What are Transition Words?
As writers, our goal is to communicate our thoughts and ideas in the most clear and logical manner. Especially when presenting complex ideas, we must ensure that they are being conveyed in the most understandable way.
To ensure that your paper is easy to understand, you can work on the sequencing of ideas. Break down your ideas into different sentences and paragraphs then use a transition word or phrase to guide them through these ideas.
Think of a transition as a conjunction or a joining word. It helps create strong relationships between ideas, paragraphs, or sentences and assists the readers to understand the word phrases and sentences easily.
They form a bridge and logical flow to connect sentences and different types of transitions to connect ideas making sure that there’s a smooth writing flow. In addition to tying the entire paper together, they help demonstrate the writer’s agreement, disagreement, conclusion, or contrast.
However, you must keep in mind that just using or including transitional words isn’t enough to highlight relationships between ideas. The content of your paragraphs must support the relationship as well.
List of Good Transition Words for Essays
As mentioned above, there are different categories of transitions that serve a unique purpose. Understanding these different types will help you pick the most suitable word or phrase to communicate your message.
Here we have categorized transition words for different types of essays and relationships for your assistance – use them appropriately!
Transition Words for Argumentative Essays
To begin with | To show | By contrast | One alternative is |
Chiefly | Mainly | To put more simply | At the same time |
On the contrary | Even if ‘A' is true | Afterall | With this in mind |
All things considered | As a result | To clarify | Generally speaking |
Another way to view this | That is to say | Yet another | Another possibility is |
Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays
Despite | In contrast | Nevertheless | On the contrary |
On the other hand | Otherwise | As an illustration | That is |
Conversely | In spite of | Similarly | At the same time |
Likewise | Still | In a similar fashion | Equally |
Also | Yet | But | Simultaneously |
Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays
Despite | In contrast | Nevertheless | On the contrary |
On the other hand | Otherwise | As an illustration | That is |
Conversely | In spite of | Similarly | At the same time |
Likewise | Still | In a similar fashion | Equally |
Also | Yet | But | Simultaneously |
Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays
As a result | Under those circumstances | Thus | In effect |
For this reason | Thereupon | Henceforth | Accordingly |
Consequently | Because | Since | Otherwise |
Due to | So | As a | Hence |
In order to | If…then | For | Afterward |
Transition Words to Start a Paragraph
Generally speaking | In the first place | To begin with | To be sure |
Assuredly | Earlier | First of all | The next step |
As you can see | For now | In time | Once and for all |
First... second... third... | To put it differently | Foundationally | In addition |
Basically | Furthermore | Besides | In the meantime |
Transition Words for Conclusions
All things considered | Given these points | In summary | To summarize |
In short | Briefly | After all | That is to say |
Finally | All in all | In the final analysis | As previously stated |
In essence | Ultimately | To sum up | On the whole |
By and large | Overall | Everything considered | Taking everything into account |
Do’s and Don’ts of Using Essay Transitions
Do | Don't |
Add transitions only where introducing new ideas. | Don't overuse them. |
Go through the paper to make sure they make sense. | Don't keep adding transitions in the same paragraph. |
Start by creating an outline, so you know what ideas to share and how. | Don't completely rely on transitions to signal relationships. |
Use different transitions for each idea. | Don't incorporate it in your content without understanding its usage. |
You have probably understood how transition words can save you from disjointed and directionless paragraphs. They are the missing piece that indicates how ideas are related to one another.
If you are still unable to distinguish transitions to open or conclude your essays, don’t be upset - these things require time and practice.
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