Chart of Essay Writing Transitions 

Transitional devices operate precisely to bind the seams of thought into a unified fabric of communication

 

In essay writing, well-written paragraphs should connect smoothly, one to the next.  Your readers should feel they are just walking down a smooth path rather than one of bumps and potholes. You can easily accomplish this by using expressions that bridge ideas. These expressions are called Transitional Devices or simply Transitions. The word Transition means to move across. Transitional Devices operate precisely to bind the seams of thought into a unified fabric of communication. The examples below demonstrate their use, but a more complete list of Transitional Expressions is provided at the end of the following explanation.

 

 

then

soon

besides

however

therefore

for example

for instance

furthermore

moreover

on the contrary

as a result

for that reason

 

 

Every sentence that is written which follows the topic sentence in a paragraph is no longer on its own; each relates to the next.  If a sentence begins with, most dogs have a natural desire to play and this makes for good fun, the next sentence could be smoothly connected with a transition.   For instance, some dogs like my dog Tippy, prefer to fetch sticks or Frisbees.This transition lets the reader know that evidence of what is being talked about is coming.  The writer then shares personal experiences and observations with the reader. Without the use of transitions, the relationship of one idea to another may be clear in the writer’s mind, but this is not necessarily true for the mind of the reader. 

 

 

Take a look at these examples:

 

Choppy Example

 

The dog with the poodle type hair came from France.  The owners named him Pierre.

 

 Smoother Example

 

The dog with the poodle type hair came from France. For this reason, the owners named him Pierre.

 

Choppy Example

 

We all love to experience receiving a nice complement.  Most people focus on what’s wrong with you.

 

 

 

Smoother Example

 

We all love to experience receiving a nice compliment. However, most people focus on what’s wrong with you.

 

Notice the improvements in the above pairs of sentences.  A good paragraph contains sentences that connect smoothly and you can test it by reading aloud. When applied to essays, transitions help you to move your ideas forward, one to the next, leading the reader comfortably down a path of discovery.

 

 

 

Chart of Transitions

           

 

Time Order

 

after

after this

afterward

after a short time

at length

immediately

in the future

 in the past

eventually

then

next

at last

finally

when

soon

before

before this

meanwhile

later

since

during

earlier

now

first

secondly

thirdly

following this

at this time

at this point

subsequently

consequently

previously

preceding this

simultaneously

concurrently

ultimately

for the time being

for once

once and for all

from time to time

over time

after a while

as long as

as soon as

at length

at that time

formerly

in the meantime

in the past

lately

shortly

there after

 

 

 

 

 

Position

 

inside

outside 

nearby

above

within

alongside

opposite

adjacent

between

across

next to

in front of

behind

beyond

right

left

here

there

below

underneath

beneath

around

about

up above

against

ahead of

along with

all along

among

all around

at

back to

by

by chance

by the way

by nature

by and by

close to

down

during

far from

for

in back of

over

from

near

near by

here

farther on

elsewhere

opposite to

adjacent to

to the east

to the left

 

 

Addition

 

in addition

moreover

furthermore

besides

also

another

similarly

too

further

again

and then

Still

 

 

Contrast

 

yet

however

but

nevertheless

still

on the other hand

although

rather

while

conversely

contrary

on the contrary

in spite of

despite

in contrast to

whereas

regardless

and yet

notwithstanding

for all that

 

 

Comparison

 

compared to

by comparison

except by

though

similarly

likewise

in a similar way

let us compare

instead of

also

in the same way

like

 

 

Conclusion

 

so

hence

thus

as a result

accordingly

for this reason

therefore

in conclusion

to sum up

in summary

to conclude

all in all

in short

on the whole

in brief

consequently

since

after all

by and large

because

 

 

Qualification

 

almost

maybe

except

nearly

if

could

should

might

probably

alleged

possibly

may

 

Explanation

 

for example

for instance

indeed

incidentally

in fact

in other words

in particular

namely

specifically

that is

that is to say

for that reason

in this case

in another case

on this occasion

in this situation

proof of this

testimony of this

evidence of this

let us suppose

let us presume

let us imagine

imagine

let us assume

let us say

in as much as

actually

to illustrate

indeed

of course

truly

an illustration

 

Emphasis

 

definitely

extremely

absolutely

positively

naturally

surprisingly

always

forever

perennially

eternally

never

emphatically

unquestionably

without a doubt

certainly

undeniably

again

unbelievable

incredible

hugely

 

 

Summary

 

What can these devices do for the quality of your essay?  Can they enhance your essay writing skills? Yes, they can and will help you to accomplish much more: transitions provide a link between words and phrases. Words such as, thus, hence, moreover, and finally, provide the glue for the consolidation of your ideas. Thoughts are connected into a string of related ideas to argue an opinion. Through the compounded effect of transitions that tie your ideas together, your conviction may be expressed with additional vigor. Without transitions, it is difficult to readily understand the information. In the end, for a quality essay, use the transitions above to clarify your writing.  Select the most suitable ones and use them throughout your work. Good luck!