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Transitional Words and Phrases: Writing

This document provides a chart of transitional words and phrases to help establish relationships between ideas in writing. It explains that including transitions helps readers follow narratives, understand developing ideas, and keep up with logical arguments. The chart lists words and phrases for addition, examples, summarizing, showing place or direction, time, contrasting, comparing, emphasizing, pointing to causes and effects, and ending. It also discusses where transitional words and phrases belong in writing and provides an exercise for students to practice using them.

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Jarvis Alsalhi
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25 views

Transitional Words and Phrases: Writing

This document provides a chart of transitional words and phrases to help establish relationships between ideas in writing. It explains that including transitions helps readers follow narratives, understand developing ideas, and keep up with logical arguments. The chart lists words and phrases for addition, examples, summarizing, showing place or direction, time, contrasting, comparing, emphasizing, pointing to causes and effects, and ending. It also discusses where transitional words and phrases belong in writing and provides an exercise for students to practice using them.

Uploaded by

Jarvis Alsalhi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Writing Center TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES

The Samuel Rudin Academic Resource Center by Lily Evans

Transitional words and phrases are useful tools that help establish relationships between ideas. Including transitions
helps readers follow a narrative, understand an idea as it develops throughout an essay, and keep up with the logic
of an argument. The chart below contains some examples.

Addition Giving Examples Summarizing Showing place or Showing time


again for example fnally direction after
also for instance for these reasons above afterward
and in fact in brief behind as
and then namely in conclusion below at last
besides specifcally in general beyond at the same time
equally that is in other words close before
fnally to illustrate in summary farther on during
frst/second/third on the whole in the distance fnally
further Contrasting therefore inside immediately
furthermore although thus left in the meantime
important but to conclude nearby in the past
in addition conversely to sum up next to later
moreover even though opposite meanwhile
next however Pointing to cause and over next
similarly in contrast effect, proof, results, right now
too instead or conclusions underneath presently
what’s more nonetheless since then
on the contrary accordingly soon
as a result Emphasizing
Comparing on the other hand temporarily
rather because of this above all then
also still hence add to this when
at the same time though consequently even more while
in the same way whereas for this reason in any case
likewise yet if in any event
similarly thus in fact Ending
since in other words after all
so indeed fnally
then that is for these reasons
therefore in sum

1
TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES: CONTINUED

Where do transitional words and phrases belong?

Between paragraphs
Example:
… Students who take clear, detailed notes are likely to retain information from class and succeed on assessments.
Although note taking can help prepare students for exams, some people struggle to take notes in traditional
ways and may work better with a laptop, recording technology, or other tools instead of a typical notebook.

Connecting sentences in a paragraph


Example:
Doing the readings for class is required. In addition, taking notes on the readings will make students better able to
participate in class discussions and keep up with the lecture.

Within a sentence
Example:
Taking good notes requires practice and patience, but the work put in is worthwhile.

Exercises

Fill in the Blank


Use words from the diferent sections on the front of the sheet. There may be more than one correct way to fll in each blank.
1. Some students use pens and paper to take notes _______________ some students use laptops.
2. Good notes can be strong study tools and _____________________ students who take notes well often make better grades.
3. _____________________ note-taking skills can be a great asset in college.
4. Students often fnd that their grades improve when they take notes ________________________ a grade of B can become
an A once you have notes to study from.

In Your Essay
Take a look in at an assignment you are working and fnd places where a transitional word or phrase might improve your
writing. A good way to tell if you might need to add a transitional word of phrase is to read your work aloud. If an idea seems
disjointed or if a shift in a description or idea is confusing, you might want to add a transitional word or phrase. Think about
what the relationship is between disconnected sentences. What kind of connection could bridge the gap? Use the space
below to practice in your own writing.

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