What are transitions?
Transitions are one of the ways we link ideas in writing so the relationship between ideas, concepts, and information is clear. Think of writing as a scaffold: you want to lead your reader to their destination one step at a time. Use paragraphs focused on a single idea or main point, using transitions to link ideas logically. Then, use transitions in between paragraphs so readers don’t feel like they’re leaping from one topic to the next or so they don’t feel like content comes “out of nowhere.”
We can use transitions within a paragraph to:
- Link ideas or main points so they are cohesive
- Link our ideas with sources to better integrate sources
- Clarify the relationship between ideas or main points
- Show how ideas or information within a paragraph build into our overall argument/thesis
Types of transitions
The types of transitions you will use depend on the relationship between ideas or information. Some common relationships that need transitions are:
- Compare or contrast ideas
- Establish cause and effect
- Emphasize important points
- Elaborate on a key concept
- Support an argument
- Illustrate sequence, order, or time
Transitional Phrases
| Logical Relationship | Transitional Expression |
|---|---|
| Similarity/Comparison | also, in the same way, just as…so too, likewise, similarly, along the same lines |
| Exception/Contrast | but, however, in spite of, on the one hand…on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet, conversely, despite the fact that |
| Sequence/Order | first, second, third, … next, then, finally |
| Time | after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then |
| Example | for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate, to take a case in point, consider |
| Emphasis | even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly |
| Elaboration | to put it another way, to put it bluntly, to put it succinctly, ultimately, in short, in other words, that is, by extension, actually |
| Cause and Effect | accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus, it follows then, since additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, |
| Additional Support or Evidence | furthermore, in addition, moreover, then |
| Conclusion/Summary | finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary |