23 4.2 Transitions
[Author removed at request of original publisher]
Learning Objectives
- Identify when to use transitions.
- Apply knowledge of transitions to make writing clearer.
Careful writers use transitions to clarify how the ideas in their sentences and paragraphs are related. These words and phrases help the writing flow smoothly. Adding transitions is not the only way to improve coherence, but they are often useful and give a mature feel to your essays.
Creating Coherence
A strong paragraph moves seamlessly from the topic sentence into the supporting sentences and on to the concluding sentence. To help organize a paragraph and ensure that ideas logically connect to one another, writers use transitional words and phrases. A transition is a connecting word that describes a relationship between ideas. Take a look at this example:
Example
There are numerous advantages to owning a hybrid car. First, they get 20 percent to 35 percent more miles to the gallon than a fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicle. Second, they produce very few emissions during low-speed city driving. Because they do not require gas, hybrid cars reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which helps lower prices at the pump. Alex bought a hybrid car two years ago and has been extremely impressed with its performance. “It’s the cheapest car I’ve ever had,” she said. “The running costs are far lower than previous gas-powered vehicles I’ve owned.” Given the low running costs and environmental benefits of owning a hybrid car, it is likely that many more people will follow Alex’s example in the near future.
Each of the underlined words is a transition word. Words, such as first and second, are transition words that show sequence or clarify order. They help organize the writer’s ideas by showing that he or she has another point to make in support of the topic sentence. Other transition words that show order include third, also, and furthermore.
The transition word because is a transition word of consequence that continues a line of thought. It indicates that the writer will provide an explanation of a result. In this sentence, the writer explains why hybrid cars will reduce dependency on fossil fuels (because they do not require gas). Other transition words of consequence include as a result, so that, since, or for this reason. Table 8.2 “Common Transitional Words and Phrases” groups many common transitions according to their purpose.
Table 8.2 Common Transitional Words and Phrases
| Transitions That Show Sequence or Time | ||
| after | before | later |
| afterward | before long | meanwhile |
| as soon as | finally | next |
| at first | first, second, third | soon |
| at last | in the first place | then |
| Transitions That Show Position | ||
| above | across | at the bottom |
| at the top | behind | below |
| beside | beyond | inside |
| near | next to | opposite |
| to the left, to the right, to the side | under | where |
| Transitions That Show a Conclusion | ||
| indeed | hence | in conclusion |
| in the final analysis | therefore | thus |
| Transitions That Continue a Line of Thought | ||
| consequently | furthermore | additionally |
| because | besides the fact | following this idea further |
| in addition | in the same way | moreover |
| looking further | considering…, it is clear that | |
| Transitions That Change a Line of Thought | ||
| but | yet | however |
| nevertheless | on the contrary | on the other hand |
| Transitions That Show Importance | ||
| above all | best | especially |
| in fact | more important | most important |
| most | worst | |
| Transitions That Introduce the Final Thoughts in a Paragraph or Essay | ||
| finally | last | in conclusion |
| most of all | least of all | last of all |
| All-Purpose Transitions to Open Paragraphs or to Connect Ideas Inside Paragraphs | ||
| admittedly | at this point | certainly |
| granted | it is true | generally speaking |
| in general | in this situation | no doubt |
| no one denies | obviously | of course |
| to be sure | undoubtedly | unquestionably |
| Transitions that Introduce Examples | ||
| for instance | for example | |
| Transitions That Clarify the Order of Events or Steps | ||
| first, second, third | generally, furthermore, finally | in the first place, also, last |
| in the first place, furthermore, finally | in the first place, likewise, lastly | |
Now let’s practice!
