Transition Words

Transition words and phrases help establish clear connections between ideas and ensure that sentences and paragraphs flow together smoothly, making them easier to read. Use the following words and phrases in the following circumstances.

Words to use to show an Example

For example

 To illustrate

For instance

 To demonstrate

In particular

 Specifically Particularly


Words to use to indicate a Result or an Effect

Accordingly

 So Finally Thus Consequently Hence Therefore


To Compare or Contrast

Although

 Yet However In comparison In contrast
Likewise Similarly Nevertheless On the other hand Whereas


To Summarize

Briefly

 To sum up In brief To summarize Overall To put it briefly Summing up

 

To Conclude

Hence

 Thus In conclusion So Given these facts Therefore To conclude


Words to use to indicate a Cause or Reason

As

 For Because Since Because of Due to For the reason that

 

To Indicate a Purpose or Reason Why

For fear that

 So that In the hope that In order to So With this in mind

 

To Indicate a Specific Time Frame or a Shift From One Time Period to Another

After

 During Before Soon Currently Subsequently
First...Second...etc. Next Eventually Previously Finally Meanwhile
Simultaneously Lastly Formerly Later Immediately Initially

 

Words to show More Information

Besides

 In fact Furthermore In addition Moreover Indeed