TRANSITION WORDS
Writing Research Papers
Transition Words and Phrases
Transition words and phrases help establish clear connections between ideas and ensure that sentences
and paragraphs flow together smoothly, making them easier to read. Use the following words and
phrases in the following circumstances.
What are transitions and how are they used?
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transitions are phrases or words used to connect one idea to the next
transitions are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea
to the next
transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or even within a sentence)
between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas
different transitions do different things....
To indicate more information:
Besides
Furthermore
In addition
Indeed
In fact
Moreover
Second...Third..., etc.
To indicate an example:
For example
For instance
In particular
Particularly
Specifically
To demonstrate
To illustrate
To indicate a cause or reason:
As
Because
Because of
Due to
For
For the reason that
Since
To indicate a result or an effect:
Accordingly
Finally
Consequently
Hence
So
Therefore
Thus
To indicate a purpose or reason why:
For fear that
In the hope that
In order to
So
So that
With this in mind
To compare or contrast:
Although
However
In comparison
In contrast
Likewise
Nevertheless
On the other hand
Similarly
Whereas
Yet
To indicate a particular time frame or a shift from one time period to another:
After
Before
Currently
During
Eventually
Finally
First, . . . Second, . . ., etc.
Formerly
Immediately
Initially
Lastly
Later
Meanwhile
Next
Previously
Simultaneously
Soon
Subsequently
To summarize:
Briefly
In brief
Overall
Summing up
To put it briefly
To sum up
To summarize
To conclude:
Given these facts
Hence
In conclusion
So
Therefore
Thus
To conclude
Transition Words
Words that can be used to show location:
above
across
against
along
among
around
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
beyond
by
down
in back of
in front of
inside
into
near
off
onto
on top of
outside
over
throughout
to the right
under
Words that can be used to show time:
while
after
at
before
during
first
second
third
now
until
meanwhile
today
tomorrow
next week
yesterday
soon
later
afterward
about
finally
then
next
as soon as
when suddenly
Word that can be used to compare two things:
likewise
like
also
as
while
similarly
in the same way
Words that can be used to contrast two things:
but
however
still
yet
although
otherwise
on the other hand
even though
Words that can be used to emphasize a point:
again
truly
to repeat
in fact
especially
to
emphasize
for this reason
Words that can be used to conclude or summarize:
finally
lastly
as a result
therefore
to sum up
all in all
in conclusion
because
Words that can be used to add information:
again
also
as well
next
another
and
besides
finally
for instance
moreover
along with
in addition
for example
additionally
other
Words that can be used to clarify:
that is
for instance
in other words
Transitions may be "Additive," "Adversative," "Causal," or "Sequential."
Additive
Transitions
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Adversative
Transitions
Addition
Introduction
Reference
Similarity
Identification
Clarification
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Conflict
Emphasis
Concession
Dismissal
Replacement
Causal
Transitions
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Sequential
Transitions
Cause/Reason
Effect/Result
Purpose
Consequence
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Numerical
Continuation
Conclusion
Digression
Resumption
Summation
Additive Transitions:
These show addition, introduction, similarity to other ideas, etc. . .
Addition:
indeed, further,
as well (as this), either (neither),
also,
what is more,
moreover,
as a matter of
fact,
not only (this)
but also (that)
as well,
and,
furthermore,
in addition (to
this),
besides (this),
to tell you the
truth,
or,
in fact,
actually,
to say nothing of,
too,
let alone,
much less
additionally,
nor,
alternatively,
on the other
hand,
not to mention
(this),
Introduction:
as an
illustration,
such as,
as,
particularly,
for example,
like,
in particular, for one thing,
for instance,
especially, notably,
Reference:
speaking about
(this),
as for (this),
including,
to illustrate
by way of
example,
considering
(this),
regarding (this),
with regards to
(this),
concerning
(this),
on the subject of
(this),
the fact that
Similarity:
similarly,
in the same
way,
equally
likewise,
Identification:
that is (to
say),
namely,
by the same token,
specifically,
in a like manner,
thus,
Clarification:
that is (to say),
I mean,
(to) put (it) another way
in
other
words,
Adversative Transitions:
These transitions are used to signal conflict, contradiction concession, dismissal, etc. . .
Conflict:
but,
by way of contrast, while,
on the other hand,
however,
(and) yet,
whereas,
though (final position),
in contrast,
when in fact,
conversely,
still
Emphasis:
even more,
above all,
Concession:
but even so,
nevertheless, even though, on the other hand, admittedly,
indeed,
more importantly, besides
however,
nonetheless,
despite (this),
notwithstanding
(this),
(and) still,
although,
in spite of
(this),
regardless (of
this),
(and) yet,
though,
granted (this), be that as it may,
albeit
Dismissal:
either way,
whichever
happens,
in either
event,
in any
case,
in either case,
whatever
happens,
all the same,
in any
event,
Replacement:
(or) at least,
(or) rather,
at any rate
instead
Causal [NOT "Casual"] Transitions:
These transitions signal cause/effect and reason/result, etc. . .
Cause/Reason:
for the (simple) reason
that,
being that, for,
in view of (the
fact),
inasmuch
as,
because (of the fact),
seeing
that,
as,
due to (the fact that),
in that
since, forasmuch as,
Condition:
on (the) condition
(that),
owing to (the
fact),
granted (that),
if,
provided that, in case,
in the event that,
as/so long as,
unless
given that,
granting (that),
providing that,
even if,
only if,
Effect/Result:
as a result (of
this),
consequently,
hence,
for this
reason,
because (of
this),
in consequence, so that,
accordingly
as a
consequence,
so much (so)
that,
therefore,
so,
thus,
Purpose:
for the purpose of,
in the hope that,
for fear that,
so that,
with this intention,
to the end that,
in order to,
lest
with this in mind,
in order that,
so as to,
so,
Consequence:
under those circumstances,
that being the case,
then,
in that case,
if so,
otherwise
if not,
Sequential Transitions:
These transitions are used to signal a chronological or logical sequence.
Numerical:
in the (first, second, etc.)
place,
initially,
to start with, first of all
thirdly, (&c.)
to begin with,
Continuation:
subsequently,
before (this),
at first,
for a start,
secondly,
previously,
eventually,
next,
afterwards,
after (this),
then
Conclusion:
to conclude (with)
last but not least,
as a final point, eventually,
at last,
in the end,
lastly,
Digression:
to change the topic
finally,
incidentally,
Resumption:
to get back to the point, to resume anyhow,
by the way,
anyway,
at any rate,
to return to the subject,
Summation:
as was previously
stated,
so,
consequently, in summary, all in all,
thus,
as I have
said,
to sum up,
overall,
as has been mentioned, then,
to
summarize,
to be brief,
briefly,
given these points,
in all,
on the whole, therefore,
as has been noted,
hence, in conclusion, in a word,
to put it briefly,
in sum, altogether,
to make a long story
short,
in short,