Transitions : Moreover, Furthermore, In addition, Therefore, Consequently

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List of Transition Words

While you do not want your paper or other written piece to sound like a long string of transition words, consider adding some of these suggestions from our list of transition words when appropriate in order to spice up your work and to make the sections flow more smoothly from one to another.

What follows is a list of transition words which you might want to use in your writing from time to time. Note that some of them are phrases and not singular words.

• Therefore
• However
• Moreover
• Lastly
• Next
• Also
• Furthermore
• In addition to
• Similarly
• Likewise
• Accordingly
• Hence
• Consequently
• As a result
• Thereby
• Otherwise
• Subsequently
• Thus
• So then
• Wherefore
• Generally
• Usually
• For the most part
• As a rule
• Ordinarily
• Regularly
• In particular
• For instance
• Particularly
• Especially
• Such as
• Including
• Namely
• For example
• As an example
• In this case
• Above all
• Singularly
• Likewise
• Coupled with
• Compared to
• In comparison to
• Together with
• Besides
• In brief
• In short
• In conclusion
• In the meantime
• Soon
• Later
• In the meanwhile
• Afterward
• Earlier
• In summary
• To summarize
• Finally
• Before
• After
• By the way
• Incidentally
• As a result of
• Accidentally
• Here
• There
• Over there
• Opposite
• Under
• Beyond
• In the distance
• To the left
• To the right

Purpose of Transition Words

Transition words help a written piece to flow more smoothly. Within these types of words, your writing will become choppy. However, sometimes, when a writer is advised to use a new type of device in his or her writing, that person will tend to start sprinkling it in everywhere. Transition words should really fall very naturally throughout a composition.

Let us take a look at examples of sentences without a transition words, and then add a transition word in. You will be able to see how they work with the written word. The first example in each set will be lacking a transition word, and the second example in each set will have one.

• Carla spent a long day working at the school and then cooking dinner for her family. She got a large cup of coffee. vs. Carla spent a long day working at the school and then cooking dinner for her family. Therefore, she got a large cup of coffee.
• Jeffrey will be ready to leave for the trip in twenty minutes. Fill up the car with gas please. vs. Jeffrey will be ready to leave for the trip in twenty minutes. In the meanwhile, fill up the car with gas please.
• The trip through the desert was extremely tiring for the crew. In the distance they saw civilization. vs. The trip through the desert was extremely tiring for the crew. Finally, in the distance, they saw civilization.
• Paul did not run for the ice cream truck with the other children. He doesn't like ice cream. vs. Paul did not run for the ice cream truck with the other children. Besides, he doesn't like ice cream. 

The second sentence in each of these pairs is grammatically correct. However, after you read them over a few times, you will see how adding in a transition makes the written word sound more sophisticated.