TRANSITION WORDS To improve your writing you need to make sure that your ideas, both in sentences and paragraphs, stick together or have coherence and that the gap between ideas is bridged smoothly. One way to do this is by using transitions - words or phrases or techniques that help bring two ideas together. Transitional words and phrases represent one way of gaining coherence. Certain words help continue an idea, indicate a shift of though or contrast, or sum up a conclusion. Check the following list of words to find those that will pull your sentences and paragraphs together. For continuing a common line of reasoning: consequently_ clearly, then_ furthermore_ additionally _and _in addition_ moreover_ because _besides that _in the same way _following this further_ also_ pursuing this further_ in the light of the... it is easy to see that To change the line of reasoning (contrast): however _on the other hand _but_ yet _never_the_less on the contrary For opening a paragraph initially or for general use: admittedly_ assuredly_ certainly_ granted _no doubt _nobody denies _obviously _of course_ to be sure_ true _undoubtedly_ unquestionably generally speaking _in general_ at this level _in this situation For the final points of a paragraph or essay: finally_ lastly Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged chronologically: first... second... third... generally... furthermore... finally in the first place... also... lastly_ in the first place... pursuing this further... finally _to be sure... additionally... lastly_ in the first place... just in the same way... finally_ basically... similarly... as well To signal conclusion: therefore_ this_ hence_ in final analysis _in conclusion_ in final consideration_ indeed To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more exacting way: in other words_ point in fact _specifically Sequence or time: after _afterwards_ as soon as _at first _at last _before_ before long _finally _first... second... third_ in the first place_ in the meantime_ later _meanwhile_ next_ soon _then
To improve your writing you need to make sure that your ideas, both in sentences and paragraphs, stick together or have coherence and that the gap between ideas is bridged smoothly. One way to do this is by using transitions - words or phrases or techniques that help bring two ideas together. Transitional words and phrases represent one way of gaining coherence. Certain words help continue an idea, indicate a shift of though or contrast, or sum up a conclusion. Check the following list of words to find those that will pull your sentences and paragraphs together.
For continuing a common line of reasoning:
consequently_ clearly, then_ furthermore_ additionally _and _in addition_ moreover_ because _besides that _in the same way _following this further_ also_ pursuing this further_ in the light of the... it is easy to see that
To change the line of reasoning (contrast):
however _on the other hand _but_ yet _never_the_less on the contrary
For opening a paragraph initially or for general use:
admittedly_ assuredly_ certainly_ granted _no doubt _nobody denies _obviously _of course_ to be sure_ true _undoubtedly_ unquestionably generally speaking _in general_ at this level _in this situation
For the final points of a paragraph or essay:
finally_ lastly
Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged chronologically:
first... second... third... generally... furthermore... finally in the first place... also... lastly_ in the first place... pursuing this further... finally _to be sure... additionally... lastly_ in the first place... just in the same way... finally_ basically... similarly... as well
To signal conclusion:
therefore_ this_ hence_ in final analysis _in conclusion_ in final consideration_ indeed
To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more exacting way:
in other words_ point in fact _specifically
Sequence or time: after _afterwards_ as soon as _at first _at last _before_ before long _finally _first... second... third_ in the first place_ in the meantime_ later _meanwhile_ next_ soon _then