Using Appropriate Transition Words
To improve your writing, you need to make sure that your ideas, both in sentences and paragraphs, stick together and that gaps between ideas bridge smoothly. One way to do it is by using transitions: words or phrases that help bring two or more ideas together.
Transitional words and phrases represent one way of gaining coherence. Certain words help continue an idea, indicate a shift of thought or contrast, or sum up a conclusion. Use the list of words below as a reference in your writing so you can find words that will pull your sentences and paragraphs together.
1. To continue a common line of reasoning:
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Consequently
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Clearly, then
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Furthermore
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Additionally
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And
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In addition
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Moreover
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Because
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Besides that
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In the same way
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Following this further
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Also
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Pursuing this further
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In light of …….. It is easy to see that
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2. To change the line of reasoning (contrast):
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However
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On the other hand
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But
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Yet
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Nevertheless
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On the contrary
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3. For opening a paragraph initially or for general use:
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admittedly
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assuredly
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certainly
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granted
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no doubt
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nobody denies
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obviously
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of course
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to be sure
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true
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undoubtedly
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unquestionably
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generally speaking
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in general
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at this level
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in this situation
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4. For the final points of a paragraph or essay:
5. Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged chronologically:
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first… second… third…
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generally… furthermore… finally
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in the first place… also… lastly
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in the first place… pursuing this further… finally
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to be sure additionally… lastly
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in the first place… just in the same way… finally
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basically… similarly… as well
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6. To signal conclusion:
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therefore
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this
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hence
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in final analysis
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in conclusion
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in final consideration
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indeed
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7. To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more exacting way:
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in other words
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point in fact
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8. Sequence or time:
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after
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afterwards
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as soon as
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at first
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at last
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before
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before long
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finally
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first… second… third
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in the first place
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in the meantime
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later
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meanwhile
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next
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soon
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then
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