Transitional Words and Phrases

Many words and phrases connect parts of sentences and sentences (periods). Such connective or transitional words and phrases can ease the understanding. They can help in taking readers from one point to another.

Add ideas

accordingly

also

and

and then

another

as a result

as follows

as well as

at the same time

besides

both-and

by the same token

consequently

equally important

etc.

even more

finally

first (second, third, and so on)

for example (for instance)

for one thing

further

furthermore

however

in addition (to)

in fact

in the first place

in the same way

in the second place

is called

is made up of

is seen as

last

lastly

likewise (also)

more than this,

moreover

nor

not only - but also

otherwise

second

similarly (again)

successively

than

then

therefore

thus

too

what is more

Cause-and-effect relationships

accordingly

as a consequence

as a result

because

consequently

for that reason

for this purpose

hence

in short

on account of

since

then

therefore

thereupon

thus

to this end

with this object

Clarify, explain, or restate

i.e., (that is)

in brief

in essence

in fact

in other words

in short

indeed

put another way

simply stated

that is

that is to say

to clarify

to explain

to put it another way

to put it differently

to rephrase it

Compare

a similar (occurrence)

also

at the same time

by the same token

comparable

however

in (a) like manner

in comparison

in the same way

in turn

instead

just as

likewise

on one hand . . . on the other hand

on the other hand

similarly

whereas

Consequence(s) and results

accordingly

as a result

because

consequently

due to

for this reason

hence

in other words

otherwise

since

so that

so then

then

therefore

thereupon

this

thus

with the result that

Contrast

although

at the same time

but

but at the same time

contrarily

conversely

despite

differently

even so

even though

for all that

however

in contrast

in spite of

instead

nevertheless

nonetheless

nor

notwithstanding

on one hand

on the contrary

on the other hand

otherwise

rather

regardless

still

though

unfortunately

whereas

while this may be true

yet (and yet)

Details

as follows

especially

in detail

in particular

including

namely

specifically

to enumerate

to explain

to list

Example and illustration

an illustration of

as an illustration

as follows

by way of illustration

e.g. (for example)

even

for example

for instance

in other words

in particular

namely

specifically

such as

the following example

thus

to demonstrate

to illustrate

Generalise

as a rule

as usual

for the most part

generally

generally speaking

ordinarily

usually

most often

Purposes

because of this

for such a reason

for that reason

so that

to do this

Sequence

afterward

at first

at the same time

earlier

finally

first of all

first

for now

for the time being

in conclusion

in the first place

in the meantime

in time

in turn

last

later on

later

meanwhile

simultaneously

soon

subsequently

the next step

then

to begin with

ultimately

while

Similarity

analogous to

in like fashion

in like manner

likewise

moreover

similar

similarly

Summarise or conclude

accordingly

after all

all in all

all things considered

altogether

as a result

as has been indicated

as has been noted

as has been said

briefly

by and large

certainly

clearly

consequently

finally

for these reasons

generally

hence

in any case

in any event

in brief

in closing

in conclusion

in essence

in other words

in retrospect

in short

in simpler terms

in sum

in summary

in the final analysis

in the long run

indeed

naturally

of course

on balance

on the whole

summing up

that is

therefore

thus

to conclude

to sum up

to summarize

Contents

Barrass, Robert. Scientists Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing for Scientists, Engineers and Students. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2002.

Taraba, Joanna, updater. Transitional Words and Phrases. Online.

The Writing Center. The Writer's Handbook: Transitional Words and Phrases. Madison, WC: The University of Wisconsin. Online.

The Writing Center. Transitions. Chapel Hill, NC: University of Northern Carolina, 2010-13. Online.

Harvesting the hay

Symbols, brackets, signs and text icons explained: (1) Text markers — (2) Digesting.

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