Using Transitions

Transition

Idea

Idea

2012 by Miss Angel

Transitions
Look at the two groups of sentences below. Which sentences read more smoothly? Click on an answer below.
My friend, John, loves to play sports and is very athletic. He has won a scholarship to play football at a university next year. My friend, John, loves to play sports and is very athletic. In fact, he has won a scholarship to play football at a university next year.

Transitions
What are transition or connecting words?

Transitions
Expanding your linking words will expand your expression http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVoPEKNQV9s

Transitions
A transition word directly tells the reader the logical relationship between one idea and another idea.
Transition

Idea

Idea

Example
;however,

Marcos loves to go swimming in the ocean.

his parents wont allow him to do that.

The transition, however, tells the reader that the logical relationship between the two ideas is contrast.

Transitions
Transitions are words that help make your writing more coherent. They create connections between:
- one clause and another clause - one sentence and another sentence - one group of sentences and the next group of sentences

One way of joining two independent clauses is with a semicolon, a transition, and a comma.
; furthermore,

Joining Two Independent Clauses

Marcos is a great swimmer

hes very good at scuba diving.

Marcos is a great swimmer ;furthermore, hes very good at scuba diving.

Connecting Two Sentences

You can use a transition and comma to tell the reader the logical relationship between two sentences.
In fact,

Marcos is very athletic.

he plays three sports at school.

Marcos is very athletic. In fact, he plays three sports at school.

Placement of Transitions
Rather than placing the transition at the beginning of the second sentence, you may place it in the middle of the second sentence after the subject with two commas.
Marcos is very athletic. transition

subject

He, in fact, plays three sports at school.

Transitions in Longer Writing

When writing a paragraph or a larger piece of writing,you can use a transition to show the reader the logical relationship between one group of sentences and another group of sentences.

This is useful when you want to let the reader know that you are changing from one idea to another idea.

Example- Longer Piece of Writing

Transition connects ideas in paragraph 2 to ideas in paragraph 1.

Essay
Introduction
Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2: In addition, Body Paragraph 3: Furthermore, Conclusion:

Transition connects ideas in paragraph 3 to ideas in paragraph 2.

Types of Transitions
Relationship
Addition

Transition
and/ also/ as well as/ moreover / furthermore in addition (to) / additionally besides /next/secondly/thirdly

Marcos loves to ski

;moreover,

he likes to fish.

;furthermore,

;in addition,
;besides,

Types of Transitions
Relationship
Emphasis Indeed In fact

Transition

Marcos plays basketball

The transition and second clause reemphasize the first clause.

;in fact,
;indeed,

he plays every Saturday.

Types of Transitions
Relationship
Exemplification

Transition
for example/ for instance in other words/ such as / in particular/particularly/ specifically

Marcos enjoys outdoor sports

The second clause is more specific than the first.

;for example,
;for instance, ;in particular,

he likes hiking, skiing, and fishing.

Types of Transitions
Relationship
Contrast /comparisons

Transition
however /yet / on the contrary/ in contrast / on the other hand /otherwise / yet / even though / in the same way / equally/ similarly/ likewise/ in comparison/despite/nevertheless

Marcos enjoys scuba diving ;on the other hand, ;however, ;on the contrary,

$$$

;in contrast, I think it is an expensive sport.

Types of Transitions
Relationship
Purpose/cause/reason

Transition
in order to /so/ so that/ with this in mind/ for this purpose/for this reason/ to this end/ because/ because of /due to/ since/ as/in the hope that

Marcos takes scuba diving lessons in the hope that so that he can dive alone one day.

$$$

Types of Transitions
Relationship
Result or Effect

Transition
as /so/ as a consequence /consequently accordingly/thus/ hence/ therefore /as a result /since

;thus, Marcos broke his leg ;consequently, he cant play basketball. ;therefore, ;hence, ;as a result,

;accordingly,

Types of Transitions
Relationship
Time

Transition
after/before/currently/during/eventually/ finally/first/second/formerly/immediately lastly/later/next/soon/previously/ meanwhile (at the same time) subsequently (after) /thereafter (after)

Marcos scored a goal ;subsequently, his team won the game.

;thereafter,

after

Types of Transitions
Relationship
summary

Transition
to sum up / summing up / in brief/ briefly/ overall/ to put it in a nutshell/in short / to summarize

To sum up, In brief, In short, To put it in a nutshell, the result was a complete success.

Types of Transitions
Relationship
conclusion

Transition
finally/ in short/in conclusion/ as a conclusion /so/in other words/ thus/ to conclude/given these facts/as has been noted

To conclude, As a conclusion, the novel is definitely a success story.

In other words,

Practice Exercises
Now you are ready to practice what youve learned. How much do you know about using transition words ? Take the Quiz and find out.