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Transition Words and Phrases to Help Your Written Assignments Flow
College papers often lack flow because students have made little or no effort to connect paragraphs. Use this article to strengthen your transitions.
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by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.
College papers often lack flow because students have made little or no effort to connect paragraphs. Since this problem relates to poor organization, improving your paper's organization will set the scene for improved transitions.
Test your transitions by reading your papers aloud to determine whether each paragraph flows coherently from the preceding paragraph.
Also consult this list of words and phrases commonly used to improve writing flow:
Sequence
- again
- also
- and
- and then
- besides
- finally
- first ... second ... third
- furthermore
- last
- moreover
- next
- next in importance
- still
- too
- in addition to
Time
- after a bit
- after a few days [hours, weeks, months, years]
- afterward
- as long as
- as soon as
- at last
- at length
- at that time
- before
- earlier
- formerly
- from now on
- from then on
- immediately
- in the meantime
- in the past
- lately
- later
- meanwhile
- now
- presently
- shortly
- simultaneously
- since
- so far
- soon
- then
- thereafter
- until
- when
- subsequently
- also
- at the same time
- while
- following
Comparison
- again
- also
- in the same way
- likewise
- once more
- similarly
- in comparison
- equally important
- or
- in addition
Contrast
- although
- but
- despite
- even though
- however
- in contrast
- in spite of
- instead
- nevertheless
- nonetheless
- notwithstanding
- on the contrary
- on the one hand ... on the other hand
- regardless
- though
- yet
- whereas
- conversely
- in another sense
Examples
- after all
- even
- for example
- for instance
- indeed
- in fact
- of course
- specifically
- such as
- the following example
- to illustrate
Cause and Effect
- accordingly
- as a result
- for this purpose/reason
- hence
- so
- then
- therefore
- thereupon
- thus
- to this end
- if ... then
Place
- above
- adjacent to
- below
- closer to
- elsewhere
- far
- farther on
- here
- near
- nearby
- opposite to
- there
- to the left
- to the right
Concession
- although it is true that
- granted that
- I admit that
- it may appear that
- naturally
- of course
- in any event
- accepting the data
Subordination
- although
- as
- as if
- there
- as though
- because
- if
- since
- so that
- that
- though
- unless
- until
- when
- whenever
- where
- wherever
- whether
- while
Summary, Repetition, Intensification, or Conclusion
- above all
- add to this
- as a result
- as has been noted
- as I have said
- as we have seen
- as mentioned earlier
- finally
- in any event
- in conclusion
- in other words
- in short
- more important
- on the whole
- therefore
- to summarize
- accordingly
- consequently
- for these reasons
- hence
- that is
- thus
- briefly
- in brief
- indeed
- in particular
- in summary
- of course
- to sum up
- ultimately
For more help, visit websites that list transitions words and devices commonly used to improve writing flow:
- Transition Words
- Transitional Words and Phrases
- Transition Words
- Transitions and Transitional Devices
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key academic terms by going to our College Success Glossary.
Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., is an educator, author, and blogger who provides content for
EmpoweringSites.com,
including MyCollegeSuccessStory.com. Katharine, who earned her PhD in organizational behavior
from Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, OH, is author of Dynamic
Cover Letters for New Graduates and A Foot in the Door: Networking
Your Way into the Hidden Job Market (both published by Ten Speed Press),
as well as Top Notch Executive Resumes (Career Press); and with
Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters, Write Your
Way to a Higher GPA (Ten Speed), and The Complete Idiot's Guide
to Study Skills (Alpha). She curates, crafts, and delivers compelling content online, in print,
on stage, and in the classroom. Visit her personal Website KatharineHansenPhD.com
or reach her by e-mail at kathy(at)astoriedcareer.com.
Check out Dr. Hansen on GooglePlus.
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