Transitional Words

To transition means to change or move.

The use of transition (connectors) is the most common technique for creating
coherence. Transitional words and phrases guide a reader through our writing like
street signs help us to find our way in the city.

A. (Category a.) FOR AGREEMENT

1. Again 10. moreover
2. Also 11. next
3. And 12. In the first place
4. As well as 13. Not only … but also
5. Besides 14. As a matter of fact
6. Further 15. In like manner
7. Furthermore 16. In the same fashion
8. In addition 17. In light of
9. Likewise 18. Equally
19. Then

(category b). Contrast

1. After all 9. In spite of 17. whereas

2. Although 10. Nevertheless
3. But 11. On the contrary
4. Differs from 12. On the other hand
5. Dissimilar 13. otherwise
6. Even though 14. still
7. However 15. Though
8. In contrast 16. Unlike
 Category c. FOR LOCATING OR MOVING IN SPACE

1. Above 17. In between

2. Against 18. In front of
3. Alongside 19. inside
4. Around 20. into
5. Backward 21. Near
6. Behind 22. Next to
7. Below 23. On
8. Beyond 24. On the other side
9. By 25. Opposite
10.Down 26. Out of
11.Elsewhere 27. Surrounded by
12.Far away 28. through
13.Further 29. To the right
14.Forward 30. To the left
15.Near 31. Farther
16.In 32. Around the corner

Category D. MOVING IN TIME

1. After 13. Often 25. when
2. Afterward 14. Suddenly 26. while
3. At last 15. In the past
4. Awhile 16. later
5. Before 17. Long ago
6. Now 18. Meanwhile
7. Soon 19. Next
8. Earlier 20. once
9. Finally 21. Then
10.First 22. Previously
11.Immediately 23. Until
12.in the mean time 24. Recently
 category E. FOR EXAMPLE AND EMPHASISE

1. Above all
2. After all
3. Another
4. As an example
5. Certainly
6. Especially
7. For example
8. For instance
9. Indeed
10.In fact
11.In truth
12. In particular

Category F. Emphasize/ Example

1. It is true 6. Surely
2. Most important 7. That is
3. Of course 8. To illustrate
4. On reason
5. Specifically

Category G. FOR COMPARING

1. Alike 5. Like
2. Also 6. Likewise
3. Both 7. Resembling
4. In the same way 8. Similarly
Category H. CAUSE AND EFFECT

1. Accordingly 6. Hence
2. And so 7. Thus
3. Because 8. Therefore
4. Consequently 9. Since
5. For this reason

Category I. FOR SUMMARY

1. In summary 6. Lastly
2. In conclusion 7. In short
3. In a nutshell 8. Largely
4. To end with 9. In brief
5. Finally

Category J. ALL REFERENCES TO CALENDAR TIME AND EVENTS

1. Days of the week 6. Today

2. Months of the year 7. Yesterday
3. Seasons 8. Tomorrow
4. Holidays 9. Tonight
5. That morning (afternoon, evening etc. )

Category K. ALL REFERENCES TO CLOCK TIME

1. A few minutes 4. Minutes 7. Weeks

2. Hours 5. Years
3. Months 6. Days
Category L. ALL REFERENCES TO REGULAR MEALS

1. During breakfast
2. Lunch
3. Brunch
4. Supper
5. Snack