is
The opposite
Though
While
Yet
As a result
Consequently
Finally
From this we see
Hence
In brief
In conclusion
In short
In summary
Last of all
On the whole
Therefore
To sum up
To summarize
Hardly any
If
Infrequently
Looks like
Many
May
May be
May have been
Maybe
Might
Might have been
Most
Nearly
Not many
Often
Possibly
Probably
Purported
Rarely
Reputed
Seldom
Should
Some
Sometimes
Sort of
Sporadically
Typically
Unlikely
Usually
Was reported
A vital force
Above all
By the way
Especially important
Especially relevant
Especially valuable
Important to note
It all boils down to
More than anything else
Most noteworthy
Most of all
Of course
Pay particular attention to
Remember that
Should be noted
The basic concept
The chief outcome
The crux of the matter
The main value
The most substantial issue
The principal item
A majority
A minority
A small number
Alleged
Almost
Commonly
Could
Doubtful
Except
Few
Frequently
A central issue
A distinctive quality
A key feature
A major development
A major event
A primary concern
A significant factor
SENTENCE COMBINING
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
There should be a comma before these words only when they are used to combine two complete sentences.
for
or
and
yet
nor
so
but
Subordinating Conjunctions (SUBCONS)
These should not have any punctuation before or after them unless they are a part of an introductory phrase in which
case the comma is only placed after the entire phrase.
after
although
as
as long as
because
before
even though
if
insofar
once
since
so that
thereby
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether
which
while
Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional Words and Phrases (CATs)
a. If these words or phrases are used at the beginning of a sentence, they should be followed by a comma.
a. A semicolon should be placed before the word or phrase and a comma should be placed after the word or phrase
only if there are two complete sentences.
above all
accordingly
additionally
also
alternatively
as a result
consequently
conversely
equally important
for example
for instance
frequently
furthermore
hence
however
in addition
in contrast
in fact
in other words
in particular
incidentally
instead
interestingly
later
likewise
more importantly
moreover
nevertheless
nonetheless
of course
on the other hand
overall
similarly
subsequently
then
thereafter
therefore
thus
to illustrate
usually
NOTE: Some of these words may appear in the middle of a sentence, and you will need to determine whether or not
there is a complete sentence before and after the word or phrase.
o A semicolon should be placed before the word or phrase and a comma should be placed after the word or phrase
only if there are two complete sentences.
o Otherwise, if it is being used as an interrupter (in the middle of a single sentence), there should be a comma
before and after the word or phrase.