Making Transitions
and Connections
A WRITING CENTER TUTORIAL
What is a transition?
A transition is a word or phrase that helps to link one idea
to another one logically.
Often, these transitions help to link one sentence to the
next sentence or one paragraph to the next paragraph.
Transitions are common words and phrases that link ideas in
particular ways to make specific points.
What is a connection?
A connection is a repeated element (often a noun, a
pronoun, or a verb) that helps to link ideas in your writing.
Writers make connections when they reuse words (or
synonyms/antonyms for those words) in order to link
sentences and paragraphs logically.
Example 1
The Governor made a speech in which he said that we would all have to make
some “sacrifices” in order to help the state through the current financial crisis.
In other words, he was warning that we are facing some tax increases and
budget cuts in the near future.
Transition: In other words (clarification, example)
Connection 1
Connection 2
The Governor
he
“sacrifices”
tax increases and budge cuts
Example 2
Parents and teachers often fear that playing video games will damage children’s
intellectual abilities. However, a number of recent studies have shown that these
types of games can actually improve spatial reasoning and other mental skills in
young people.
Transition: However (contrast)
Connection 1
Connection 2
video games
games
damage
improve
children
young people
intellectual abilities
spatial reasoning and other mental skills
Common Transitional Words and Phrases
Addition:
additionally, furthermore, also, and
Comparison:
likewise, similarly, in the same way
Contrast:
however, on the one hand/on the other hand, nevertheless, but
Time/Sequence:
when, after, first/second, finally, then
Cause:
because, due to, for this reason
Effect:
therefore, thus, as a result, consequently
Example:
for example, for instance, specifically, in fact
Clarification/Repetition: in other words, that is, in effect
Summary:
to summarize, all in all, in short
Adding helpful transitions and connections
Cell phones became widely available to the American public in the 1990s with the
emergence of second-generation mobile technology. This is why the 1990s are often
considered the beginning of a new era. Mobile phone technology existed before then. They
were available as long ago as the 1950s. Most were installed in cars. Only wealthy people had
them. The first modern cellular system was built in Tokyo in the late 1970s. The ones we use
today are based on that.
Cell phones became widely available to the American public in the 1990s with the
emergence of second-generation mobile technology. The development of these systems
marked the beginning of a new era of mobile phone service. However, mobile phone
technology existed before the 1990s. In fact, this kind of technology was available as long ago
as the 1950s. Although mobile phones did exist before the 1990s, the vast majority of them
were installed in cars, and only the wealthy had access to them. After the first modern cellular
system was built in Tokyo in the late 1970s, the mobile phone systems we use today were
based on that model.
Review
 Transitions=Words and phrases that link ideas. Full lists are
available in most writing handbooks.
 Connections=Repeated, reworded, or replaced words and
phrases that link ideas.
Writing Center
Kearns 203
(843) 349-2937