TRANSITION DEVICES WITHIN AND BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS
Transitions are used to link one sentence to another within a paragraph. They make writing flow and guide your reader from idea to idea. Transitions are also used to link paragraphs in logical progression or organization.
You must use good judgment with connecting words. Sometimes students mark every word or idea with a connecting word or begin every sentence with a transition word. If you post unnecessary signs, your readers will ignore them, along with the necessary ones. If you post too few, they will not understand them.
| Relationship |
Transitional words |
| To indicate a time order |
when, while, first, to begin (with), as, at the same time, during, meanwhile, now, after that, afterwards, next, later, finally, moreover, until |
| To indicate description |
above, across from, also, beyond, further |
| To indicate similar ideas |
similarly, and, in addition, another, also, then, again, further, furthermore, besides, likewise, moreover |
| To contrast two ideas |
however, in contrast, yet, on the other hand, on the contrary, or, nor, still, nevertheless |
| To point up an example |
for example, for instance, to be specific, namely, that is |
| To point out a conclusion, result |
thus, so, therefore, for this reason, consequently |
| (cause-effect relationship) |
as a result, in other words, accordingly, because, hence, since, to sum up |
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Effective Transitions
