Using Transition words

Using transition words in your text can help you enhance the readability. Used well, these words help your text flow. They show the relationship between phrases, sentences and paragraphs. They demonstrate how thoughts and ideas are connected.

What are they?

Transition words include ‘and,’ ‘but,’ ‘so,’ and ‘because’. Also ‘however’, ‘before,’ afterwards,’ and ‘consequently.’ These are all connecting words.

You can look through a short list of transition words below. There are many more we could add.

Why do we need them?

Transition words bring more structure to the text, making it clearer to show your thoughts and ideas relate to each other.

When do we use them?

Even if you have an introduction, body, and conclusion, your text needs more structure than that. You have to know what goal every paragraph serves. Group your sentences together in a logical order and find opportunities to transition from one to the next. Two or three sentences can complete a coherent thought. With a couple of transitions, those can flow or progress from one to another.

Not everything needs a transition, but you need to decide what is a standalone thought or concept.

Too many transition words add formality to the text. The more you use, the more it can look like an academic or corporate paper.

Common Transition Words

accordingly
additionally
afterward
afterwards
albeit
also
although
altogether
another
basically
because
before
besides
but
certainly
chiefly
comparatively
concurrently
consequently
contrarily
conversely
correspondingly
despite
doubtedly
during
e.g.
earlier
emphatically
equally
especially
eventually
evidently
explicitly
finally
firstly
following
formerly
forthwith
fourthly
further
furthermore
generally
hence
henceforth
however
i.e.
identically
indeed
instead
last
lastly
later
lest
likewise
markedly
meanwhile
moreover
nevertheless
nonetheless
nor
notwithstanding
obviously
occasionally
otherwise
once
overall
particularly
presently
previously
rather
regardless
secondly
shortly
significantly
similarly
simultaneously
since
so
soon
specifically
still
straightaway
subsequently
surely
surprisingly
than
then
thereafter
therefore
thereupon
thirdly
though
thus
till
undeniably
undoubtedly
unless
unlike
unquestionably
until
when
whenever
whereas
while