Transition Words
-Transition words are used to connect two thoughts and makes a sentence or a
group of sentences flow smoothly.
DEFINITION OF A TRANSITION:
A sample of transition words used
in a sentence:
- Aaron loves to play sports. For
EXAMPLE, he plays volleyball and
basketball.
- Aaron enjoys eating fruits.
SPECIFICALLY, watermelons,
oranges and pineapples.
- I love to travel. For INSTANCE, I
have been to New York three
times this year.
Transitions bring ideas together. Transitions leave one thought
and enter a new one. If you think of these words as ending the
old and opening the new, it will help you organize your
thoughts and your essays.
DETAILS & EXAMPLES
Details and example words are used to illustrate a point. By using such words it
makes it easier for the reader to understand. It provides a smooth transition from
one supporting detail to the next.
-Some words that emphasis details and examples are:
Details
Examples
Specifically
For example
Especially
For instance
In particular
To illustrate
To explain
In other words
To enumerate
As an illustration
In detail
In particular
Transition Words of Addition
items.
Addition words are used to present two or more ideas in a list of
Simple Words:
1.And
2.Second
3.Too
4.Also
5.Next
Powerful Words:
1.Consequently
2.Futhermore
3.Moreover
4.For instance
5.Therefore
Sample sentences:
1.Alex still hasn’t taken out the garbage;moreover,his room is still not clean.
2.Mary speaks French and Italian. She also speaks Spanish.
Transition Words of Time
Time words tell us when something happened in relation to
something else.
Simple Words:
1.Before
2.During
3.Rarely
4.Next
5.Then
Powerful Words:
1.Afterwards
2.Ordinarily
3.Subsequently
4.Concurrently
5.Simultaneously
Sample Sentences:
1.Kate was downloading her email in one application and video in another,
using the two connections simultaneously.
2.John and Bob arrived at the bus station before Tom, making them
earlier.
SPACE
These transition words are used when talking about
space. These transition words give a location, direction, or
spatial reference.
Examples:
•In the middle
•To the left/right
•In front of
•On the side
•Next
•In the distance
•Adjacent to
•At the left
•At the right
•Along the edge
•Beside
•Behind
•Across
•Beyond
•Out of sight
•Nearer
•Farther
Space
Examples of spatial transitions:
When I went around the corner, to the left I saw a man I did not
recognize.
On top of the high shelf, I could see the book that I needed.
As I squinted my eyes, in the distance I could see them coming over
the horizon.
The pool ball, hitting along the edge, rolled tight into the pocket.
When crouched on the ground, looking under the bed, she was able
to recover her missing sock.
Concession
 Concession transitions are used when sentence A is
true, but sentence B is not.
 Ex: Many students dislike mathematics.
Not all students like mathematics.
A concession transition can be used between these two
sentences in order make them flow together more
smoothly.
Concession
 Concession Examples:
•Although
•Naturally
•Of course
•Certainly
•At least
•Still
•While it may be true
•In spite of
Ex: Many students dislike mathematics, although
not all students dislike mathematics.

Thus, for example, for instance, namely,
to illustrate, in other words, in particular,
specifically, such as.

On the contrary, contrarily,
notwithstanding, but, however,
nevertheless, in spite of, in contrast, yet,
on one hand, on the other hand, rather,
or, nor, conversely, at the same time,
while this may be true.
Maricruz Carrillo
Consequence or Result
To write a sentence illustrating a result or consequence transition, the relationship between ideas
followed by words and phrases making the connection must be presented. In other words, these
sentences is known to consist a cause and effect among a transitional word connecting the pair.
Some known transitional words are:
So that, with the result that, thus, consequently, hence, accordingly, for this reason, therefore, so,
because, since, due to, as a result, in other words, then
For example:
•
•
Hector lost his passport. Consequently, he could not fly to Europe and visit his family.
Jessica is not feeling so well. Therefore, she will not attend class today.
In these two examples, the cause is presented in the first sentence, followed by its effect in the
second sentence. The transition word connects both sentences illustrating a consequence or
result. This is done in two sentences.
You can also write it like this:
•
Traffic slowed down on route 92 towards San Mateo Bridge as a result of heavy fog
conditions.
In this example, the effect is presented first, followed by the cause. When the effect is used first,
the transition word connects the phrase with the cause. This is done in one sentence.
Maricruz Carrillo
Summary
When summarizing sentences or a paragraph of an essay, how can you create a successful
summary transition? This typical transition consists connections between thoughts, illustrating a
relationship.
To create a sentence so the reader can smoothly flow from one point to the next, there are
numerous of words one can use to transitionally sum up your paragraph.
Some known transitional words include:
In summary, therefore, finally, consequently, thus, in short, in conclusion, in brief, as a result,
accordingly, on the whole, in any case, after all
For example:
•
•
Jessica needs plates, cups, napkins, chips, sodas, and cupcakes for the birthday
party. Therefore, she is required to go to the grocery store.
In the colonial times, women were not allowed to work outside their homes, vote
in elections, extend their education, nor voice their opinions. In summary, women
were not given the same equality rights as men.
In these two examples, several thoughts are illustrated followed by a transition word
indicating the conclusion or summarized proportion. This demonstrates a link between
the two sentences.
•
The store is not willing to sell the new game system this Black Friday, but in any
case I do not get paid until the following week.
You can also create a summarizing transition within a sentence, as illustrated above.
Works Cited
Brigham Young University. “Some Common English Transition Words and Phrses.”
English Language Center. Brigham Young University, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.elc.byu.edu/classes/buck/w_garden/classes/buck/transitions.
html >.
“Transition Words.” English For Students. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.english-for-students.com/Transition-Words.html>.
“Transition Words and Phrases.” Study Guides and Strategies. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov.
2011. <http://studygs.net>.
Works Cited Cont.
University of Richmond Writing Center, and Joanna Taraba. “Transitional
Words and Phrases.” University of Richmond Writing Center.
University of Richmond, 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
<http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html>.
The University of Wisconsin- Madison. “Transitional Words and Phrases.” The
Writing Center @ THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN- MADISON. The
University of Wisconsin- Madison, 4 Apr. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.noodletools.com/noodlebib/defineEntryMLA.php>.