Transition words and phrases are a type of vocabulary used to link clauses, sentences and paragraphs as we speak or write.
We use them all the time in English, often without realizing. But since transition words can be the key to clear and concise writing that is easy for the reader to follow, it pays to use them intentionally.
This is especially true in more formal contexts like essays, academic papers, debates and presentations.
So, let’s take a look at some of the different types of transition word you might use in English, and learn how to use them correctly.
What are transition words?
Transition words are used in language to link ideas, signal changes in topic, and bring structure, flow and cohesion. We use them in speaking and in writing, formally and informally.
Other terms for ‘transition words’ include:
- Discourse markers
- Signal words
- Filler words
- Transitional phrases
- Linking words
- Connecting words
- Clue words
- Sentence connectors
When do we use transition words?
There are many ways to categorize and group transition words, but most fall into one of the following categories:
Stating time order; sequencing
When giving a description of events, words like ‘first’, ‘next’ and ‘finally’ help us to lay out the order in which things happened.
We can also use adverbial words and phrases like ‘all of a sudden’, ‘immediately’, ‘sooner or later’ and ‘eventually’ to describe the manner in which things occur.
There are over 100 time transition words for you to explore here.
Comparing and contrasting; stating similarities
Ever had to write a compare and contrast essay? These phrases will have come in handy. Transition words for comparing and contrasting help us to explain how things are different, and to examine alternatives.
Words and phrases like ‘although’, ‘on the plus side’, ‘in spite of’ and ‘by comparison’ all come into this category.
Similarity transition words, on the other hand, help us describe how things are similar or the same.
‘Similarly’, ‘likewise’ and ‘equally’ are all examples of these.
Addition; expansion of a point
One of the first English transition words you ever learned, ‘and’, is an example of a word used to signal addition.
Less common addition words and phrases include ‘furthermore’, ‘coupled with’, ‘not to mention’ and ‘additionally’.
These can also be used to express agreement or to reinforce an idea that has already been stated. They can be very helpful when you are building up an argument in an essay or presentation.
Giving examples
Sometimes you need to give examples to illustrate a point or expand on what you are saying. In this case, you can introduce your example with phrases like ‘for instance’, ‘such as’, ‘as can be seen’ and ‘in this case’.
Clarification
When you need to clarify a point, you might try to state it differently or more concisely.
You can use transition words like ‘to clarify’, ‘to be clear’, ‘that is to say’ and ‘in other words’ to signal that you are simply trying to add clarity.
Emphasis
There are many ways to emphasize a point. We may alter our tone of voice when speaking or use bold or italics in writing. But in both cases, discourse markers can also help achieve this.
There are many adverbs, in particular, that we can use to add emphasis. These include:
- Particularly
- Especially
- Surprisingly
- Certainly
- Markedly
- Significantly
There are also phrases we can use to add emphasis or draw attention to something, such as ‘of particular importance’, ‘as a matter of fact’, ‘with this in mind’ and ‘not forgetting that’.
Learn more about using transition words for emphasis here.
Stating cause and effect; conditions and results
When forming a logical argument, you must be able to link ideas and demonstrate how one thing affects the outcome of another.
Transition words and phrases to talk about cause and effect include ‘because’, ‘so’, ‘accordingly’, ‘for the purpose of’ and ‘consequently’.
We can also form conditional cause and effect statements using words and phrases like ‘provided that’, ‘only if’, ‘on the condition that’ and ‘in the event of’.
What’s the difference between affect and effect?
Concluding and summarizing
Finally, we can use transition words to summarize our ideas or argument and conclude an essay, presentation or article.
Examples of signal words for conclusions include ‘to wrap up’, ‘in short’, ‘given these points’ and ‘on balance’.
Learn about the difference between summarizing and concluding, and some good transition words for conclusion.
How to use transitional words
When you first learn English, you’ll be introduced to simple transition words like ‘and’, ‘but’ and ‘so’ (also called conjunctions).
These are ideal for forming simple sentences with two or more clauses, but they won’t get you far when writing an essay, making a formal speech, or proposing an idea at a business meeting.
In these scenarios, it’s important to not only know which discourse markers to use, but also how to use them correctly in a sentence. If you click on any of the links above, you’ll find that we have individual pages about each type of transition word which give a lot more examples and – just as importantly – sentences demonstrating how to use them.
You should pay special attention to your punctuation when using these phrases too, so that the placement of the connector itself doesn’t disrupt the flow of your writing.
And finally, avoid overuse. Transitional words should enhance the flow of your speaking or writing but not get in the way of what you actually want to say. When used too often they can make you sound unnatural or overly formal, so carefully consider the placement of each one. The same general rule applies to idioms.
For an important piece of writing, you can always have someone else read through it or get it professionally proofread to ensure it sounds as good as you intended.
