Text Structure

Transition Words

Connect ideas in your writing and guide a reader through your writing by using transitional words and phrases.

Different transitions are used for different text structures. Each transition has its own denotation, or meaning, and connotation, or feeling.

Below is a list of different types of transitions. When selecting a transition, consider the following FIRST before writing:

  1. What text structure are you using?
  2. Do you understand what the transition or phrase means?
  3. Does connotation, or feeling, of the transition or phrase match the tone, or attitude, of your writing?

Addition

  1. furthermore
  2. moreover
  3. too
  4. also
  5. in the second place
  6. again
  7. in addition
  8. even more
  9. next
  10. further
  11. last, lastly
  12. finally
  13. besides
  14. and, or, nor
  15. first
  16. second, secondly, etc.

Time

  1. while
  2. immediately
  3. never
  4. after
  5. later, earlier
  6. always
  7. when
  8. soon
  9. whenever
  10. meanwhile
  11. sometimes
  12. in the meantime
  13. during
  14. afterwards
  15. now, until now
  16. next
  17. following
  18. once
  19. then
  20. at length
  21. simultaneously
  22. so far
  23. this time
  24. subsequently

Place

  1. here
  2. there
  3. nearby
  4. beyond
  5. wherever
  6. opposite to
  7. adjacent to
  8. neighboring on
  9. above, below

Exemplification or Illustration

  1. to illustrate
  2. to demonstrate
  3. specifically
  4. for instance
  5. as an illustration
  6. e.g., (for example)
  7. for example

Comparison

  1. in the same way
  2. by the same token
  3. similarly
  4. in like manner
  5. likewise
  6. in similar fashion
  7. just as…so do
  8. one similarity between______ and _____ is…
  9. another way _______ and _______ are alike is…
  10. ______ and _______ are similar (or alike) in that they both…

Contrast

  1. ______ and _______ are different in that they…
  2. one way _______ and _______ differ is that…
  3. yet
  4. and yet
  5. nevertheless
  6. nonetheless
  7. after all
  8. but
  9. however
  10. though, even though, although
  11. otherwise
  12. on the contrary
  13. in contrast
  14. notwithstanding
  15. on the other hand
  16. at the same time
  17. while
  18. in spite of
  19. unlike

Clarification

  1. that is to say
  2. in other words
  3. to explain
  4. i.e., (that is)
  5. to clarify
  6. to rephrase it
  7. to put it another way

Cause

  1. because
  2. since
  3. on account of
  4. for that reason

Effect

  1. therefore
  2. consequently
  3. accordingly
  4. thus
  5. hence
  6. as a result

Purpose

  1. in order that
  2. so that
  3. to that end, to this end
  4. for this purpose

Qualification

  1. almost
  2. nearly
  3. probably
  4. never
  5. always
  6. frequently
  7. perhaps
  8. maybe
  9. although

Intensification

  1. indeed
  2. to repeat
  3. by all means
  4. of course
  5. doubtedly
  6. certainly
  7. without doubt
  8. yes, no
  9. undoubtedly
  10. in fact
  11. surely
  12. in fact

Concession

  1. to be sure
  2. granted
  3. of course, it is true

Summary

  1. to summarize
  2. in sum
  3. in brief
  4. to sum up
  5. in short
  6. in summary

Conclusion

  1. in conclusion
  2. to conclude
  3. finally

Demonstratives acting as transitions

  1. this
  2. those
  3. these
  4. that

Pronouns serving as links to clearly refer to a specific word or phrase

  1. his
  2. its
  3. theirs
  4. it
  5. their
  6. your
  7. her
  8. they
  9. our