Transition Words - DailyWritingTips |
Posted: 18 Dec 2013 08:27 PM PST
A frequent fault of inexperienced writers is a tendency to present thoughts and ideas without showing connections between them, or without making their significance clear to the reader. Transition words and phrases keep the reader on track by showing relationships between ideas and information.
Consider the following paragraph:
The writer of this paragraph sees value in training a dog in basic obedience, but a reader might wonder what connection there is between basic obedience and the dog’s safety or dangerous behavior. Transitions are needed to show these connections.
The paragraph revised:
Here is a list of transition words grouped according to the types of transition they can be used for:
To add information:
and, not only…but also, also, moreover, furthermore, in addition, again, besides, equally important, what’s more, too
To give examples:
for example, for instance, specifically, in particular
To show contrast:
but, however, on the other hand, otherwise, instead, in contrast
To show concession:
yet, nevertheless, however, although, even though, despite the fact that, despite
To show similarity:
likewise, similarly, in the same way
To show result:
so, as a result, therefore, thus, as a consequence, consequently
To indicate time or sequence:
first, second, finally, meanwhile, immediately, thereafter, soon, finally, previously, formerly, next, following this, after, soon, therefore
To offer conditional thoughts:
or, whether…or, if…then
To explain or emphasize:
in fact, actually, in other words, namely, obviously, in any case, naturally, certainly, unquestionably
To offer alternatives:
or, either…or, neither…nor
To compare:
on the other hand, on the contrary, by comparison, compared to, balanced against, vis-à-vis, although, in contrast
To prove:
because, for, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, in fact, in any case
To conclude:
in conclusion, in brief, on the whole, to conclude, as I have shown
Some transition words, like also, and, or, like, as for, and further are unobtrusive, directing the reader without distracting. Others, like albeit, jump out at the reader and must be used sparingly. Still other transitions cast doubt on the credibility of the writer. Here are some transitions often seen in freshman compositions. They are perhaps best avoided:
in all honesty, to tell the truth, to put it briefly, be that as it may, last but not least, to get back to the point, to make a long story short.
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