To signal relationships or shifts in meaning, a transition connects one paragraph, sentence, clause, or word with another. A transition also identifies what kind of connection exists, helping readers anticipate how the next paragraph or sentence will relate to the meaning of what they have just read.
Following are the groups of transitions, what they signal, and examples of each:
Chronological Transitions. . .Relationship in time:
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presently
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meanwhile
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the next day
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With that finished
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thereupon
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at length
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second
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then
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immediately
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soon afterward
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when I returned
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thereafter
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afterward
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after that
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by that time
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Following this
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next
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beforehand
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first
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later
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soon
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at that moment
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at last
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earlier
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within an hour
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shortly
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from then on
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finally
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1. Spatial Transitions. . .Relationship in space:
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a little farther on
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at the edge of the clearing
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above
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in the next room
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at the center of the circle
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below
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at that altitude
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across the way
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beyond this point
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between those cities
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about a foot to the left
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just to the right
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2. Comparison Transitions. . .What follows is similar to what precedes:
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likewise
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once again
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similarly
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in the same way
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in like manner
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at the same time
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3. Contrast Transitions. . .A contradiction or contrast:
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however
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conversely
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nevertheless
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notwithstanding
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whereas
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still
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even so
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For all that
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surely
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unlike
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on the other hand
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In contrast
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nonetheless
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on the contrary
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in spite of this
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dissimilarly
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4. Middle Paragraph Transitions. . .What follows is an illustration, a qualification, or an example:
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for example
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for instance
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likewise
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specifically
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frequently
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in particular
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similarly
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to illustrate
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whenever
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that is
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in general
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occasionally
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generally
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especially
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usually
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5. What follows is additional or supplementary:
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furthermore
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besides
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Then, too
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moreover
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as if that were not enough
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again
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and
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indeed
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In addition
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in fact
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first, second, third. . .
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also
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6. What follows is quite expected, quite natural, or obviously true:
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to be sure
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it follows, then, that
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surely
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of course
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for that matter
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without a doubt
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naturally
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as a matter of fact
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obviously then
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7. Cause-Effect Transitions. . .What follows is a result of what precedes:
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as a result
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as a consequence
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so
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thus
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consequently
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another
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therefore
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then
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hence
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in other words
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wherefore
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at last
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for this reason
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and that is why
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first
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second
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on the whole
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accordingly
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and so
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finally
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all in all
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8. Counterargument Transitions. . .For concession:
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of course
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Certainly
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to doubt that
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doubtless
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to be sure
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granted
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9. End of Paragraph or Conclusion Transitions. . .What follows is a repetition or intensification of that which precedes:
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in other words
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Indeed
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as noted earlier
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to repeat
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in any case
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besides
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as we have seen
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in fact
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to sum up
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10.Conclusion Transitions. . .What follows is a summary:
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therefore
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all in all
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in short
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In summary
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in a word
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on the whole
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in conclusion
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In brief
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what we have, then
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in sum
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to summarize
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finally
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