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What are transition words?
Transition words are used to connect words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. With these words, the idea of the text is easier to be understood by the reader. Otherwise, they can build a coherent relationship in the text. Commonly, transition words are crucial for you who want to create essays and papers.
Besides linking the ideas, transition words also can introduce a new shift, emphasize agreement, show contrast or opposition, or show a conclusion. With the different functions of each transition word, you should know how to use the best transition word for your ideas.
Types of Transition Words
There are many types of transition words depending on their functions. Those are additive transitions, adversative transitions, causal transitions, and sequential transitions. Get the details and examples of each transition word in the following explanation.
Additive Transitions
Additive transitions are used to show the current point. You may find this type of transition in many texts. This transition also can be used to add another idea to your writing.
| In the first place | let alone | additionally |
| and | in fact | not to mention |
| or | as well | either |
| too | in fact | to say nothing of |
| indeed | in addition | on the other hand |
| moreover | actually | much less |
| furthermore | alternatively | in all honesty |
| further | besides | to tell the truth |
Adversative Transitions
When you want to show a contradiction in the text, you should use an adversative transitions word. Besides, the adversative transition can be used for concessions and dismissal too.
| However | whereas | whatever happens |
| but | even more | whichever happens |
| in contrast | although | in either event |
| on the other hand | nonetheless | at least |
| while | nevertheless | still |
| conversely | either way | yet |
| above all | though | in either case |
Causal Transitions
Causal transitions are cause-and-effect transitions that show circumstances caused by some factors. The transition helps the reader to understand the cause and the result of an argument.
| Accordingly | thus | then |
| consequently | in the event that | granting (that) |
| hence | because (of this) | on the condition |
| for this reason | as a consequence | for the purpose of |
| so | with this intention | and that being the case |
| therefore | under those circumstances |
Sequential Transitions
As its name, sequential transitions aim to express sequences including numerical sequence, continuation, summation, digression, and conclusion. You can find the transition in the first or the last paragraph. However, some words in this type of transition also can be used in the middle of the text.
| To begin with | subsequently | so |
| to start with | after this | in short |
| in the (first second etc.) place | to conclude with | to get back to the point |
| initially | as a final point | anyhow |
| secondly | thus | in sum |
| before | finally |
| Above all | Besides | Nonetheless |
| Accordingly | But even so | Nor |
| Actually | Consequently | Or |
| Additionally | Conversely | Secondly |
| After this | Even more | So |
| Afterward | For this reason | Subsequently |
| Alternatively | Further | Then |
| Although | Furthermore | Therefore |
| And | Hence | Thus |
| And so | In contrast | To conclude with |
| As a consequence | In fact | To start with |
| As a final point | Initially | Too |
| As a result | Last but not least | Whereas |
| As a result (of) | Moreover | While |
| Because (of) | Nevertheless | |
| Before | Next |
Transition words: PDF, Flashcards and SBN formats
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> Transition words in PDF Format |
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Conclusion
To sum up, you need to use transition words judiciously, so your writing moves coherently, and makes the audience or readers understand your ideas and they will wait until your final word. Also, you should consider punctuation in your paper because some transition words are followed by a comma. You mi
