Transitional Words and Phrases for Essays 1

I.
Indicating similarity or addition:
again likewise in addition to
equally as too
in fact for instance besides
also moreover in a like/same manner
equally important as if together with
in general further(more) as well
and of course additionally
for as much as along with
in the same fashion in addition in the same way
another similarly both
for example as though like

II.
Indicating dissimilarity, difference, or contradiction:
although still less important
even though away from whereas
on the contrary in place of conversely
and yet than neither
however besides while
on the other hand in spite of differing from
another unfortunately nevertheless
in comparison but yet
otherwise instead even if
as if unless notwithstanding
in comparison to by comparison even so
Transitional Words and Phrases for Essays 2

counter to as opposed to in the meantime

III.
Indicating cause, purpose, consequence, or result:
as hence therefore
for this reason so for
provided that because it began with
accordingly in any case thus
fortunately then finally
since consequently of course
as a result in fact unfortunately

IV.
Indicating spatial order or reference:
above between on
behind inside before
here alongside farther
across beyond opposite
below in the middle outside
in a corner among to the side of
across from down up
beneath near over
in back of around toward
adjacent eventually upon
beside next to throughout
in front of at under
against facing within
Transitional Words and Phrases for Essays 3

through amid onto

underneath off on top of
without by
along into

V.
Indicating chronology or sequence:
after in the second place while
first, second, etc. thereafter finally
presently at present now
afterward in the first place yet
formerly soon first of all
provided that at the same time once
as soon as later about
hereafter to begin with at
secondly before prior to
at first meanwhile subsequently
in the beginning until today
since during tomorrow
at last moments later immediately
in the meantime when in conclusion
then earlier
at length next

VI.
Indicating priority or importance:
above all further next
Transitional Words and Phrases for Essays 4

also of less importance more(most) important

to begin with
furthermore equally important
for one reason
of greater in the first place
moreover
besides provided that
in addition to first, second, etc.

VII.
Indicating example or summary/conclusion:
as a result for example in the second place
in brief in other words finally
on the whole specifically in summary
as I have said for instance consequently
in conclusion in short due to
once to sum up all in all
first, second, etc in any case accordingly
in fact in the first place thus
second in any event therefore

IX.
To emphasize or clarify a point:
again to emphasize put another way
indeed for this reason stated differently
to repeat with this in mind to clarify
truly that is for insurance
in fact in other words