Transition Words in Writing

Increasing your vocabulary of transition words in writing can help you to create more forceful, clear, and articulate prose. One of the most challenging and fundamentally important tasks in effective writing is connecting your statements together in ways that are easy for your readers to follow. Writers who fail to understand transition words often write short, choppy sentences that lack style and elegance. Using transitions effectively can therefore improve your writing style by helping establish momentum, and they can also help keep your reader's attention focused on the topic at hand. Transition words in writing are particularly useful when you want to signal to your readers that you are taking the line of thought in a new direction. Since they serve different functions, transitions can be grouped into categories. The following article provides examples of these words and offers additional suggestions for how to streamline your writing to make it the most effective.

The following categories and examples show the myriad of purposes that transition words perform in effective writing.

• Contrast – Using the following contrast words is effective when you want to show how one idea is different than another: however, in contrast, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, although, but, conversely, despite the fact, even though, nevertheless, regardless, while yet, whereas.

Seeing a concert at Jazz Fest in mid-July is incredible despite the fact that it is usually extremely hot.

• Comparison – Unlike contrast transition words, the following comparison words are useful to show how two ideas are similar: likewise, similarly, along the same lines, in the same way.

Basketball teams need a really good point guard to win championships. Along the same lines, football teams need a really good quarterback.

• Cause and Effect – These cause and effect words help to show had one thing leads to another: thus, therefore, then, so, hence, since, accordingly, as a result, consequently.

American car companies made inefficient, uninspired products for decades. As a result, many of them are now going bankrupt.

• Addition – If you want to show how one idea builds on another, try these transition words: and, also, besides, furthermore, in addition, in fact, so too, moreover, indeed.

Making sure your tires are inflated properly can help your gas mileage. In fact, it is one of the most effective ways to increase the energy performance of your car.

• Elaboration – These transition words help you to really put a fine point on your writing: to put it bluntly, in short, that is to say, in other words, actually, by extension, to put it another way, ultimately.

Steve is a very demanding boss. That is to say he is often looking over your shoulder watching everything you do.

• Example – These words help you to introduce an example: to take a case in point, specifically, for instance, for example, as an illustration, after all.

Stella is an extremely lucky person. For instance, I once saw her win $100 on a horse race because she liked the horse's name.

• Concession – Sometimes you need to acknowledge another idea as credible before you can make your own point. Try these transition words: to be sure, of course, naturally, granted, although it is true, admittedly.

To be sure, Vincent was good in the play, but the overall production was still lacking.

• Conclusion – To finish off your point effectively, try these ideas: consequently, hence, in conclusion, in short, in sum, therefore, thus, to sum up, to summarize, as a result.

To summarize, using transition words effectively can really improve your writing.

Anyone looking to improve their writing should print out a copy of this list and keep it at hand when writing to consult. Over time, these words will make their way into your memory and you can draw from them naturally, but until then, practicing using them starts with knowing what they are and what they do.

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