Appendix A: Transitional Words and Phrases for College Writing
Appendix A: Transitional Words and Phrases for College Writing
In previous English classes, you may have learned the basic transitional words or phrases in Table A.1. These can be effective when writing simple information in a structure where you simply add one idea after another, or want to show the order of events.
| first
second third last moreover |
firstly
secondly thirdly last but not least, furthermore |
first of all
next then finally besides |
However, more complex college-level and technical writing requires more sophisticated transitions. It requires you to connect ideas in ways that show the logic of why one idea comes after another in a complex argument or analysis. For example, you might be comparing/contrasting ideas, or showing a cause and effect relationship, providing detailed examples to illustrate an idea, or presenting a conclusion to an argument. When expressing these complex ideas, the simple transitions you’ve learned earlier will not always be effective – indeed, they may even confuse the reader.
Consider the transitions in Table A.2, and how they are categorized. While this is not an exhaustive list, it will give you a sense of the many transitional words and phrases that you can choose from and demonstrate the need to choose the one that most effectively conveys your meaning.
| Addition | Comparison | Contrast | Cause and Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| also
and in addition in fact indeed so too as well as furthermore moreover |
along the same lines
in the same way similarly likewise like |
although
but in contrast conversely despite even though however nevertheless whereas yet while on the other hand |
accordingly
as a result consequently hence it follows, then since so then therefore thus |
| Conclusion | Example | Concession | Elaboration |
| as a result
consequently hence in conclusion in short in sum it follows, then so therefore thus |
as an illustration
consider for example for instance specifically a case in point |
admittedly
granted of course naturally to be sure conceding that although it is true that… |
by extension
in short that is to say in other words to put it another way to put it bluntly to put it succinctly ultimately |
Transitional words and phrases show the connection between ideas and how one idea relates to and builds upon another. They help create coherence. When transitions are missing or inappropriate, the reader has a hard time following the logic and development of ideas. The most effective transitions are sometimes invisible; they rely on the vocabulary and logic of your sentence to allow the reader to “connect the dots” and see the logical flow of your discussion.
For a discussion on the use of transitions in technical writing, see Marcia Riefer Johnston’s Word Wise: Our Transitions, Ourselves
- Repeat a word or phrase from the previous sentence (or use a synonym, related word, or antonym) to show that the same idea is still being discussed, but is being developed further.
- Use the pronoun “th