This article outlines 300+ transition words, including examples and how to use them. Have you ever found yourself reading a book that seemed to transit from one sentence to another or from a preceding paragraph to the other? Well, the words and phrases used in writing are called transition words. Some people like calling them transitional words. Whichever word you use to describe those words and phrases does not matter. The only thing that you need to know is that transitional words or transition words are used not only in academic writing but also in other forms of writing.

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What Are Transition Words?

We can define transitional words as short phrases or words and phrases that give a logical connection and logical relationship to sentences in any academic writing work, such as essay writing. We emphasize academic writing because transitional words are mostly popular in this type of writing. Although other writers might begin sentences with a phrase classified among the list of transition words, you will find that transitional words occur mostly in academic writing. Therefore, we can simplify the definition of transition words by stating that they are the words and phrases that connect sentences and ensure the logical relationship between words, sentences, or even paragraphs.

The Purpose of Transition Words

Transition words can explain a lot about sentences and paragraphs. While some people choose not to use them, transitional words can serve the following purposes.

• To show a contrary statement- Transitional words help readers identify the contradiction in a piece of academic writing, such as essay writing.
• To show an emphasis- Writers use transition words to emphasize the areas they feel readers will pay attention to during their reading.
• Ensure clear writing- Transition words give readers the clarity of ideas in paragraphs and sentences. When writing an essay or any other piece of academic writing, you may need to clarify some situations. You may not offer clear writing if you do not use transition words.
• Reminds readers about previous paragraphs- When you read a piece of writing full of transitional words, you come across words that remind you of the previously stated sentences or phrases.
• Transitional words offer transitions- As the word depicts, transitional words help you to move your sentences or paragraphs forward. Your reader can tell that your story is moving on, judging by the choice of words and phrases that you use.

Exploring Transition Words with an Example

To prove how transitions connect sentences and paragraphs, we will explore one example and offer an analysis of the same. Read the following two sentences:

John banged the door as they exited the house. As a result, the window panes shattered all over the place.

When you read the two sentences above, you will find two crucial things:

1. The event that occurred.
2. The outcome of that event.

If a reader focuses on the second sentence, he or she will know that the window panes shattered due to the action that occurred in the first sentence. Do you get the point? Transitions are crucial because they connect sentences, show the relationship between events or ideas, and reveal an idea in a manner that the reader does not struggle to comprehend. If the sentence had started with just “as a result,” the reader would not have known the cause of the window panes shattering. Therefore, transitional words are useful in showing how ideas flow in a sentence and explaining an idea in the previous one.

Let’s see one more example of using transitions but in a paragraph scenario.

Text A: A paragraph without transitions

Homophobia has numerous detrimental impacts on the victims. People who suffer from homophobic attacks endure stress. Individuals who face homophobia are also likely to commit suicide. There are some people who will disagree with the dangers of homophobia, but studies show that 67% of individuals who endure homophobic attacks end their lives after one or two years (Smith, 2013). Homophobia is bad for any society

Text B: A paragraph without transitions

Homophobia has numerous detrimental impacts on the victims. Firstly, people who suffer from homophobic attacks endure stress. Secondly, individuals who face homophobia are also likely to commit suicide. However, some people will disagree with the dangers of homophobia, but studies show that 67% of individuals who endure homophobic attacks end their lives after one or two years (Smith, 2013). Therefore, homophobia is wrong for any society

In the above sentences, the reader is likely to find the second paragraph to be more flowing and captivating to read than the first. In the first text, the writer does not give a sequential narrative of the events. Even the last sentence does not end with any emphasis. By using “Therefore,” the writer in the second paragraph is not only emphasizing his idea but also showing the significance of the topic. Therefore, use transitions in your sentences and paragraphs if you want your readers to enjoy reading your piece of writing.

Transitional Words

Before delving more into the topic, we will highlight a short list of transition words and explain where to use them. Later in the article, we will explain the importance of using transitional words. Also, we will classify the transitions as per their usage so that you, the reader, can comprehend the subject. You will find that your writing improves, and your reader likes what you write because your sentences will be logical, and to the point, and each phrase has a meaning. It is important to note that one paragraph can have several transitions as long as the phrases make a sentence to the reader. The following now is a short list of transition words and their application.

Transition Words Usage

• Moreover- Use it when you want to add an idea to your paragraphs or sentences.
• Likewise- Used to show similarity of ideas.
• Similarly- Used in the same context as likewise.
• In the light of- Used to show how an action is based on the consideration of some facts.
• In contrast- Writers use it to show something or an idea is contrary.
• Firstly- It is used to begin sentences.
• In the first place- Used in the same context as ‘firstly.’
• Consequently- A word used to show the outcome of some actions.
• Subsequently- It is used to explain that an event occurred in a particular way.
• In essence- A phrase used mostly in the conclusion of an essay.
• To begin with- Used mostly in the first sentence of the first paragraph of a paper.
• Secondly- A word used in the second sentence of any paragraph.
• For instance- It is a phrase that draws the reader’s attention to a particular example.
• Again- This word can be used to emphasize a point since it denotes repetition.
• In front, nearby- These words can be used to explain the spatial order of some events.

The above is not an exhaustive list of transition words. We will keep expounding more as we continue with this article. The important thing to note about this topic of transition words is the proper usage of all transitions. Remember that you do not have to use just any transition at the beginning of your sentence. Some ideas can stand on their own, and using connecting words in such settings tends to confuse the reader.

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Types of Transition Words

The main types of transition words are sequential, adversative, additive, and cause, but we have several other categories. To ensure you benefit from this article and use the information we offer you in your writing, we will provide an expansive list of transition words and where they are used.

Similarity

Some of the common transition words used to show the similarity of something include: by the same token, in the same way, likewise, in the same vein, and similarly. An example in two sentences would be this:

Jeremy left the school at exactly 13:00. Similarly, Loise left shortly after 13:05.

In the two sentences, we can tell that both Loise and Jeremy did something similar.

Summarize or conclude

The transitions for summarizing a paragraph include: In essence, Finally, In short, In conclusion, and To sum up. Let’s see an example:

In conclusion, nuclear energy is beneficial because it is affordable, but its risks remain unresolved.

By looking at the start of the sentence, we can tell that the paragraph offers the final analysis of an entire paper.

Additive

Transition words that add ideas in paragraphs and sentences are many. They include additionally, in addition, furthermore, moreover, and equally important. Each transitional word should be used once in a sentence to ensure clear writing. Let us see one wrong use of transitional words.

Additionally, Danny went to the market in addition to cooking.

The sentence is redundant, and the second transitional word is not necessary. The correct sentence would be:

In addition to cooking, Danny went to the market.

Connecting words do not have to fill every sentence since they interfere with clear writing.

 

Causal transitional words

A cause transitional word helps to show why something happened. A reader will see that a particular event happened because of another. These connecting words are useful when showing the chronological order of something. The main examples of causal transitional words include: subsequently, consequently, and as a result. Let’s explore two examples, with each having a causal transitional word.

First example:

Luke acted angrily and hit Martin. As a result, the police charged him with assault.

In this example, we can see that the police would not have arrested Luke if he had not attacked Martin. Therefore, the action of attacking Martin led to the arrest of Luke. That is how a transitional word should be used. It must be used for connecting sentences and explaining how ideas relate.

Second example

The teacher handed out the exam sheets. Subsequently, the students started their exams.

In this example, the teacher’s decision to hand out the exam sheets caused students to sit down and start working on their exams. Again, you can see that the sentences would be confusing without the transitional phrases. Therefore, use transitions to show a causal transition between ideas or sentences.

Enumerative transitions

Transitions can also be used to show the numbering of events or ideas. Writers use these words to show either the chronological order or simply to reveal the number of reasons in their writing. The main examples of enumerative transitions include firstly, second, thirdly, and fourthly. In some cases, lastly is also used in this category. Let’s use one paragraph to illustrate the transitions.

Jessica achieved four goals that surprised everyone in the office. Firstly, she surpassed her target while everyone struggled. Secondly, she bought a nice car from her savings. Thirdly, she bought a new house in Paris. Fourthly, she got promoted to the manager’s position.

In this paragraph, the writer is showing the number of achievements Jessica made without necessarily arranging them in a particular way. We do not know if she bought the car before being promoted since the writer’s emphasis is not on the chronology but on the list of the goals achieved.

Why Are Transition Words Important?

By now, you may have deduced the meaning and significance of transitional words. Imagine writing a piece of academic paper that has no transition words and phrases! Your work would be too hard for the reader. English transition words are crucial for several reasons.

• Transition words and phrases act as coordinating conjunctions- A reader moves from one paragraph to the other through the help of transitional words.
• Transitions ensure a logical connection between sentences and paragraphs- As we have said, transitional words and phrases make it easy for readers to derive the sense of an idea from your sentences.
• They signal to the end- When you use a transition word like ‘finally,’ you are telling the reader that the sentence or paragraph that follows is the last one or the idea you are sharing will be the last. All the transition words used in writing are meant to signal something to the reader. A reader will know how the paper is going by looking at the words and phrases.
• All the transition words offer emphasis- Common transition words like ‘Therefore,’ ‘For that reason, ‘Consequently,’ and ‘By the same token’ can help the reader tell the words that the writer considers important.
• Make ideas sensible- All the transition words used in English writing are useful in helping readers see the sense of the ideas being shared. For example, the transition word ‘Likewise’ tells readers that something is being compared.

Common Mistakes with Transition Words

College students may try to write an essay using transition words to fascinate the readers but fail to do so. Understanding the common mistakes that learners make while using transitions can help you avoid them and maintain clear writing in your paper.

• Failing to use transition words in the right place- transition words and phrases are for specific functions. A transition word denoting a summary should be used when you want to summarize a section. Likewise, a transition word for emphasis should be used accordingly. For example, you can use the conclusion transitional words to make your final point. Similarly, a sequential transition word should be used when you are highlighting a sequence of events.
• Overusing common transition words-As we demonstrated before, English transition words should not be used excessively. The goal is not to show that you know a transition word but to connect ideas, emphasize, and clarify. Sometimes, it is important to use other less-known transitions instead of relying heavily on the common transition words.
• Using several transitions in one idea- One sentence that contains several transitions confuses the reader. Use each transition word carefully and logically.
• Failing to use a transition word to explain the previous argument- Readers want to know how your sentence relates to the previous argument. Therefore, use English transition words to show how your ideas relate.
• Using the word transition word at the start or end of a sentence or paragraph- College students also think that all English transition words must be used at the beginning of a sentence. As a result, they end up confusing readers or appearing informal. For example, the word “also” is part of the English transition words but should not be used at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph. Instead, it can appear within the sentence as demonstrated below:

John also went to the swimming pool and cleaned.

• Confusing different categories of common transition words- Sometimes, a writer wants to explain an idea using the causal transition words but ends up confusing the reader. See the following example.

We conducted a study on the level of customer satisfaction at Amazon. As a result, the score was 56%.

What’s wrong with the sentences? First, the transition phrase “as a result” implies that the 56% score was due to the study. That is not the case. The satisfaction level had nothing to do with the outcome. The phrase does not fit the specific functions it is meant for in writing. The best way to write would be as follows:

We conducted a study on the level of customer satisfaction at Amazon. In the subsequent findings, the score was 56%.

100+ Less common transition words

1. Accordingly
2. all the more
3. as a rule
4. as an example
5. beyond
6. by contrast
7. certainly
8. consequently
9. conversely
10. coupled with
11. demonstrably
12. hence(forth)
13. in the first place
14. in the same manner
15. in which case
16. inexplicably
17. namely
18. opposite
19. In consequence
20. So much (so) that
21. For the purpose of
22. With this intention
23. With this in mind
24. Under those circumstances
25. That being the case
26. To get back to the point
27. To resume
28. Anyhow
29. As was previously stated
30. So
31. In short
32. Thus
33. Afterward
34. After this
35. To conclude with
36. As a final point
37. Last but not least
38. To change the topic
39. Incidentally
40. By the way
41. To begin with
42. To start with
43. Initially
44. Secondly
45. Next
46. Subsequently
47. in the event that
48. granted (that)
49. as / so long as
50. on (the) condition (that)
51. for the purpose of
52. with this intention
53. with this in mind
54. in the hope that
55. to the end that
56. for fear that
57. in order to
58. seeing / being that
59. in view of
60. to put it differently
61. for one thing
62. as an illustration
63. in this case
64. for this reason
65. to put it another way
66. that is to say
67. with attention to
68. by all means
69. as can be seen
70. generally speaking
71. in the final analysis
72. all things considered
73. as shown above
74. in the long run
75. given these points
76. as has been noted
77. in a word
78. for the most part
79. from time to time
80. sooner or later
81. at the same time
82. up to the present time
83. to the left
84. To the right
85. in which case
86. inexplicably
87. namely
88. opposite
89. over time
90. put another way
91. notwithstanding
92. singularly
93. so then
94. surely
95. thereby
96. this is why
97. thus
98. to be sure
99. to begin with
100. to clarify

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How to Improve Your Use of Transition Words?

It is one thing to know the words and phrases that we are calling transition words, but it is another to know how to use them. Your understanding of how a transition word works will go a long way to help you convey your idea to your readers. To improve your use of transition words, focus on the following.

• Start by knowing the transition words- You cannot be effective in using any transition word if you are not familiar with it. Read this article to see some of the transition words used in English writing. When you start by knowing the transitions, you learn how to use them.
• Understand how your ideas relate to each other- It becomes easier to use a transition word when you grasp the flow of your ideas. You will know when to use a short phrase or single words as transitions. See the following example to understand this point better.

Text 1: Jennie went to England last year. On top of that, she went to Brussels.

Text 2: Jennie went to England last year. Additionally, she went to Brussels.

In the second text, the writer uses a short phrase to say the same thing said in the first sentences. While there is nothing really wrong with the first sentence of the first text, it comes out as redundant since the phrase ‘on top of that can be replaced by the short phrase ‘additionally.’ Therefore, always use single words where applicable.

• Consider the context- the context is always a significant determiner of the transition word that you use. If you are starting a new paragraph that does not relate to the previous paragraph, your chosen transition word should signal that reality to the reader. For example, it is highly unlikely that the paragraph that comes immediately after an essay introduction can start with the phrase ‘additionally’ or ‘moreover.’ Rather, the best transition word would be ‘in the first place or ‘firstly.’ Of course, other words may be used. The key thing to remember is that context determines the transition word you use. You cannot use short phrases that denote a consequence in settings where the right word signifies a contrast. For the most part of your work, context is critical.

When and How to Use Transition Words?

For the most part of this article, we have repeatedly explained that transition words are short phrases or single words that connect two clauses. Once you grasp this, you should know where to use the short phrases appropriately. Generally speaking, a transition will help you transit your ideas. So, when and how should you use the transition words?

• Use them for a sequential transition- You do not have to stuff short phrases in your document just to prove that you know about them. Make sure the reader can see that you are offering a sequential transition. In short, let your single words point to a sensible and logical sequence. See the following example.

Bernard started off by taking a shower at 05:00. Then he ate breakfast before brushing his

teeth.

In the given example, the transitions of “started off”, “then,” and “before” offer a sequential transition of how the events unfolded. A reader will find it easy to understand the text.

• Use transitions words for emphasis- Transitions words will help emphasize your main point if you learn how to use them effectively. Texts that fail to use transitions words accordingly tend to lack the emphasis needed to convince readers. Read the example sentences below.

Without transitions: Jared went swimming and the weather was bad.

With a transition word: Jared went swimming despite the weather being bad.

In the sentences, a reader seeing the first text will not see why it was a big deal for Jared to go swimming because there is no emphasis. In contrast, the second sentence shows some emphasis.

• Used for expanding and clarifying one idea- Use transitions words when you have to elaborate on one idea. See the example sentences below to grasp the point.

Feminism began as an insignificant concept in America and Europe. Before long, women were all over the place fighting for their rights. Over time, the movement grew into a one-world activist group.

In these sentences, the reader will visualize the expansion of the feminism idea from a small group to a movement.

• Use them as per the paper’s section- If you are writing the concluding paragraph, use one of the conclusion transition words like ‘in summary’ or ‘finally.’ Of course, you can select any other classified in the conclusion transition words.

100+ common and useful transition words

1. Additionally
2. In additional
3. An Additional
4. Furthermore
5. Also
6. Too
7. As well as that
8. Along with
9. Besides
10. In addition
11. Moreover
12. Not only…but also
13. In addition to this
14. Apart from this
15. Further
16. Finally
17. Last
18. And
19. Similarly
20. As well as
21. Coupled with
22. Not to mention
23. Together with
24. In the same fashion
25. First
26. Second
27. Third
28. For example
29. For instance
30. Such as
31. Proof of this
32. Like
33. To demonstrate
34. To clarify
35. Illustrated by
36. For one thing
37. As an example of
38. In the case of
39. To demonstrate
40. To clarify
41. Including
42. Namely
43. In this case
44. To simplify
45. In another case
46. Specifically
47. In this situation
48. On this occasion
49. Unlike
50. Nevertheless
51. On the other hand
52. Nonetheless
53. Despite
54. in spite of
55. In contrast
56. While
57. Whereas
58. Alternatively
59. Conversely
60. Even so
61. Differing from
62. Contrary to
63. In opposition
64. Up against
65. However
66. Contrarily
67. As opposed to
68. Yet
69. Instead
70. Notwithstanding
71. Rather
72. Nor
73. Though

100. Similarly
101. Equally
102. Similar to
103. Same as
104. By the same token
105. In the same way
106. Correspondingly
107. As with
108. Equal
109. Just as…so too
110. Likewise
111. Just as
112. Just like
113. Both
114. Alike
115. In common
116. In like manner
117. In a similar manner
118. Either
119. Most important
120. Therefore
121. To summarize
122. In short
123. To sum up
124. In summary
125. Briefly
126. To conclude
127. In essence
128. In brief
129. On the whole
130. In conclusion
131. Admittedly
132. All the same
133. Up to a point
134. Even so
135. In spite of
136. Although/Even though
137. Even if
138. However