Do you ever read articles that seem to flow smoothly from sentence to sentence?
Do you then wonder why your own writing feels choppy — like you’re jumping from one idea to the next?
How can you write so your ideas move more smoothly?
Transition and signal words will help your writing feel more fluent while also helping your reader follow your thoughts more easily.
Imagine your readers are driving a car behind you.
- You must “signal” to your readers to indicate where you’re going to go next.
- These “transition” words help your readers follow you as you move across ideas (the prefix trans = across).
Here are some transition words that I encourage my students to practice adding to their writing.
Time or Order
- at present / presently
- at that/ this point or time
- before, during, after
- concurrently
- finally
- first, second, third, etc.
- followed by
- formerly
- immediately
- initially
- later (on)
- meanwhile
- next
- once
- previously
- prior to
- simultaneously
- since then
- subsequently
- then
- thereafter
Example
- for example
- for instance
- in other words
- in the case of
- in this case
- namely
- notably
- on this occasion
- specifically
- such as
- taking the case of
- that is (to say)
- thus
- to demonstrate
- to illustrate
Cause / Effect
- accordingly
- as a consequence
- as a result (of this)
- because (of this)
- consequently
- due to
- for this reason
- hence
- in order to / so as to
- so much (so) that
- therefore
- thus
Compare / Contrast
- (and) yet
- a different view is
- balanced against
- by/ in comparison
- conversely
- correspondingly
- differing from
- however
- in contrast
- in the same way
- Just like/just as
- likewise
- on the contrary
- on the one hand
- on the other hand
- similar to
- similarly
- unlike
- whereas
- while
Similar idea
- equally
- in a similar fashion
- in like manner
- in the same way
- just as/ just like
- likewise
- similarly
Additional idea
- additionally
- also
- another (thing, idea, point)
- besides
- further
- furthermore
- in addition
- it could also be said
- moreover
Opposite idea
- (and) yet
- admittedly
- albeit
- alternatively
- although
- despite/ in spite of (this)
- even though / even so
- however
- in contrast
- Instead (of)
- it could also be said that
- nevertheless /nonetheless
- notwithstanding
- on the contrary
- on the other hand
- regardless (of this)
- whereas
- while
Emphasis
- above all
- crucially
- especially
- indeed
- particularly
- significantly
Summarize / Conclude
- all in all
- as a result
- consequently
- finally
- hence
- in brief
- in conclusion
- in other words
- in summary
- on the whole
- overall
- therefore
- thus
- to summarise
- ultimately