What are transition words?
Transition words are words like ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’ and ‘because’. They show your reader the relationship between phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs.
Why to use Transition words?
When you use them, you make it easier for your readers to understand how your thoughts and ideas are connected. What is more, they prepare your reader for what’s coming.
Let’s consider an example:
I pushed the domino. As a result, it fell over.
When you start a sentence with ‘as a result’, your reader will immediately know two things:
- What happened in the first sentence caused something;
- The second sentence is going to describe the effect.
By using the phrase ‘as a result’ here, you show that the two separate sentences are part of one process. Without having even read the rest of the sentence, your reader can already guess what’s coming. In a way, transition words are the glue that holds your text together. Without them, your text is a collection of sentences. With them, the individual parts come together to form one whole.
Transition words don’t always have to be placed at the beginning of a sentence. Consider the following examples.
He’s a very nice guy. He took us out to dinner yesterday, for instance.
In this example, ‘for instance’ is placed at the end of the sentence. Nonetheless, it still provides the reader with information as to how the two sentences are related.
I enjoy his company because he always tells interesting stories.
In this example, ‘because’ doesn’t connect two sentences, but two clauses. Transition words can connect anything from short phrases to entire paragraphs.
Exploring with an example
Let’s use a more concrete example. Below, you see Text A and Text B. Text A contains no transition words. On the surface, Text B is the exact same, only we’ve added transition words to make it easier to read.
Text A
I’m going to discuss a few reasons why practice is important to learning skills. The only way to truly master a skill is by actually doing what you’ll have to do in the real world. I think practice can be a fun way of putting in the necessary hours. There are some people who will disagree. It is said that people tend to remember only 10-20% of what they’ve heard or read. That number rises to as much as 90% when you put theory to practice. Following up explanation with practice is key to mastering a skill.
Text B
In this paragraph, I’m going to discuss a few reasons why practice is important to mastering skills. Firstly, the only way to truly learn a skill is by actually doing what you’ll have to do in the real world.
Secondly, I think practice can be a fun way of putting in the necessary hours. There are, however, some people who will disagree.
Thirdly, and most importantly, it is said that people tend to remember only 10-20% of what they read or hear. Moreover, that number rises to as much as 90% when you put theory to practice. In conclusion, following up explanation with practice is key to mastering a skill.
Text A is not a terrible paragraph. However, the differences are clear as day. Text B does a better job of showing there are three separate arguments to support the statement with a definite conclusion.
The reader never has to wonder whether a sentence still belongs to the previous argument or a new one. Moreover, it even shows the relationship between sentences within one argument. Therefore, people are going to find it easier to read this text and will stay on the page longer. And this is just one short, conveniently arranged paragraph!
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Types of Transition words
Transition words can be divided into several categories, based on the type of transition you want to make. There are often several words available for one transition. Sometimes they mean exactly the same, sometimes there are slight differences. If you’re not a native speaker or struggle with language in general, you’ll have to study and practice their use so that you can make better choices.
| Transition | Example word/phrase | Example sentence |
| Cause and effect | Therefore, as a result, so, consequently | I’m tired. Therefore, I’m going to bed. |
| Clarification | That is to say, in other words, to clarify | We’re letting you go. In other words, you’re fired. |
| Contrast | But, however, on the other hand | I am not fond of fruit. However, I do like bananas. |
| Example | For example, for instance | In the evening, I like to relax. For instance, I enjoy watching TV. |
| Emphasis | Above all, most importantly, certainly | There are many reasons to exercise regularly. Above all, it keeps you healthy. |
| Enumeration | Firstly/secondly, further, and, moreover, in addition | Today, I’m going to write a post. In addition, I’m recording some video lessons. |
| Time | Meanwhile, during, subsequently, after that | I’ll start by telling you what transition words are. After that, I’ll tell you why you should always use them. |
| Similarity | Likewise, similarly, in the same vein | She tried really hard to entertain her guests. Similarly, he put all his heart and soul in cooking a great dinner. |
| Summarize/conclude | In conclusion, to sum up, in short | In conclusion, transition words are an important aspect of SEO copywriting. |
See the list below for examples of transition words in English.
| Single words | Multiple words | Two parts |
| accordingly | above all | both … and |
| additionally | after all | if … then |
| afterward | after that | not only … but also |
| afterwards | all in all | neither … nor |
| albeit | all of a sudden | whether … or |
| also | all things considered | no sooner … than |
| although | analogous to | |
| altogether | although this may be true | |
| another | another key point | |
| basically | as a matter of fact | |
| because | as a result | |
| before | as an illustration | |
| besides | as can be seen | |
| but | as has been noted | |
| certainly | as I have noted | |
| chiefly | as I have said | |
| comparatively | as I have shown | |
| concurrently | as long as | |
| consequently | as much as | |
| contrarily | as shown above | |
| conversely | as soon as | |
| correspondingly | as well as | |
| despite | at any rate | |
| doubtedly | at first | |
| during | at last | |
| e.g. | at least | |
| earlier | at length | |
| emphatically | at the present time | |
| equally | at the same time | |
| especially | at this instant | |
| eventually | at this point | |
| evidently | at this time | |
| explicitly | balanced against | |
| finally | being that | |
| firstly | by all means | |
| following | by and large | |
| formerly | by comparison | |
| forthwith | by the same token | |
| fourthly | by the time | |
| further | compared to | |
| furthermore | be that as it may | |
| generally | coupled with | |
| hence | different from | |
| henceforth | due to | |
| however | equally important | |
| i.e. | even if | |
| identically | even more | |
| indeed | even so | |
| instead | even though | |
| last | first thing to remember | |
| lastly | for example | |
| later | for fear that | |
| lest | for instance | |
| likewise | for one thing | |
| markedly | for that reason | |
| meanwhile | for the most part | |
| moreover | for the purpose of | |
| nevertheless | for the same reason | |
| nonetheless | for this purpose | |
| nor | for this reason | |
| notwithstanding | from time to time | |
| obviously | given that | |
| occasionally | given these points | |
| otherwise | important to realize | |
| once | once in a while | |
| overall | in a word | |
| particularly | in addition | |
| presently | in another case | |
| previously | in any case | |
| rather | in any event | |
| regardless | in brief | |
| secondly | in case | |
| shortly | in conclusion | |
| significantly | in contrast | |
| similarly | in detail | |
| simultaneously | in due time | |
| since | in effect | |
| so | in either case | |
| soon | in essence | |
| specifically | in fact | |
| still | in general | |
| straightaway | in light of | |
| subsequently | in like fashion | |
| surely | in like manner | |
| surprisingly | in order that | |
| than | in order to | |
| then | in other words | |
| thereafter | in particular | |
| therefore | in reality | |
| thereupon | in short | |
| thirdly | in similar fashion | |
| though | in spite of | |
| thus | in sum | |
| till | in summary | |
| undeniably | in that case | |
| undoubtedly | in the event that | |
| unless | in the final analysis | |
| unlike | in the first place | |
| unquestionably | in the fourth place | |
| until | in the hope that | |
| when | in the light of | |
| whenever | in the long run | |
| whereas | in the meantime | |
| while | in the same fashion | |
| in the same way | ||
| in the second place | ||
| in the third place | ||
| in this case | ||
| in this situation | ||
| in time | ||
| in truth | ||
| in view of | ||
| most compelling evidence | ||
| most important | ||
| must be remembered | ||
| not to mention | ||
| now that | ||
| of course | ||
| on account of | ||
| on balance | ||
| on condition that | ||
| on one hand | ||
| on the condition that | ||
| on the contrary | ||
| on the negative side | ||
| on the other hand | ||
| on the positive side | ||
| on the whole | ||
| on this occasion | ||
| only if | ||
| owing to | ||
| point often overlooked | ||
| prior to | ||
| provided that | ||
| seeing that | ||
| so as to | ||
| so far | ||
| so long as | ||
| so that | ||
| sooner or later | ||
| such as | ||
| summing up | ||
| take the case of | ||
| that is | ||
| that is to say | ||
| then again | ||
| this time | ||
| to be sure | ||
| to begin with | ||
| to clarify | ||
| to conclude | ||
| to demonstrate | ||
| to emphasize | ||
| to enumerate | ||
| to explain | ||
| to illustrate | ||
| to list | ||
| to point out | ||
| to put it another way | ||
| to put it differently | ||
| to repeat | ||
| to rephrase it | ||
| to say nothing of | ||
| to sum up | ||
| to summarize | ||
| to that end | ||
| to the end that | ||
| to this end | ||
| together with | ||
| under those circumstances | ||
| until now | ||
| up against | ||
| up to the present time | ||
| vis a vis | ||
| what’s more | ||
| while it may be true | ||
| while this may be true | ||
| with attention to | ||
| with the result that | ||
| with this in mind | ||
| with this intention | ||
| with this purpose in mind | ||
| with attention to | ||
| with the result that | ||
| with this in mind | ||
| with this intention | ||
| with this purpose in mind | ||
| without a doubt | ||
| without delay | ||
| without doubt | ||
| without reservation |