transitions

Transitions

Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your paper. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas in the way that you, as a writer, want them to understand. Transitional devices connect your thoughts from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another. And finally, transitional devices link your sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas.
There are several types of transitional devices, and each category leads your reader to make certain connections or assumptions about the areas you are connecting. Some lead your reader forward and imply the "building" of an idea or thought, while others make your reader compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts. Think of the transitional words and phrases below as useful road maps that guide your reader from thought to thought, insuring that s/he understands the relationships between ideas and is easily led from one to the other.

COMMON TRANSITIONS

TIME AND SEQUENCE next, later, after, while, meanwhile. immediately
somwhat earlier, first, second, third (firstly, secondly, thirdly),

shortly, thereafter, in the future, over the next two days,

concurrently, subsequently, as long as, soon, since, finally,

last, at that time, as soon as

COMPARISON likewise, similarly, also, again, in the same manner, in comparison

CONTRAST in contrast, on one hand . . . on the other hand, however, although, even though, still, yet, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite

EXAMPLES for example, for instance, such as, specifically, thus, to illustrate, namely

CAUSE AND EFFECT as a result, consequently, since, accordingly, if . . . then, is due to this, for this reason, as a consequence of

PLACE next to, above, behind, beyond, near, across from, to the right, here, there, in the foreground, in the background, in between, opposite

ADDITION and, too, moreover, in addition, besides, furthermore, next,
also, finally

CONCESSION of course, naturally, it may be the case that, granted, it is
true that, certainly

CONCLUSION in conclusion, in short, as a result, as I have demonstrated,
as the data show

SUMMARY to repeat, in other words, once again, as I said earlier
on the whole, to sum up, in short, to summarize, therefore

TIME AND SEQUENCE	next, later, after, while, meanwhile. immediately somwhat earlier, first, second, third (firstly, secondly, thirdly), shortly, thereafter, in the future, over the next two days, concurrently, subsequently, as long as, soon, since, finally, last, at that time, as soon as
COMPARISON	likewise, similarly, also, again, in the same manner, in comparison
CONTRAST	in contrast, on one hand . . . on the other hand, however, although, even though, still, yet, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite
EXAMPLES	for example, for instance, such as, specifically, thus, to illustrate, namely
CAUSE AND EFFECT	as a result, consequently, since, accordingly, if . . . then, is due to this, for this reason, as a consequence of
PLACE	next to, above, behind, beyond, near, across from, to the right, here, there, in the foreground, in the background, in between, opposite
ADDITION	and, too, moreover, in addition, besides, furthermore, next, also, finally
CONCESSION	of course, naturally, it may be the case that, granted, it is true that, certainly
CONCLUSION	in conclusion, in short, as a result, as I have demonstrated, as the data show
SUMMARY	to repeat, in other words, once again, as I said earlier on the whole, to sum up, in short, to summarize, therefore