Question

It can sometimes be difficult to start a sentence to express ideas, or find words to show the relationship between ideas. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper.

 

What are transitions and how are they used?

• transitions are phrases or words used to connect one idea to the next
• transitions are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next
• transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas
• different transitions do different things....

Addition: also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly etc.

Consequence: accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore etc.

Emphasis: above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly etc.

Exception: aside from, barring, beside, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save etc.

Generalizing: as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily, usually etc.

Similarity: comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar, moreover, together with etc.

Sequence: at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind etc.

Summarizing: after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis, in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally etc.