SENTENCE FLUENCY: Transition Words and Phrases
Adding Information
Examples
in addition,
additionally,
You must complete this essay by 5 p.m. In addition, you must do the exercises
on page 47.
furthermore,
Students should be on time; furthermore, they must be prepared.
moreover,
Cheating is dishonest. Moreover, it hinders students from learning.
Giving Examples
Examples
for example,
Q
for instance,
in fact,
George is a compassionate character in the novella Of Mice and Men. For
example, George said, ‘ “All the time he done bad things, but he never done one
of ‘em mean”’ (Steinbeck 95).
Lennie is always causing trouble; for instance, he and George were run out of
Weed because….
TP2
specifically,
Showing Contrast
T
P
Although…..,
Ironically, after killing Lennie, George remained protective of his friend. In fact,
in the end, George defended Lennie’s dignity by lying to the men about how Lennie
died.
Due in part to his disability, Lennie likes to pet soft objects; specifically, Lennie
gains comfort by a “velvety” or “furry” touch.
Examples
Although George and Lennie share loyal relationship, George often behaved like a
babysitter instead of a friend because Lennie was mentally challenged.
however,
;however,
,however,
George and Lennie share a loyal friendship; however, George is forced to
behave more like a babysitter because of Lennie’s disability.
on the other hand,
Lennie’s disability affects him negatively in many ways; for instance, he does not
recognize his own strength, he is socially awkward, and he his reliant on George to
survive. On the other hand, his character flaw has allowed him to savor a
childlike-innocence that most adults lose throughout life.
instead,
Lennie does not discriminate against Crooks; instead, the only judgments he
makes are based on whether a person is kind or cruel.
in contrast,
Showing Similarity
George and Lennie protect each other as they travel from job to job. In contrast,
Crooks, an aloof man, keeps his distance from other men.
Examples
likewise,
Lennie killed a mouse at the beginning of the book. Likewise, he later killed larger
and larger prey, including his puppy and Curley’s wife.
similarly,
George and Lennie were run out of Weed because Lennie attacked a girl in the
process of touching her dress. Similarly, Lennie attacked Curley’s wife in the
barn after she invited him to feel her soft hair.
 two complete sentences connected by a transition
KEY:
TP
Q
TP2
Transitional Phrase
introducing a Quote (citation)
Showing a
Result/Conclusion
M
More than one T/TP
T/TP in middle of sentence
Examples
as a result,
George contemplated what he should do after Lennie killed Curley’s wife. As a
result, he formed a plan to find Lennie in the brush and shoot him.
therefore,
thus,
George did not want Lennie to suffer; therefore, he chose to kill Lennie himself.
; thus,
hence,
Q
When George saw Curley’s dead wife, he immediately recognized Lennie killed
her; hence, George said, ‘ “ I should of knew. I guess maybe way back in my head
I did” ’ (Steinbeck 94).
George knew Lennie would suffer at the hands of nature, the hands of Curley and
M
his
men,
or
at
the
hands
of
the
authorities.
George, consequently, chose to most comforting manner he could.
consequently,
Punctuation Rules
CONVENTIONS:
Punctuation
1. Transitional Words and Phrases:
1. Transitional Words and Phrases:
 Place a comma after transitional words/phrases if they are at the beginning of a sentence.
 Place a comma after transitional words/phrases if they are at the beginning of a sentence.
example: I like to travel. Specifically, I enjoy places with old cathedrals.
example: I like to travel. Specifically, I enjoy places with old cathedrals.
 When combining two complete sentences: use a semicolon before the transition and a comma after
 When
combiningtwo complete sentences: use a semicolon before the transition and a comma after
the transition.
the transition. 
example: I like to travel; specifically, I enjoy places with old cathedrals.
example: I like to travel; specifically, I enjoy places with old cathedrals.
 Place a comma before AND after a transitional word/phrase in the middle of a sentence.
 Place a comma before AND after a transitional word/phrase in the middle of a sentence.
example: I , specifically, enjoy visiting places with old cathedrals when I travel.
example: I , specifically, enjoy visiting places with old cathedrals when I travel.
2.
2.
Conjunctions:
Conjunctions:
For
For And
And Nor
Nor But
But OrOr Yet
Yet SoSo
 Place
Place a comma before these conjunctions when connecting two complete sentences.

a comma before these conjunctions when connecting two complete sentences.
(comma before conjuction)
(comma before conjuction)
example: The movie has already started, but my friend has not arrived yet.
example: The movie has already started, but my friend has not arrived yet.
AVOID using FANBOYS at the beginning of a sentence in more formal writing.
AVOID using FANBOYS at the beginning of a sentence in more formal writing.