Writing Resources: Transitions

Transitions are words and phrases that help bring coherence to a paragraph by signaling relationships between and among sentence. The following is a list of words and phrases that are commonly used for different types of transitions in a paragraph.

To signal sequence

again

furthermore

also

last

and then

moreover

besides

finally

still

first, second, etc.

too

To signal time

after a bit

at that time

later

so far

after a few days

before

meanwhile

soon

after a while

earlier

now

then

afterward

immediately

presently

thereafter

as long as

in the meantime

shortly

until

at last

in the past

simultaneously

when

at length

lately

since

To signal comparison

again

likewise

also

once more

in the same way

similarly

To signal contrast

although

in contrast

notwithstanding

but

in spite of

on the contrary

despite

instead

on one hand

though

yet

on the other hand

even though

nevertheless

regardless

however

nonetheless

still

To signal examples

after all

of course

even

specifically

for instance

the following example

in fact

to illustrate

To signal cause and effect

accordingly

as a result

then

because

therefore

consequently

thereupon

for this purpose

thus

hence

to this end

To signal place

above

closer to

here

there

adjacent to

elsewhere

near

to the left

below

far

nearby

to the right

beyond

farther on

opposite to

To signal concession

although it is true that

it may appear that

granted that

naturally

I admit that

of course

To signal summary, repetition or conclusion

as a result

in conclusion

as has been noted

in other words

as I have said

in short

as we have seen

on the whole

as mentioned earlier

therefore

in any event

to summarize