Edmonds CC Writing Center | MUK 113 Transitional Words and Phrases

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TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES

Transitional words and phrases are also called signal words. They are placed at key points in
sentences and paragraphs to lead readers through your ideas. Using transitional words will help
you more clearly express your thoughts and the relationships between your ideas, which will
help you communicate more effectively with your audience.

When writers connect sentences and paragraphs using transitions, they provide a sense of
movement that allows their readers to follow the connections between main and subordinate
ideas. As a result, it is easier for readers to understand the writer’s purpose and message.

Play around with the transitional words you use! Try out phrases you have never used before
and use a variety of different transitional words—avoid repeating the same transitions over and
over again.

The following are lists of different words that can help to indicate particular relationships
between ideas. These words are not all synonyms, though, meaning that all the words in a
particular list cannot necessarily be used interchangeably. Think about which words fit your
intended message the best and use those. Look up words you don’t know in the dictionary to
see if they fit your intended meanings.

To indicate TIME ORDER:  not long ago  in the future

 in the past  at present  henceforth
 in retrospect  presently  hereafter
 earlier  currently  afterward
 heretofore  right away  after a short time
 previously  now  after a while
 preceding  by now  after a long time
 former  until now  soon after
 formerly  immediately  thereafter
 prior to  simultaneously  right after
 yesterday  at the same time  not long ago
 of late  at this moment  later on
 recently  concurrently

To indicate CONTRAST:  otherwise  a strong distinction

 however  despite  opposing
 but  on the other hand  to oppose
 and yet  nevertheless  an opposing view
 although  nonetheless  in apposition to
 even though  to differ from  the reverse of
 contrary to  to differentiate  conflicting view
 counter to  different from  for
 on the contrary  a clear difference  pro
 contrarily  a distinct difference  against
 conversely  a striking difference  anti
 in contrast  another distinction  the antithesis of
Edmonds CC Writing Center | MUK 113 Transitional Words and Phrases
425.640.1750 | www.edcc.edu/lsc

To indicate COMPARISON:  resemble  of little difference

 compare  resembling  equal
 comparatively  affinity  equally important
 comparable  correlate  equivalent
 is compared with  parallel  balance
 compared to  parallel to  matching
 in comparison  consistent with  too
 also  uniformly  similarly
 as well as  in the same way  in a similar fashion
 like  in the same manner  analogous to
 in like manner  to the same extent  correspondingly
 likewise  synonymous  relative to
 the next likeness  identical  relatively

To indicate CAUSE & EFFECT:  in conclusion  in view of

 owing to  following that  hence
 in effect  furthermore  henceforth
 due to  subsequently  otherwise
 as a result  it follows that  therefore
 as a result of  caused by  thereafter
 the end result  because  thus
 the outcome  because of this  to this end
 the ramifications of  for this purpose  on account of
 as a consequence  for this reason
 consequently  by reason of

To indicate SEQUENCE:  secondly  third

 first  in the second place  in the third place
 at first  the second stage  last
 in the first place  twice  last of all
 once  next  at last
 once upon a time  the next day/week  lastly
 to begin with  the next time  in the last place
 in the beginning  the following  the latter
 at the beginning day/week  at the end
 at the onset  after that  in the end
 starting with  following that  final
 to start  immediately  finally
 initially following  the final point
 commencing with  subsequently  the finish
 embark  on the next occasion  to conclude
 from this point  in turn  in conclusion
 earlier  so far
 second  later on

To provide an EXAMPLE:  to exemplify  a case in point

 for example  for instance  to illustrate
 in one example  in this instance  as an illustration of
 as an example  in this case
Edmonds CC Writing Center | MUK 113 Transitional Words and Phrases
425.640.1750 | www.edcc.edu/lsc

 consider as an  suppose that  in fact

illustration  specifically  in other words
 to show  in this specific  to put it another way
 to demonstrate instance  in order to clarify
 to explain  to be exact  one example
 to clarify  more exactly  in the following
 in order to clarify  in particular manner
 to illuminate  such as  in the same manner
 to bring to light  namely  another way
 an analogy  for one thing
 analogous to  that is

To EMPHASIZE or INTENSIFY:  increasingly  definitely

 above all important  decidedly
 after all  equally important  without doubt
 indeed  moreover  without a doubt
 in fact  furthermore  undoubtedly
 as a matter of fact  significantly  certainly
 primarily  of great concern  surely
 actually  of major interest  to be sure
 especially  the major reason  very likely
 more important  the main problem  the crux of the
 most importantly  the main issue matter
 most important of all  to recapitulate  without question
 most of all  to emphasize  there is no question
 increasingly  more emphatically that

Punctuation and Transitional Phrases

Transitional words and phrases typically either begin sentences and are set off by a comma or
connect phrases within a sentence, also set off by a comma. For example, the sentence you are
reading right now is an example of a transitional phrase beginning a sentence, set off by a
comma. This sentence, in contrast, uses a transitional phrase set off by commas within the
sentence itself.

If you want to use a transitional phrase to connect two independent clauses, then you must do
so by using a semicolon at the end of the first independent clause and beginning the second
with the transitional phrase, set off by a comma. Using transitional phrases this way works well
to connect ideas that build upon each other; however, you must take care to punctuate your
sentences correctly or else you run the risk of writing run-on sentences.

Transitional words and phrases are different from coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
See handouts on Coordination and Subordination to learn the difference! (Hint: coordinating
conjunctions can be remembered with the acronym FANBOYS, which stands for: for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, so. These words can be paired with commas to combine two independent clauses
into one full sentence—something that transitional phrases cannot do.)

Information in this handout was adapted from Victor C. Pellegrino’s 1987 book A Writer’s Guide to Transitional
Words and Expressions.