Writing Center
Youngstown State University
Transitions are used in writing to guide a reader through the relationships among facts, to coherently link sentences or paragraphs together, to show the intention, direction, or flow of the materials being presented, and to indicate the next logical step in the piece of writing. Below are some transitional words and phrases, grouped according to how they might be best used.
| Addition or Development of Ideas | again, also, as follows, besides, furthermore, in addition, is called, is made up of, is seen as, let us define, likewise, may be divided into, moreover, progressive (-ly), successively, to constitute, to limit to, too |
| Cause and Effect | accordingly, and so, as a result, because, by means of, consequently, effect (-ively, etc.), for this reason, hence, result (-ing) from, since, then, the reason for, therefore, thus |
| Chronological or Ordered | after, afterwards, and, before, finally, first, following, formerly, in conclusion, in the first/second/etc. place, lastly, later, meanwhile, next, now, once, presently, previously, second (-ly), subsequently, then, thereafter, ultimately |
| Comparison and/or Contrast | as, as well as, at the same time, but, compared to, conversely, despite, differs from, distinct from, however, in like manner, in the same way, likewise, may be distinguished from, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, similarly, still, though, yet |
| Concession | accepting that, albeit, although, despite (the fact that), granted that, notwithstanding, of course, though, whereas |
| Example and Illustration | as follows, for example, in other words, that is, for instance, to illustrate |
| Repetition or Emphasis | above all, again, as previously stated, briefly, indeed, in fact, in other words, more important, that is (to say), to repeat |
| Space | about, above, around, as we move, as you go, at the right/left/side of, behind, below, beside, close by, down from, following, in front of, in the background, in the distance, near, next to, proceeding, straight ahead |
| Summary | for these reasons, in brief, in conclusion, in summary, judging from this viewpoint, the resolution/result/conclusion/etc. of the above stated facts, to sum up. |
E-mail your comments and suggestions to the YSU Grant Team (cardcat@bgnet.bgsu.edu).
Home | Research & Writing Process | Elements of Argument | OhioLINK & Library Handbook