Transitional Words and Phrases

These pages only provide a list of transitional words; be certain you understand their meanings before you use them. Often, there exists a slight, but significant, difference between two apparently similar words. Also remember that while transitions describe relationships between ideas, they do not automatically create relationships between ideas for your reader. Use transitions with enough context in a sentence or paragraph to make the relationships clear.

The characters in Book A face a moral dilemma. In the same way, the characters in Book B face a similar problem.

Improved transition:

The characters in Book A face a moral dilemma, a contested inheritance. Although the inheritance in Book B consists of an old house and not a pile of money, the nature of the problem is quite similar.

also, and, again, as well as, furthermore, in addition, moreover

Comparing Phrases

also, comparing, likewise, in comparison, in the same way, similarly

Contrasting Phrases

although, but, conversely, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the one hand, on the other hand, otherwise, regardless, still, to the contrary, yet

Locating Phrases

above, adjacent to, below, beneath, beyond, closer to, elsewhere, farther on, here, inside, nearby, next, opposite, opposite to, over, there, to the left (right), under, where

Situating Phrases in Time

after a few days, after a while, afterward, as soon as, at length, at that time, before, briefly, consequently, finally, first (second, third, etc.), in the meantime, meanwhile, next, now, presently, shortly, simultaneously, since, subsequently, so far, soon, the next day, then, thereafter, until, when

Providing an Example

for example, for instance, namely, specifically, the following example..., to illustrate

Giving an Explanation

certainly, indeed, in fact, in other words, obviously, of course, put another way, simply stated, such as, that is

Showing Conclusions

accordingly, as a consequence, as a result, because, consequently, then, thereupon, so, so that, then, therefore, thus

Making a Concession

although it is true that, granted that, I admit that, it may appear that, naturally, of course

Summarizing Ideas

after all, all in all, as I have said, as we have seen, in any event, in brief, in closing, in conclusion, in short, in summary, in retrospect, on the whole, therefore, to conclude, to sum up, to summarize