what is a good transition sentence for an essay

33 Transition Words and Phrases

Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .

as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY

The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.

in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE

The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.

at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER

Afterward, she got a promotion.

even though : ALTHOUGH

She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.

in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made

They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.

in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE

I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.

as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY

The words are often confused and are consequently misused.

in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.

used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said

These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.

used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"

I'm planning to go even though it may rain.

in addition : MOREOVER

I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.

in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.

because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE

He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.

from this point on : starting now

She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.

in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement

I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.

as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement

The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.

all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.

for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.

in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement

She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.

at or during the same time : in the meantime

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.

BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.

in spite of that : HOWEVER

It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.

in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS

The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.

without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.

if not : or else

Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.

more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said

We can take the car, or rather, the van.

in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

I tried again and still I failed.

by that : by that means

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

for that reason : because of that

This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.

immediately after that

The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.

because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY

This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.

while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different

Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.

NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way

It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.

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Understanding Transition Sentences (For Essays and Writing with Examples)

What are transition sentences? And how do they work? Is there a correct way to use them? And an incorrect way? Understanding transition sentences is critical when writing essays, articles, or any type of logical flow.

Learn what transitional sentences are in this short guide…

What are transition sentences?

When you write an article, essay (or anything), you’ll want to write it in a logical sequence. You start with an introduction, highlight your points, and then end with a conclusion. Throughout your writing, you would be using sentences to express your thought. To make your writing effective, you need to link the sentences together in a logical way .

This is where transition sentences can be helpful.

As the name suggests, a transition sentence links the thoughts you are expressing in your writing. They make use of words and phrases that act as a bridge between different parts of your writing.

Transition sentences allow your reader to move smoothly from one section to another. Without transition sentences, your reader might not be able to understand the link between different parts of your writing.

What makes a good transition sentence?

Look at this example:

The CEO was very clear that productivity and efficiency were the two key things he would focus on. However , the legacy systems followed by the company acted as a detriment. Tech modernization was the solution that would enhance productivity and efficiency.

Sentences one and three make sense by themselves. But it is important to establish a relationship between the two. This is what the second sentence does . It acts as a bridge (or transition) between the first and third sentences. By doing so, it helps the writer communicate their ideas more effectively.

A good transition sentence would bring clarity by linking ideas expressed in the sentences before and after it. Words and phrases like ‘however,’ ‘in contrast,’ ‘for instance,’ ‘in fact,’ and ‘therefore’ can get used to help make the transition.  

Many transition words are available to use. Choose the appropriate word for the situation.

For example, if you want to show the sequence between two sentences, you can use a word like ‘then’ or ‘after.’ If you want to emphasize a point through the transition, you can use ‘indeed,’ ‘especially,’ or ‘particularly.’

Transition words can be used at the start of the sentence ( e.g. , Surely , you are not going to go now!). It can also be used within the sentence (e.g., I rejected the job offer because the salary was lesser than my present pay ).

Here are a few tips that will help you use transition words correctly:

• When sentences within a paragraph sound abrupt or awkward, you need to use transition words to link them.
• Choose the correct transition word that is appropriate to the situation. A wrong selection can make your reader confused.
• When moving from one idea to another, use a transition word to let the reader know.
• Don’t make the mistake of overusing transition words. Too many transition words can end up making your writing look messy.

List of words for transition sentences

Some common words used in transition sentences are:

• Furthermore
• Nevertheless
• Specifically

List of phrases for transition sentences

Transition sentences would use both words and phrases as the bridge. A few phrases that are used include:

• In other words
• On the contrary
• As a result
• In the long run
• As you can see
• In the following
• In the previous
• Having established
• Most importantly
• For example/instance
• By the time

5 Examples of Transitions (Types of Transitions)

Conjunctive adverbs can be used to establish the logical link between ideas. They can be classified under five heads. It must be noted some words appear in multiple categories.

Of addition

• Additionally
• In addition
• In the same way

The following example will make this clear.

First , put a pan on the stove and heat it. Next , add oil to the pan.

In the above, first and next act as the transition and are adding on to what is being said previously.

Of contrast

These words establish a contrast or difference while making the transition.

• In contrast
• Even though
• At any rate
• In spite of that
• On the other hand

The island was not the paradise we were hoping for. On the contrary , it was dirty, noisy, and had unmanageable traffic.

The above example brings out a contrast between expectations and reality.

Of comparison

• By comparison
• In the same manner

Jonathan is crazy about chess. His daughter is similarly a big fan of the board game.

In this example, the word similarly shows a comparison between father and daughter. You may note the transition word need not be at the start of the sentence. It can be placed anywhere.

These transition words are indicative of a result. It shows the result of the previous sentence/idea.

• Consequently

Their star player was suffering from a hamstring injury and could not play. Hence , their team faced a humiliating defeat on match day.

The star player’s absence resulted in the team’s defeat. The transition word ‘Hence’ in the example is the bridge between the cause/event and the result.

Some transition words show relationships in time. They include:

• Simultaneously
• Subsequently

The speaker will be a bit late for the talk. Meanwhile , let’s ask the participants to share their views on the program .

As the speaker will be late, there is time left. So, the participants are asked to share their views and opinions. In this example, ‘Meanwhile’ is a transition word that shows relationship to time.

Subordinating conjunctions and transition sentences

You can use a subordinating conjunction in a sentence to join a dependent clause to an independent clause .

Example: When the postman came, my dog greeted him with a volley of barks.

In this example, the word ‘when’ is the subordinating conjunction that joins ‘the postman came’ and ‘my dog greeted him …’

The subordinating conjunction serves a special purpose here. It acts as a transition between two ideas. The use of the coordinating conjunction provides a logical flow.

Example: He is smarter than you are.

In this example, “than” is the subordinating conjunction that connects ‘He is smarter’ and ‘you are.’ It provides the bridge or transition between the two clauses .

Let’s look at another example to understand this. There are two clauses – ‘The spring arrives’ and ‘my hay fever gets aggravated. A subordinating conjunction can link the two. We can use ‘As’ here. So, the sentence would now read – ‘ As the spring arrives, my hay fever gets aggravated.’

Correlative conjunctions and transition sentences

The correlative conjunction shows a correlation between two words or phrases within a sentence. They play a key role in transition sentences. The use of a correlative conjunction ensures a smooth flow between two sentences or ideas.

Example: My boss totally ignored my work. Neither my hard work nor my punctuality impressed him. So, I decided to move on and look for a new job.

In the above example, sentences one and three are independent and convey the meaning clearly. However, the second sentence acts as a transition explaining why sentence one leads to sentence two.

In the second sentence, we see the use of neither … nor. This combination of words acts as correlative conjunctions in this example.

Some other words that work as correlative conjunctions are:

• Either … or
• Neither … nor
• Whether … or
• Not only … Also

Whether you want to have dinner or prefer to skip it is entirely left to you.

The above example uses Whether … or as correlative conjunctions in the sentence.

Examples of transition sentences

Examples of transition sentences:

Communicate similarities

To communicate similarities, you can use transitional words like:

Examples of sentences where the transition word communicates similarities:

• He decided to join the army just as his brother had done five years back.
• You can fly this plane the same way you flew the trainer jet; there is no real difference.
• All the employees in the Production department come from the neighboring town . Similarly , the store staff is also from that town.

Express emphasis

Words like ‘especially,’ ‘above all,’ ‘particularly’, ‘indeed,’ in fact,’ and ‘in particular’ can be used to express emphasis. When used in transition sentences, they emphasize the idea express previously.

• She was overweight. In fact , it won’t be wrong to say she was grossly obese.
• I liked the blue dress in particular .
• Indeed , it won’t be wrong to say that her arrogance led to the engagement’s breakup.
• There is a lot of focus on improving public services, especially education.

Cause and effect

Transition sentences can be very helpful in showing cause and effect or result. The following words can be used for this:

• Accordingly
• At that time
• They spent the entire semester binge-watching shows. Consequently , they failed to obtain pass marks on any of the papers.
• There are just ten items left in stock. Hence , it would be better if we suspend taking new orders at present.
• The tests revealed that his blood pressure and cholesterol levels were very high. As a result , the doctor decided that he had to increase the dosage of his medicines.

Position or place can be indicated through the use of transition words like:

• At the back

Here are some example sentences:

• Walk towards the bookshelf. Adjacent to the shelf is a table, that’s where you will find the money.
• The house was located a few yards from the river. Next to the house was the scary-looking tree.
• You will see the building with the red flag. The storeroom is at the back of this building.

Describe a sequence

Transition words are perfect to use while describing a sequence. The words that can be used are:

• Followed by
• First , write down all the numbers in the form of a list. Next , add all the numbers. Finally , write down the total.
• Initially , three employees were working on the project. Subsequently , the project grew the numbers rise to twenty.
• The private plane owned by the CEO was the first to land. This was followed by the helicopter containing the crew.

To show examples

Transition words can be used to show examples or illustrate a particular point. Some words to use are:

• For example
• For instance
• Illustrated by
• As an example
• In this case
• On this occasion
• To illustrate
• To demonstrate
• The speaker displayed the blueprint of the equipment on the screen. To illustrat e its working, he showed a video.
• There are seven tools you can use to solve this problem. As an example , I will talk about the fishbone diagram.
• Different essential oils can help you feel relaxed. For instance , using lavender oil makes you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

How to use transition sentences between paragraphs

Transition sentences can get used within a paragraph. It also can get used between paragraphs.

This is important since the transition sentence provides a flow between paragraphs . It allows the readers to understand the relationship between the ideas expressed in those two different paragraphs.

When you start writing a paragraph , show a link to the previous paragraph in the first sentence. This establishes a bridge between both paragraphs.

Here’s an example:

There is no doubt that the effects of pollution by industries. This is why activists call for a ban on industries to stop pollution.

Despite the previous argument , we must also think about the economy. Banning industries will bring the economy to a standstill.

This example, ‘despite the previous argument’ is used to transition between the two paragraphs.

In contrast, the first part calls for a ban on industries, and the second discusses the economic effect. Using a transition allows for a smooth flow between the two.

Examples of transition sentences for essays

The use of transitions is very important in essays. An essay is written to convey an idea, opinion, or viewpoint. To ensure its effectiveness, transition sentences are needed at different parts of the essay. Transition sentences are needed between sentences, between sections, and at the conclusion of the essay.

A few examples of this:

• Having established that a large majority of students have internet access, we can conclude t hat e-learning is a distinct possibility.
• All the employees have a smartphone. In fact , most of them connect to the company’s Wi-Fi using their phone.

Examples of transition words for concluding sentences

Transition sentences are used throughout a write-up. It is imperative that the conclusion also has a transition. Your write-up needs to end with a summary of what you are trying to say. Or with a call-to-action. Using transition words in the conclusion can help you achieve this.

A few transition words you can consider using are:

• In conclusion
• As shown above
• On the whole
• Generally speaking
• To summarize
• To summarize , sustained use of this medicine offers significant benefits to patients.
• In summary, democracy has many limitations but no other acceptable alternative.
• Ultimately , it all boils down to the decision taken by the customer.
• In short , the best option available is to get funds from a new investor.

Sentence structure

More on sentence structure:

• Dangling modifier
• Transition sentences
• Active voice
• Passive voice
• Adverbial clause
• Parallelism
• Transition Sentences Tips and Examples for Clear Writing
• Transitional devices
• How to Use Transition Sentences for Smoother Writing
• Transition Words: Examples in Sentences, Paragraphs & Essays

Inside this article

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About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

Core lessons

• Abstract Noun
• Accusative Case
• Active Sentence
• Alliteration
• Adjective Clause
• Adjective Phrase
• Adverbial Clause
• Appositive Phrase
• Body Paragraph
• Compound Adjective
• Complex Sentence
• Compound Words
• Compound Predicate
• Common Noun
• Comparative Adjective
• Comparative and Superlative
• Compound Noun
• Compound Subject
• Compound Sentence
• Copular Verb
• Collective Noun
• Colloquialism
• Conciseness
• Conditional
• Concrete Noun
• Conjunction
• Conjugation
• Conditional Sentence
• Comma Splice
• Correlative Conjunction
• Coordinating Conjunction
• Coordinate Adjective
• Cumulative Adjective
• Dative Case
• Declarative Statement
• Direct Object Pronoun
• Direct Object
• Dangling Modifier
• Demonstrative Pronoun
• Demonstrative Adjective
• Direct Characterization
• Definite Article
• Doublespeak
• Equivocation Fallacy
• Future Perfect Progressive
• Future Simple
• Future Perfect Continuous
• Future Perfect
• First Conditional
• Gerund Phrase
• Genitive Case
• Helping Verb
• Irregular Adjective
• Irregular Verb
• Imperative Sentence
• Indefinite Article
• Intransitive Verb
• Introductory Phrase
• Indefinite Pronoun
• Indirect Characterization
• Interrogative Sentence
• Intensive Pronoun
• Inanimate Object
• Indefinite Tense
• Infinitive Phrase
• Interjection
• Intensifier
• Indicative Mood
• Juxtaposition
• Linking Verb
• Misplaced Modifier
• Nominative Case
• Noun Adjective
• Object Pronoun
• Object Complement
• Order of Adjectives
• Prepositional Phrase
• Past Simple Tense
• Past Continuous Tense
• Past Perfect Tense
• Past Progressive Tense
• Present Simple Tense
• Present Perfect Tense
• Personal Pronoun
• Personification
• Persuasive Writing
• Parallel Structure
• Phrasal Verb
• Predicate Adjective
• Predicate Nominative
• Phonetic Language
• Plural Noun
• Punctuation
• Punctuation Marks
• Preposition
• Preposition of Place
• Parts of Speech
• Possessive Adjective
• Possessive Determiner
• Possessive Case
• Possessive Noun
• Proper Adjective
• Proper Noun
• Present Participle
• Quotation Marks
• Relative Pronoun
• Reflexive Pronoun
• Reciprocal Pronoun
• Subordinating Conjunction
• Simple Future Tense
• Stative Verb
• Subjunctive
• Subject Complement
• Subject of a Sentence
• Sentence Variety
• Second Conditional
• Superlative Adjective
• Slash Symbol
• Topic Sentence
• Types of Nouns
• Types of Sentences
• Uncountable Noun
• Vowels and Consonants

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• Abbreviations
• Editorial Policy

Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Change will not be effected, say some others, unless individual actions raise the necessary awareness.

While a reader can see the connection between the sentences above, it’s not immediately clear that the second sentence is providing a counterargument to the first. In the example below, key “old information” is repeated in the second sentence to help readers quickly see the connection. This makes the sequence of ideas easier to follow.  

Sentence pair #2: Effective Transition

Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Other experts argue that individual actions are key to raising the awareness necessary to effect change.

You can use this same technique to create clear transitions between paragraphs. Here’s an example:

Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Other experts argue that individual actions are key to raising the awareness necessary to effect change. According to Annie Lowery, individual actions are important to making social change because when individuals take action, they can change values, which can lead to more people becoming invested in fighting climate change. She writes, “Researchers believe that these kinds of household-led trends can help avert climate catastrophe, even if government and corporate actions are far more important” (Lowery).

So, what’s an individual household supposed to do?

The repetition of the word “household” in the new paragraph helps readers see the connection between what has come before (a discussion of whether household actions matter) and what is about to come (a proposal for what types of actions households can take to combat climate change).

Sometimes, transitional words can help readers see how ideas are connected. But it’s not enough to just include a “therefore,” “moreover,” “also,” or “in addition.” You should choose these words carefully to show your readers what kind of connection you are making between your ideas.

To decide which transitional word to use, start by identifying the relationship between your ideas. For example, you might be

• making a comparison or showing a contrast Transitional words that compare and contrast include also, in the same way, similarly, in contrast, yet, on the one hand, on the other hand. But before you signal comparison, ask these questions: Do your readers need another example of the same thing? Is there a new nuance in this next point that distinguishes it from the previous example? For those relationships between ideas, you might try this type of transition: While x may appear the same, it actually raises a new question in a slightly different way. 
• expressing agreement or disagreement When you are making an argument, you need to signal to readers where you stand in relation to other scholars and critics. You may agree with another person’s claim, you may want to concede some part of the argument even if you don’t agree with everything, or you may disagree. Transitional words that signal agreement, concession, and disagreement include however, nevertheless, actually, still, despite, admittedly, still, on the contrary, nonetheless .
• showing cause and effect Transitional phrases that show cause and effect include therefore, hence, consequently, thus, so. Before you choose one of these words, make sure that what you are about to illustrate is really a causal link. Novice writers tend to add therefore and hence when they aren’t sure how to transition; you should reserve these words for when they accurately signal the progression of your ideas.
• explaining or elaborating Transitions can signal to readers that you are going to expand on a point that you have just made or explain something further. Transitional words that signal explanation or elaboration include in other words, for example, for instance, in particular, that is, to illustrate, moreover .
• drawing conclusions You can use transitions to signal to readers that you are moving from the body of your argument to your conclusions. Before you use transitional words to signal conclusions, consider whether you can write a stronger conclusion by creating a transition that shows the relationship between your ideas rather than by flagging the paragraph simply as a conclusion. Transitional words that signal a conclusion include in conclusion , as a result, ultimately, overall— but strong conclusions do not necessarily have to include those phrases.

If you’re not sure which transitional words to use—or whether to use one at all—see if you can explain the connection between your paragraphs or sentence either out loud or in the margins of your draft.

For example, if you write a paragraph in which you summarize physician Atul Gawande’s argument about the value of incremental care, and then you move on to a paragraph that challenges those ideas, you might write down something like this next to the first paragraph: “In this paragraph I summarize Gawande’s main claim.” Then, next to the second paragraph, you might write, “In this paragraph I present a challenge to Gawande’s main claim.” Now that you have identified the relationship between those two paragraphs, you can choose the most effective transition between them. Since the second paragraph in this example challenges the ideas in the first, you might begin with something like “but,” or “however,” to signal that shift for your readers.  

• picture_as_pdf Transitions

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190 Good Transition Words for Essays

August 23, 2023

Essay writing consists of two primary procedures: coming up with the content we want to include and structuring that content. These procedures might take place in either order or they could occur simultaneously. When writing an essay it is important to think about the ways that content and structure complement one another. The best essays join these two elements in thoughtful ways. Transition words for essays (including for college essays) are some of our most primary tools when it comes to structuring a piece of writing.

When beginning an essay it is often recommended to begin with a messy first draft. The purpose of this draft is to get everything out on the page. You should put down as many ideas and trajectories as you can without worrying too much about phrasing or whether they will make it into the final draft. The key here is to be loose—to get ahead of our self-editors and expel everything we can from our minds.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Continued)

While this is a good strategy for beginning an essay it will likely leave you unsure how everything fits together. This is where transition words come in. As you will see in this list (which is necessarily incomplete) the range of transition words for essays is vast. Each transition word implies a different relation, often in subtle ways. After accumulating content, the next step is to figure out how the elements fit together towards an overall goal (this could be but is not necessarily an “argument”). Consulting this list of transition words for essays can provide a shortcut for determining how one piece might lead into another. Along with transition words, rhetorical devices and literary devices are other tools to consider during this stage of essay writing.

Transition Words for College Essays

While this list will be a useful tool for all types of essay writing it will be particularly helpful when it comes to finding the right transition words for college essays . The goal of a college essay is to give a strong overall sense of its author in the tight space of 650 words. As you might imagine, it’s not easy to encompass a life or convey a complex personality in such a space. When writing a college essay you are working with a huge amount of potential content. Students often want to squeeze in as much as they can. To this end, transition words for college essays are essential tools to have at our disposal.

Here is our list of transition words for college essays and other essays. It is organized by the different types of transition words/phrases and their functions. While this organization should be convenient, keep in mind that there’s plenty of overlap. Many of these words can function in multiple ways.

1) Additive Transitions

These words function in an additive manner, accumulating content to build upon what has already been stated. They can be used to construct an argument or establish a scene through the accumulation of details.

• Additionally
• In addition to
• Furthermore
• Not to mention
• In all honesty
• To tell the truth
• Not only…but also
• As a matter of fact
• To say nothing of
• What’s more
• Alternatively
• To go a step further

 2) Comparative Transitions (Similarity)

  These transition words draw a parallel or bring out a similarity between images or ideas. They can be used not only in a straightforward sense but also to establish relations of similarity between objects or ideas that might appear to be dissonant.

• In the same way
• In a similar vein
• Along the lines of
• In the key of

 3) Comparative Transitions (Difference)

  While also functioning comparatively, the following words demonstrate difference between ideas or images. These transition words are useful when it comes to establishing contrasting points of view, an important component of any argument.

• On the other hand
• On the contrary
• In contrast to
• In contradiction
• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• In any event
• In any case
• In either event

4) Sequential Transitions

  The following are particularly effective transition words for college essays. They will allow you to order ideas chronologically or in a sequence, providing a sense of continuity over time. This is particularly useful when an essay leans into something more creative or involves telling a story.

• Subsequently
• At the same time
• Concurrently
• In the beginning
• At the start
• At the outset
• Off the bat

5) Spatial Transitions

Rather than organizing ideas or images in regards to sequence, these transitions indicate spatial relationships. They are particularly useful when it comes to painting a scene and/or describing objects, but they can also be used metaphorically. Consider, for example, how you might use the transition, “standing in […’s] shadow.”

• Standing in […’s] shadow
• In front of
• In the middle
• In the center
• To the left
• To the right
• On the side
• Adjacent to
• Around the bend
• On the outskirts
• In the distance
• On the horizon
• In the foreground
• In the background
• Underground
• Through the grapevine

 6) Causal Transitions

These transition words for essays indicate cause and effect relationships between ideas. They will be particularly useful when you are structuring a logical argument, i.e. using logos as a mode of persuasion . Causal transitions are an important element of academic, legal and scientific writing.

• Accordingly
• Resultingly
• As a result
• Consequently
• In consequence
• As a consequence
• For this reason
• So much that
• Granting that
• That being the case
• Under those circumstances
• With this in mind
• For the purpose of
• For all intents and purposes
• In the event that
• In the event of
• In light of
• On the condition that
• To the extent that

7) Examples/Illustration/Supporting Transition

  These transition words for college essays can be used to introduce supporting evidence, emphasis, examples, and clarification. There is some overlap here with additive transitions and causal transitions. These transitions are also useful when it comes to building an argument. At the same time, they can signal a shift into a different linguistic register.

• For example
• For instance
• In other words
• As an illustration
• To illustrate
• To put it differently
• To put it another way
• That is to say
• As the evidence illustrates
• It’s important to realize
• It’s important to understand
• It must be remembered
• To demonstrate
• For clarity’s sake
• To emphasize
• To put it plainly
• To enumerate
• To speak metaphorically

8) Conclusory Transitions

These transition words for essays serve to bring an idea or story to a close. They offer a clear way of signaling the conclusion of a particular train of thought. They might be followed by a summary or a restatement of an essay’s argument. In this way they also provide emphasis, setting the reader up for what is about to come.

• In conclusion
• To summarize
• To put it succinctly
• To this end
• At the end of the day
• In the final analysis
• By and large
• On second thought
• On first glance
• That’s all to say
• On the whole
• All things considered
• Generally speaking

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Final Thoughts)

Even when elements appear to be disparate on first glance, transition words are a great tool for giving your essay a smooth flow. They can also create surprising juxtapositions, relationships, and equivalences. The way a reader will understand a transition word depends on the context in which they encounter it.

Individual words and phrases can be used in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the literal to the figurative to the colloquial or idiomatic. “Through the grapevine” is an example of the colloquial or idiomatic. When we encounter this phrase we don’t interpret it literally (as hearing something “through” a grapevine) but rather as hearing news secondhand. There are, of course, a vast number of idioms that are not included in this list but can also function as transitional phrases.

This list of transition words for college essays (and really any form of writing you might be working on) is a resource that you can return to again and again in your life as a writer. Over years of writing we tend to fall into patterns when it comes to the transition words we use. Mixing things up can be exciting both as a writer and for your readers. Even if you don’t choose to stray from your trusted transitions, considering the alternatives (and why they don’t work for you) can offer a deeper understanding of what you are trying to say.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (An Exercise)

As an exercise in self-understanding, you may want to try highlighting all of the transition words in a piece of your own writing. You can then compare this to the transition words in a piece of writing that you admire. Are they using similar transitions or others? Are they using them more or less often? What do you like or dislike about them? We all use transition words differently, creating different tonal effects. Keeping an eye out for them, not only as a writer but also as a reader, will help you develop your own aesthetic.

• College Essay

Emmett Lewis

Emmett holds a BA in Philosophy from Vassar College and is currently completing an MFA in Writing at Columbia University. Previously, he served as a writing instructor within the Columbia Artists/Teachers community as well as a Creative Writing Teaching Fellow at Columbia, where he taught poetry workshops. In addition, Emmett is a member of the Poetry Board at the Columbia Journal , and his work has been published in HAD , Otoliths , and Some Kind of Opening , among others.

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• Transition Words & Phrases | List & Examples

Transition Words & Phrases | List & Examples

Published on May 29, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on August 23, 2023.

Transition words and phrases (also called linking words, connecting words, or transitional words) are used to link together different ideas in your text. They help the reader to follow your arguments by expressing the relationships between different sentences or parts of a sentence.

The proposed solution to the problem did not work. Therefore , we attempted a second solution. However , this solution was also unsuccessful.

For clear writing, it’s essential to understand the meaning of transition words and use them correctly.

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Table of contents

When and how to use transition words, types and examples of transition words, common mistakes with transition words, other interesting articles.

Transition words commonly appear at the start of a new sentence or clause (followed by a comma ), serving to express how this clause relates to the previous one.

Transition words can also appear in the middle of a clause. It’s important to place them correctly to convey the meaning you intend.

Example text with and without transition words

The text below describes all the events it needs to, but it does not use any transition words to connect them. Because of this, it’s not clear exactly how these different events are related or what point the author is making by telling us about them.

If we add some transition words at appropriate moments, the text reads more smoothly and the relationship among the events described becomes clearer.

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Consequently , France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. The Soviet Union initially worked with Germany in order to partition Poland. However , Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

Don’t overuse transition words

While transition words are essential to clear writing, it’s possible to use too many of them. Consider the following example, in which the overuse of linking words slows down the text and makes it feel repetitive.

In this case the best way to fix the problem is to simplify the text so that fewer linking words are needed.

The key to using transition words effectively is striking the right balance. It is difficult to follow the logic of a text with no transition words, but a text where every sentence begins with a transition word can feel over-explained.

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There are four main types of transition word: additive, adversative, causal, and sequential. Within each category, words are divided into several more specific functions.

Remember that transition words with similar meanings are not necessarily interchangeable. It’s important to understand the meaning of all the transition words you use. If unsure, consult a dictionary to find the precise definition.

Additive transition words

Additive transition words introduce new information or examples. They can be used to expand upon, compare with, or clarify the preceding text.

Adversative transition words

Adversative transition words always signal a contrast of some kind. They can be used to introduce information that disagrees or contrasts with the preceding text.

Causal transition words

Causal transition words are used to describe cause and effect. They can be used to express purpose, consequence, and condition.

Sequential transition words

Sequential transition words indicate a sequence, whether it’s the order in which events occurred chronologically or the order you’re presenting them in your text. They can be used for signposting in academic texts.

Transition words are often used incorrectly. Make sure you understand the proper usage of transition words and phrases, and remember that words with similar meanings don’t necessarily work the same way grammatically.

Misused transition words can make your writing unclear or illogical. Your audience will be easily lost if you misrepresent the connections between your sentences and ideas.

Confused use of therefore

“Therefore” and similar cause-and-effect words are used to state that something is the result of, or follows logically from, the previous. Make sure not to use these words in a way that implies illogical connections.

• We asked participants to rate their satisfaction with their work from 1 to 10. Therefore , the average satisfaction among participants was 7.5.

The use of “therefore” in this example is illogical: it suggests that the result of 7.5 follows logically from the question being asked, when in fact many other results were possible. To fix this, we simply remove the word “therefore.”

• We asked participants to rate their satisfaction with their work from 1 to 10. The average satisfaction among participants was 7.5.

Starting a sentence with also , and , or so

While the words “also,” “and,” and “so” are used in academic writing, they are considered too informal when used at the start of a sentence.

• Also , a second round of testing was carried out.

To fix this issue, we can either move the transition word to a different point in the sentence or use a more formal alternative.

• A second round of testing was also carried out.
• Additionally , a second round of testing was carried out.

Transition words creating sentence fragments

Words like “although” and “because” are called subordinating conjunctions . This means that they introduce clauses which cannot stand on their own. A clause introduced by one of these words should always follow or be followed by another clause in the same sentence.

The second sentence in this example is a fragment, because it consists only of the “although” clause.

• Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed. Although other researchers disagree.

We can fix this in two different ways. One option is to combine the two sentences into one using a comma. The other option is to use a different transition word that does not create this problem, like “however.”

• Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed, although other researchers disagree.
• Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed. However , other researchers disagree.

And vs. as well as

Students often use the phrase “ as well as ” in place of “and,” but its usage is slightly different. Using “and” suggests that the things you’re listing are of equal importance, while “as well as” introduces additional information that is less important.

• Chapter 1 discusses some background information on Woolf, as well as presenting my analysis of To the Lighthouse .

In this example, the analysis is more important than the background information. To fix this mistake, we can use “and,” or we can change the order of the sentence so that the most important information comes first. Note that we add a comma before “as well as” but not before “and.”

• Chapter 1 discusses some background information on Woolf and presents my analysis of To the Lighthouse .
• Chapter 1 presents my analysis of To the Lighthouse , as well as discussing some background information on Woolf.

Note that in fixed phrases like “both x and y ,” you must use “and,” not “as well as.”

• Both my results as well as my interpretations are presented below.
• Both my results and my interpretations are presented below.

Use of and/or

The combination of transition words “and/or” should generally be avoided in academic writing. It makes your text look messy and is usually unnecessary to your meaning.

First consider whether you really do mean “and/or” and not just “and” or “or.” If you are certain that you need both, it’s best to separate them to make your meaning as clear as possible.

• Participants were asked whether they used the bus and/or the train.
• Participants were asked whether they used the bus, the train, or both.

Archaic transition words

Words like “hereby,” “therewith,” and most others formed by the combination of “here,” “there,” or “where” with a preposition are typically avoided in modern academic writing. Using them makes your writing feel old-fashioned and strained and can sometimes obscure your meaning.

• Poverty is best understood as a disease. Hereby , we not only see that it is hereditary, but acknowledge its devastating effects on a person’s health.

These words should usually be replaced with a more explicit phrasing expressing how the current statement relates to the preceding one.

• Poverty is best understood as a disease. Understanding it as such , we not only see that it is hereditary, but also acknowledge its devastating effects on a person’s health.

Using a paraphrasing tool for clear writing

With the use of certain tools, you can make your writing clear. One of these tools is a paraphrasing tool . One thing the tool does is help your sentences make more sense. It has different modes where it checks how your text can be improved. For example, automatically adding transition words where needed.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or writing rules make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Transition sentence examples

Published March 20, 2021. Updated August 16, 2021.

When writing a paper, you may have received feedback that your writing is choppy or blocky. A teacher may have even explicitly said that you need better transitions. You may worry that your writing is awkward or could flow better. These are all signs that you could benefit from working on your transition sentences, connecting each piece of your essay into a coherent whole.

Worried about your writing? Submit your paper for a Chegg Writing essay check , or for an Expert Check proofreading . Both can help you find and fix potential writing issues.

What are transition sentences, and why do they matter?

Transition sentences are signposts that help direct readers through your essay, telling them how each idea relates to the one that came before it. These sentences often make use of transition words or expressions, such as “nevertheless.”

George had never been skiing in his life. Nevertheless, he bought the used ski equipment at the garage sale.

The word “nevertheless” clues the reader that the following information is true despite the previous information. Without it, the second sentence would come as a confusing surprise after the first.

Essays often require transition sentences or even paragraphs, which perform a similar function, linking what the reader knows after reading the previous part to the new information or idea coming up.

Transition sentences can improve your writing in many ways:

• They improve your ability to communicate and the reader’s ability to understand your points.
• Transitions help writing to flow more easily, enhancing the reader’s enjoyment.
• With transitions, you can refine the logic of your paper. Without clear transitions, the implicit connection between two pieces of the paper is “and also,” which lacks nuance. Better transitions allow you to build more sophisticated frameworks for your essay.

Where should you put transitions?

Transitions introduce paragraphs, sections, and different parts of a paragraph.

At the beginning of a new paragraph

Paragraphs often begin with transition phrases or sentences that segue from the previous paragraph.

In the same way that Theseus won Hippolyta with his “sword,” Oberon determines to sexually humiliate his queen and bring her back under his control.

While the previous paragraph discussed the relationship between Theseus and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this new paragraph turns to the relationship between Oberon and Titania. The transition prepares the reader for this shift in topic and clarifies that the two are united under the same theme: male political and sexual dominance through violence.

At the beginning of a new section

When transitioning into a new section in a longer essay, you might require a couple of sentences or even a full paragraph at its beginning.

Male-on-female violence is only the most extreme method that the men of Midsummer use to keep their women under control. Shakespeare shows us a world that restricts women to a limited number of roles and sets them against one another once they reach marital age. He even reminds us that women don’t actually have any roles at all on this Elizabethan stage. The rude mechanicals’ play of Pyramus and Thisbe is an all-male affair. Whenever a woman speaks in Midsummer, her words testify to so many qualifications on her agency that we’re left to wonder: who is really speaking?

In a larger paper on Midsummer’s patriarchy, this paragraph introduces a new section or movement. It acknowledges the material of the previous section – male-on-female violence – and relates it to what’s coming: more subtle methods of control.

Within paragraphs

You also want to ensure that your sentences and smaller points flow, one into the next, linking them with clear transitions.

Egeus brings his recalcitrant daughter before Theseus and demands that he execute her if she refuses to marry Demetrius, Egeus’s choice for her husband. In response, Theseus offers Hermia a third option: she may also become a nun. However , his description of this life presents the vow of chastity as a kind of living death, similar to execution. He reminds Hermia that nuns separate from the world to live “in shady cloister mewed” where they “wither on the virgin thorn” (1.1.73, 79).

Notice the way that the bolded phrases help the reader to follow the logic; Theseus’s offer seems like a third option, but it is really a variation of the second.

Different connections, different transitions

There are many different ways that ideas can relate to one another and different transitional words or phrases associated with these relationships.

This new thought is related to or builds upon the previous one. There are several varieties:

Similarity (y is like x)

Sample transition words: likewise, similarly, in the same way, just as, still

Example (y is an example of x)

Sample transition words: for example, such as, for instance, to illustrate, namely

Emphasis (look at the y part of x)

Sample transition words: above all, even, to clarify, without a doubt, in particular, indeed, it should be noted

Complement/Supplement (y and x both matter with respect to my larger point/theme)

Sample transition words: moreover, furthermore, not only…but also, along with, in addition to this

Summation (y summarizes x and previous points)

Sample transition words: altogether, finally, in brief, to sum up, to conclude, on the whole, all things considered

This new thought contradicts or limits what came before it.

Contrast (y is different than x)

Sample transition words: alternatively, despite, contrary to, instead, on the other hand, unlike, conversely

Exception (y qualifies or limits x)

Sample transition words: granted that, even if, admittedly, nevertheless, although, however

These two things are part of a sequence. One of them follows or precedes the other one.

Timeline (y follows or precedes x in time)

Sample transition words: at this time, previously, following, before, after, still

Order (y follows x in logic)

Sample transition words: first of all, firstly, first and foremost, last but not least

Cause and Effect

One of these things produces the other one.

Cause and effect (y is caused by or causes x)

Sample transition words: consequently, therefore, hence, thus, for this reason, due to

Planning and editing for transitions

How can you identify where you will need to put transitions or where your paper still needs them?

Before you start to write the paper, outlining can help you figure out the different elements of your paper and how they all fit together. Add little notes about the transitions you will need between each of them.

After you have a draft, you can do much the same thing, in reverse. In reverse outlining, you outline something that is already written rather than something you have yet to write. As you read over your paper, note each new idea in the margins – not what should be there but what is there. Have you adequately connected each of these ideas? Or do you need to add some sentences to help guide your reader through your paper?

The transitions of your paper aren’t the place to be ambiguous or to make your readers do the work. Make it as easy as possible for them to follow your logic, and you stand a better chance of convincing them of your point.

Before you turn in that paper, don’t forget to cite your sources in APA format , MLA format , or a style of your choice.

Key takeaways

• Transition words and sentences serve as signposts, helping the reader to follow your argument.
• They connect each piece of your essay to what came before it.
• You should make use of transitions between paragraphs, between sections, and within paragraphs to clarify the flow and logic of your argument.
• Different transition words and phrases establish different relationships between ideas.
• You can help yourself to identify places that need transitions by outlining or reverse outlining your paper.

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How to Use Transition Sentences: Definition, Tips, and Examples

Transition sentences are crucial components of written and spoken language that serve as bridges between different ideas, paragraphs, or sections within a piece of writing. These sentences smoothly guide the reader from one point to another, ensuring coherence and logical progression in the narrative. Transition sentences play a vital role in maintaining the flow of a text, helping readers navigate through complex information or arguments with ease. 

The primary function of transition sentences is to establish connections and relationships between different text parts, creating a sense of unity and coherence. By using transitional words or phrases, writers create a cohesive and well-organized structure, enhancing the overall readability and comprehension of their work. They can take various forms, including words like "however," "meanwhile," or phrases like "on the other hand." Students who use our essay writing service receive their papers where transitional words and sentences are used on point.

What Are Transition Sentences Explained

Transitional sentences are crucial links within a written or spoken discourse, aiding in the seamless connection between ideas, paragraphs, or sections. These sentences play a pivotal role in ensuring a cohesive narrative flow and logical progression, enhancing the overall clarity and comprehension of the text. Here are several examples:

• Addition Transition: “Building on this idea, the next section delves into…”
• Contrast Transition: “While the previous paragraph discussed the benefits, it is essential to examine the drawbacks…”
• Causation Transition: “The initial steps in the process set the foundation; consequently, the final stages produce tangible results…”
• Time Transition: “As the narrative unfolds, the protagonist's journey takes unexpected turns, ultimately leading to a surprising climax…”
• Comparison Transition: “In contrast to the traditional approach, the modern methodology offers a more efficient and streamlined solution…”

These transitional sentences exemplify how authors seamlessly guide readers through shifts in thought, emphasize relationships between ideas, and ensure a coherent and engaging narrative structure. Remember that before you learn how to use transitions, we recommend you read this guide on how to write an essay introduction .

What Are Good Transition Sentences

Good transition sentences are the linchpin of effective writing, ensuring a seamless flow of ideas and maintaining the reader's engagement. These sentences serve as roadways, connecting one thought to the next and guiding the audience through the narrative. Achieving a balance between cohesion and variety is essential for crafting effective transitions, which can be seen in the examples of transition sentences below.

Consider the transition from one paragraph to another. Instead of abruptly shifting topics, a good transition sentence introduces the upcoming idea while connecting it to the previous one. For example, "Having explored the historical context of the Industrial Revolution, we now delve into its profound socio-economic impacts."

Another critical function of transition sentences is to indicate contrasts or contradictions in ideas. By using words like "however," "on the contrary," or "in contrast," writers signal a shift. For instance, "The benefits of renewable energy are undeniable. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the challenges associated with its widespread implementation."

Time transitions are indispensable for chronological order. "In the following years" or "Meanwhile" are cues that seamlessly guide the reader through the timeline of events. For instance, "The initial phase of the project laid the groundwork. Meanwhile, unforeseen challenges arose during the implementation stage."

To highlight similarities or draw comparisons between ideas, phrases like "similarly," "in the same vein," or "likewise" prove valuable. For example, "Just as the scientific method revolutionized research in the natural sciences, applying a similar empirical approach can advance social sciences."

Good transition sentences are versatile tools that elevate writing by ensuring coherence, progression, and reader understanding. A thoughtful integration of transitions contributes to the overall rhythm and clarity of the narrative, enhancing the impact of the written work. If you are just about to write your paper and want to know the difference between Metaphors and Analogies, we suggest you take a look at our guide to help you find a good topic ideas example.

How to Write a Transition Sentence

When writing a transition sentence, there are three very important aspects to consider: The logical relationship between the ideas, Wording, and Placement. Use this as a rule of thumb; you will always write good transition sentences.

Start with identifying the relationship between the key point and the ideas. Ask yourself whether to contrast them, make a smooth connection, summarize the point, or bring in a new idea. Once you know why you need an effective transition, consider half of the job done.

The wording of transitions is equally important. You must choose words that express the relationship between the previous paragraph and a new one. Every language has common transitional words that smoothly make logical connections between the ideas. There are so many that you can easily avoid overusing the same transition words and phrases. The following examples of transition sentences will give you a clearer understanding of the concept: 'In conclusion…', 'On the other hand…' 'Previously mentioned…' and so on.

The right placement helps you outline the logical connections more effortlessly. You should put the transition words where they fit naturally. Usually, it's either at the beginning of a new paragraph or at the end to let the reader know you are about to draw conclusions. 

All the above is an ABC of how to write a transition sentence. Follow our guide; you will master the art of transitional devices in no time. 

You can be interested: Metaphors and Analogies: How to Use Them in Your Academic Life

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Transition Sentences Between Paragraphs

Transition sentences between paragraphs play a pivotal role in weaving a cohesive tapestry of ideas, guiding readers through the narrative with fluidity and clarity. These sentences act as connective tissue, smoothly transitioning from one paragraph to the next, enhancing the overall readability of the text.

Consider the scenario where a narrative shifts from introducing a problem to presenting a solution. A well-crafted transition sentence can bridge this gap seamlessly. For instance, "Having identified the challenges, let's now explore viable solutions that can pave the way for meaningful change."

Similarly, when delving into a contrasting idea, a transition sentence becomes the compass that guides readers through the shift in perspective. "While the benefits of technology are evident, it is imperative to acknowledge the potential drawbacks that accompany such rapid advancements."

Time transitions are indispensable when narrating a sequence of events. "As the story unfolds" or "In the subsequent years" serve as cues, allowing readers to effortlessly follow the chronological progression of the narrative. For example, "The initial experiments yielded promising results. In the subsequent years, researchers encountered unforeseen challenges that reshaped the trajectory of their investigations."

Furthermore, comparison transitions help draw parallels between concepts. "In a similar vein" or "Likewise" act as highways, linking one idea to another for a smoother transition. "Just as the characters in the novel undergo personal growth, the storyline also evolves, creating a nuanced exploration of human experiences."

In general, transition words and sentences are the architects of narrative coherence, ensuring that readers navigate through the text seamlessly. By strategically placing these transitions, writers can guide their audience through shifts in ideas, perspectives, and timelines, creating a harmonious and engaging reading experience. If you are just about to write your paper and want to know how to write a hypothesis, we suggest you take a look at our guide to help you find a good example of topic ideas.

You can be interested: How to Write a Hypothesis

Where to Place Transition Sentences

Transition sentences are powerful tools, but their effectiveness depends on strategic placement within a text. Correct usage enhances coherence, while incorrect placement can disrupt the flow. Let's explore where to appropriately position these sentences with examples.

Placing a transition sentence at the start of a new paragraph signals a shift in focus, preparing the reader for what lies ahead. This ensures a logical progression.

• Correct: "Having examined the historical context, we now shift our focus to the societal impacts of the Industrial Revolution."
• Incorrect: "The Industrial Revolution, a turning point in history. Its impacts on society were profound."

Within a paragraph, transitions can signal a shift in perspective, introducing contrast or contradiction smoothly without abrupt interruptions.

• Correct: "The advantages of renewable energy are evident; however, challenges in infrastructure remain significant."
• Incorrect: "Renewable energy has numerous benefits. The challenges in infrastructure are, however, significant."

Transition sentences guide readers through time, indicating progression. Placing them at natural breakpoints helps readers follow the chronological sequence effortlessly.

• Correct: "The project's initiation marked a period of excitement. Subsequently, unforeseen challenges altered the course."
• Incorrect: "The project's initiation marked a period of excitement. However, unforeseen challenges altered the course."

When comparing ideas, transitions can smoothly connect concepts, creating a link that aids in understanding relationships.

• Correct: "The scientific method revolutionized natural sciences. In a similar vein, applying empirical approaches can advance social sciences."
• Incorrect: "The scientific method revolutionized natural sciences. Likewise, empirical approaches can advance social sciences."

Concluding with a transition sentence summarizes key points, guiding readers out of the main discussion gracefully.

• Correct: "In conclusion, the evidence supports the hypothesis. However, further research is needed to explore long-term effects."
• Incorrect: "The evidence supports the hypothesis. In conclusion, further research is needed to explore long-term effects."

By placing transition sentences strategically, writers guide readers through the narrative, creating a coherent and engaging reading experience. Incorrect usage disrupts the flow, making it essential to consider the context and purpose when incorporating these transitions.

Transition Sentences Between Sections

Transition sentences serve as pathways, seamlessly connecting different segments of your text and ensuring a cohesive and logical flow. These sentences play a pivotal role in guiding readers through shifts in themes, perspectives, chronological progressions, or comparative analyses. For instance, when transitioning from an exploration of historical context to an in-depth analysis of the economic ramifications of the Industrial Revolution, the text might gracefully progress: "Having delved into the historical backdrop, the narrative now shifts focus to the economic repercussions of the Industrial Revolution, shedding light on its profound impact on commerce and societal structures."

Similarly, in contrasting perspectives, a transition sentence such as "While the benefits of renewable energy are evident, a closer examination reveals potential challenges in its widespread implementation. This nuanced perspective prompts a deeper exploration of the complexities inherent in adopting sustainable practices on a global scale."

In cases of chronological progression, a transition like "With the foundation laid, the narrative progresses to the crucial developments during the implementation phase. This chronological shift allows readers to follow the evolution of ideas, connecting past events to present implications and fostering a comprehensive understanding."

Likewise, during comparative analyses, a transition sentence such as "In contrast to traditional methodologies, the discussion now centers on the innovative approaches that have reshaped the field. This shift in focus invites readers to critically evaluate the transformative impact of progressive strategies and their implications for future practices."

In conclusion, transition sentences between sections are indispensable for maintaining coherence and guiding readers through different thematic or analytical shifts. The strategic use of these sentences provides clarity and ensures a seamless reading experience, allowing readers to navigate through diverse ideas with ease. Keep in mind that you can always order an essay online if anything seems too difficult or you don’t have time to deal with the assignment personally. 

Transition Sentences Within Paragraphs

Let’s find out how to use transition sentences to connect ideas, ensuring a seamless flow of thoughts. They are like subtle guides that help readers navigate through the evolving narrative. For instance, when introducing additional information, consider a transition like: "Moreover, the data suggests a clear correlation between regular exercise and improved mental well-being." This transition smoothly leads the reader to a deeper understanding by introducing supporting evidence.

In cases of contrasting ideas, a transition sentence can gracefully shift the focus. Imagine exploring technological advancements and social inequality, with a transition like: "On the contrary, some argue that technological advancements may exacerbate social inequality rather than alleviate it." This transition introduces an opposing viewpoint without causing abrupt disruption, encouraging a more nuanced examination of the topic.

For sequential progression, a transition sentence paves the way for the next step in reasoning. Visualize transitioning from theoretical discussions to practical implications: "Following this line of reasoning, the next logical step is to examine the practical implications of these theoretical frameworks in real-world scenarios." This transition guides the reader through the logical progression of ideas within the paragraph, enhancing overall comprehension.

As you can see, transition sentences within paragraphs are subtle tools that enhance readability by smoothly connecting thoughts and ideas. These examples illustrate how these transitions create a cohesive and engaging reading experience.

Transition Words and Phrases

What transforms ordinary sentences into transition sentences? The answer lies in transition words that serve as the guiding signposts, steering your writing's flow from one thought to the next. 

The choice of a transition word in a sentence is crucial to your reader's ability to comprehend your writing, as seemingly identical sentences can take on vastly different meanings with different transition words. Let's delve into quick examples illustrating how the selection of words can reshape an idea:

Consider the following sentences:

• We love to try different local restaurants and explore new cuisines. Recently, we tried two new restaurants downtown.
• We love to try different local restaurants and explore new cuisines. Hence, we tried two new restaurants downtown.
• We love to try different local restaurants and explore new cuisines. On the whole, we tried two new restaurants downtown.

Observe how the foodies' point undergoes a dramatic shift simply by substituting various transition words and phrases. This exemplifies the profound impact of word choice on the overall meaning of a sentence. While working on short assignments like essays, this information might seem easy. But when longer papers are due, one may easily get lost in the abundance of transition words and phrases scattered around the document. That’s why we have a professional coursework writing service that can help you with this matter. 

Explore the following list of commonly used transition words and phrases tailored for specific transitions:

Transition Words and Phrases to Communicate Similarities

When highlighting similarities between ideas, events, or concepts in your writing, the careful use of transition words is essential. These linguistic tools serve as bridges, guiding your readers through parallel thoughts seamlessly.

• In the same vein
• Correspondingly
• Similarly to
• Analogously

Transition Words and Phrases to Express Emphasis

Adding emphasis to key points in your writing can significantly impact the reader's understanding and engagement. Transition words designed for emphasis play a crucial role in signaling the importance of specific ideas.

• Undoubtedly
• Unquestionably

Transition Words and Phrases to Demonstrate Cause and Effect

Unraveling the cause-and-effect relationship in your writing requires the strategic use of transition words. These words guide readers through the logical progression of events and help them understand the connections between actions.

• Consequently
• As a result

Transition Words and Phrases to Denote Position

When conveying the spatial or logical arrangement of ideas, transition words indicating position become invaluable. They provide clarity and structure, allowing readers to follow the sequential or spatial organization of your content.

• Adjacent to
• Furthermore
• In the background
• In the foreground

Transition Words and Phrases to Illustrate a Sequence

Sequencing ideas in your writing demands a smooth flow to keep readers engaged. Transition words that denote sequence act as navigational tools, guiding your audience through a logical progression of events.

• Subsequently
• In the meantime

Transition Words and Phrases to Show Examples

Providing examples enhances the clarity and credibility of your writing. Transition words tailored for illustrating examples help seamlessly integrate supporting details into your narrative.

• For example
• For instance
• In particular
• To illustrate
• Specifically

Logical Connectors Examples

When it comes to logical connectors English grammar offers a wide range of words and phrases you can use to enrich your text. Below you will find a logical connectors table full of logical connectors examples from our dissertation writing services . 

Incorporating transition sentences and phrases is an indispensable skill for any proficient writer. These linguistic tools act as the adhesive that binds individual thoughts, creating a seamless and coherent narrative. The strategic use of transitional elements ensures readers can effortlessly follow the flow of ideas, enhancing comprehension and engagement. Through the judicious selection of transition words, writers wield the power to guide their audience through a logical journey, connecting concepts and building a narrative that is both compelling and easily digestible.

Moreover, the importance of employing transitional sentences extends beyond mere stylistic finesse. It is a fundamental aspect of effective communication, whether in academic writing, professional documents, or creative pieces. As seen in the examples of transition sentences, they not only facilitate the smooth progression of ideas but also serve as cues for readers, signaling shifts in tone, perspective, or logical structure. Our dissertation writing service can help you with smooth transitions between paragraphs and sections of text in complex documents such as theses and capstones. 

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Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Transition Sentences – How To Use Them Correctly

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Transition sentences play an important role in academic writing, as they contribute to the logical flow and connectivity of an argument. They serve as bridges between ideas, providing a seamless reading experience. Understanding and efficiently implementing transition sentences can greatly improve coherence and clarity of an academic essay . This article delves into the various types of transition sentences and provides examples to aid in their effective application in writing.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Transition Sentences – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: Transition sentences
• 3 What makes good transition sentences?
• 4 Transition sentences between paragraphs
• 5 Transition sentences to indicate a new section
• 6 Transition sentences within a paragraph

Transition Sentences – In a Nutshell

• Transition sentences are ways of connecting sentences and ideas. They’re a vital element of high-quality academic writing .
• Transition sentences are used for clarity and cohesion .
• You can overuse transition sentences, words, and phrases, so always aim to introduce them as naturally as possible.

Definition: Transition sentences

Transition sentences are crucial to the flow of a paper and for clear comprehension. They help guide a reader through a piece of research; its findings and arguments. They also help to understand how central ideas in your paper are connected.

As such, transition sentences are used to structure paragraphs and link up sections. This commonly involves referring to language or phrases used in a previous paragraph at the beginning of a new one.

“… The Great Depression brought an end to the Weimar Republic’s soaring progress. However , Heinrich Brüning’s policy of deflation and austerity exacerbated those economic woes.”

What makes good transition sentences?

Good transition sentences make explicit connections between ideas in a way that’s unique to your paper.

While we tend to use specific words and phrases in transition sentences, you should avoid the use of “this”. It’s not always clear what “this” means – so the more specific the transition, the better.

Oftentimes, it just takes a few tweaks to create a convincing connection between sentences. Use of signposting language, like “however”, “furthermore”, “by comparison”, etc., helps carry thoughts through from sentence to sentence. The best transition sentences, however, are more specific.

“… The company recorded increased sales over the last quarter, which surged profits to their highest yet. These exceptional profits were due to the company’s migration to e-commerce.”

Here, the paragraphs are organically transitioned in the discussion of “the company” and “profits”.

Transition sentences between paragraphs

Transition sentences between paragraphs aim to introduce what a new paragraph is about and how it links to the previous paragraph. You can utilize a range of linking words to make this transition clear.

Transition sentences generally appear at the beginning of a paragraph. As each paragraph contains its own focal topic, you should avoid explaining what’s to come at the end of a paragraph. This is a waste of time and risks becoming over-explanatory.

Transition sentences to indicate a new section

Unlike transitions between paragraphs, new sections often require a more detailed breakdown of previous arguments and how you’ll build on them or provide a new direction.

It’s good practice to dedicate a whole paragraph to this sort of transition if needed. This works to summarize your previous section while indicating how you’ll build on or provide new evidence.

However, the general academic consensus of being as clear and concise as possible still applies. If you can transition to a new section in just one sentence, that will suffice.

Transition sentences within a paragraph

Transition sentences within paragraphs are important for the flow of a paper as a way to lead a reader through your argument.

Here are some ways to implement transition sentences and phrases within paragraphs.

The known-new contract

Known-new is a writing concept for sentence structure. It recommends that new sentences should begin with a reference to a previous sentence (the known) before connecting that to new information.

Arguments should be presented within the known-new contract order for clarity and cohesion. What’s more, by repeating known information, you also make an argument clearer by recognizing its key points.

“The Second World War had many causes. The invasion of Poland, an ally of Britain and France, by Nazi Germany was a causal event that led to official declarations of war.”

By restructuring the passage so that the second sentence transitions more smoothly from the first, you can produce a more effective piece of writing.

“The Second World War had many causes. The precipitating causal event was the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, which led to official declarations of war…”

The transition comes sooner in the sentence, creating a more obvious link between the two sentences. While this known-new contract is recommended, you don’t have to apply it to every sentence. Try it out when you’re struggling to get two sentences to flow.

Transition words and phrases

Transition words and phrases are simple language tools used to connect sentences. There are four groups:

• Additive: These transitions introduce new information or evidence.
• Adversative: These transitions indicate a contradiction or moving on.
• Causal: These transitions deal with cause and effect.
• Sequential: These transitions underscore a sequence.

Grouping similar information

While transition words are recommended for flow, too many can lead to wordy passages. To avoid over-using transition words, similar information can simply be grouped for clarity. This helps produce a clearer and cleaner bit of text.

“Richards (2002) believes that the results should be rejected. However, Pratt (2003) argues that they are valuable. What’s more, Davis (2003) agrees with Richards. Moreover, Hawkins (2004) also contends the results are void.”

This can easily be rewritten as:

“Richards (2002), Davis (2003), and Hawkins (2004) all agree that the results should be rejected, whereas Pratt (2003) contends they are valuable.”

What are transition sentences?

Transition sentences are like bridges between sentences, allowing you to connect different ideas or indicate a development in an argument.

They aid comprehension to develop stronger written arguments.

Why are transition sentences useful?

They let readers know of connections between evidence and function as introductions to topics. They also signpost when a topic changes or a new argument is being formed.

What will happen if I don’t use transition sentences?

Without transition sentences, sentences would appear random, unorganized, and difficult to read.

All academic writing should aim for clarity, and transition sentences help this.

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Transitions in Writing | Overview & Examples

Jeremy taught elementary school for 18 years in in the United States and in Switzerland. He has a Masters in Education from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He's taught grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8. His strength is in educational content writing and technology in the classroom

Jeff teaches high school English, math and other subjects. He has a master's degree in writing and literature.

Table of Contents

Transitions in writing, examples of effective transition sentences, lesson summary, what is a good transition word.

A good transition word is one that successfully makes a smooth transition between ideas. The best transitions are written specific to the relationship between the ideas. There are transitions for when ideas contradict, add to, further define and show cause and effect relationships.

How do you start a transition sentence?

The best way to start a transition sentence is to determine the relationship between what is being transitioned to and from. Once that relationship is established, there are many words and phrases that can be used to appropriately start the sentence. If the transition is between sentences, single words are more common and if the transition is between paragraphs or ideas, phrases tend to be more commonplace.

What are examples of transitions in writing?

Some examples of transitions is writing are in the form of a word or phrase that connects two ideas. Words like: thus, since, hence, because, furthermore and while are good single word transitions. Phrases like: on the other hand, in the run, generally speaking, for this reason an as much as are examples are good examples of transition phrases.

How do you write a transition statement?

Writing a transition statement starts with identifying the relationship that the transition is trying to convey. It's also important to know the type of essay being written as well. The transition statement should start out with a transition word or phrase and then be completed with a description of the upcoming information or idea.

Effective, engaging sentences flows like a meandering river. They are pleasant and easy to read, connecting ideas without being rough, while staying focused on the topic or story. Part of skillful writing is how the sentences are connected together through transitions.

Transitions are clarifying words or phrases connecting ideas and concepts together in sentences and paragraphs. Similarly, when tile flooring in a kitchen meets the wood flooring in the living room, there is a transition between them. Sometimes transitions are seamless and invisible, while others are bulky and easy to trip over.

The same goes for transitions in writing. The best transitions are the ones that are seamless and nearly invisible. They effortlessly show relationships between ideas and concepts. Transitions are usually single words or phrases indicating a connection or relationship. Some common examples are:

• Furthermore
• As important as
• In the event of

How to Write a Transition Sentence

Transitions are the key to making the connections between parts of writing flow and connect together. There are different types of transitions and different circumstances where they are used. Typically, there are three key types of transitions and transitional structures.

• A transition between paragraphs - generally a phrase starting a sentence
• A transition within a paragraph - generally a single word followed by a comma
• A transition to a new part of the writing - often this includes a small paragraph but is at minimum a sentence.

The first step to writing an effective transition is to determine what is being transitioned. The transitional situation will determine what word or phrases will be appropriate.

This list of steps will provide a guide on how to approach and write an effective transition.

The following paragraphs show an example of a transition. Keep in mind the above steps while reading this example.

Exploring the solar system is crucial for humans and private companies should be encouraged to take to the stars. Humanity faces increasing global issues, making it seem less prudent for governments to spend valuable tax dollars on sending people into space. While space exploration is important, tax money should be spent on issues such as climate change, global medicine, and alleviating poverty. This leaves the importance of space exploration in the hands of corporations and wealthy individuals who are willing to finance space exploration. The public should encourage corporations and individuals to continue carrying the torch that NASA once did.

Despite the need for space exploration , those who go into space and how they get there should be heavily scrutinized. While private space exploration should be encouraged, these corporations and individuals should also be regulated to prevent privatization of resources that space provides.

This example highlights the transitional relationship between the two paragraphs. The first paragraph favors privatization of space travel, while the second paragraph explains a caveat to the first.

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• 0:07 Writing Signs
• 00:57 In Fiction
• 2:02 In Non-Fiction
• 3:35 Transition Phrases
• 4:42 Transitional Sentences
• 5:52 Lesson Summary

While writing effective transitions can be taxing, there is no need to re-invent the wheel . There are boundless examples of good transitions that can be applied to almost any situation. For beginning writers, practice using tried and true transitions is better than stressing about coming up with a unique one.

The following sections provide examples of transitional words, phrases, and sophisticated alternatives.

Transition Words to Start a Sentence

Many times when a transition takes place within a paragraph, the sentence only needs a single word to transition to the next sentence. Transition words can also be used in the middle of a sentence to connect a compound sentence. The most common examples are the ones that are taught in early elementary writing. Those are usually first, second, third last or first, next, finally . While those work well for basic writing, there are better transition words available to writers. The following table gives examples of transition words to use to start a sentence.

Transition Phrases for Essays

Transition phrases are used in a similar way to transition words. They can start a sentence, transition a sentence, or transition a section. They can be more flexible because of the interchangeable nature of the multiple words. Some transition phrases for essays are determined by the type of essay.

Informative Essays - Transition phrases for informative essays will often include cause and effect, additional information, and explanations.

Persuasive Essays - Persuasive essays often use opposition or counter argument transition words.

The following table shows examples of some useful transition phrases and their uses.

College-Level Transition Words

Simple transitions and basic words are key to younger students being able to grasp the concept of transitions, but they can be a problem at the collegiate level or professionally. Transition words and phrases should be more sophisticated and eloquent than the words use by grade school and high school students.

What are some tips for using more sophisticated transitions?

• Use an online thesaurus on single transition words to find better alternatives.
• Think of ways to interchange words in the transition phrases.
• Avoid repetition of a phrase or word throughout the writing.

The following examples highlight some basic transitions and college level words that mean the same thing, but have a sophistication to them.

• so - hence, thus, accordingly, ergo
• first - initially, cardinal
• but - yet, although, nevertheless, however
• while - albeit, whereas, whilst

Some basic words can also be replaced by sophisticated phrases that mean the same thing and add some clout to the content,

• because - for the sake of, in the interest of, as a result of
• therefore - in consequence, on account of, on the grounds
• overall - generally speaking, in the long run, on the whole
• now - in the meantime, in the here and now, at the moment

Transitions are words and phrases used in writing to smoothly move between ideas, paragraphs and sections. Transitions are generally found connecting paragraphs, sentences within paragraphs and sections of overall writing. Determining the best transition is best done by figuring out what is being transitioned, whether it needs a single word or a phrase, figuring out the relationship and finding an appropriate transition to use. It's important to read the transition outlaid to make sure it's appropriate.

Transitioning sentences within a paragraph often start with a transition word, while a transition between paragraphs can require a phrase. When using transitions at the higher educational level it's important to find more sophisticated words to make the writing sound more credible and academic.

Video Transcript

Writing signs.

Let's say you're on a road trip. You see a billboard saying the world's largest cow is at exit 72. Awesome! How can you miss that?

So where are you? Well, you're just passing exit 68, so exit 72 must be close. Wait, now you see exit 12. What? Are you going the wrong way? Now you pass exit 93. Did you miss it? No, there's exit 84. What's going on here? Why are they hiding the world's largest cow from you? Not cool, road.

Road signs are much like transitional words and sentences in your writing. They help take the disparate parts and make sense out of them. They help explain the order of the pieces in a logical, orderly manner. Well, not on this road, but on most roads; that's how it works. Let's look at how transitions work.

Transition Words in Fiction

In writing, a transition is a word, phrase or sentence that connects one section to another. A transition can be as simple as a single word. In fiction, you might see the word 'meanwhile' used as a transition. Here's an example: Marla summoned all her training in order to vanquish the kraken. Meanwhile, her brother was at home, eating chips.

What happens if you take out that 'meanwhile?' Those two sentences seem disjointed and awkward. The transition word helps move us from one place to another. 'Meanwhile' moves us around in location.

Other transitions move us around in time: 'then,' 'soon,' 'later,' 'next,' 'finally.' We could use these words to describe how we found that huge cow. I found exit 72. Then, I got lost again. Later, I saw a sign for the cow again. Finally, I found it! Ok, that's not a compelling story, but note how the transition words move us along in time.

Transition Words in Non-Fiction

In an essay, you may use transition words to organize your thoughts and ideas. You can use words to indicate that you're expanding upon your idea. They can also provide additional support for an argument. These words include: 'also,' 'furthermore,' 'similarly,' 'likewise,' 'too,' 'including,' and 'like.'

They don't have to begin your sentence. In fact, I just said 'They can also provide additional support for an argument.' See that 'also' in there? That's me expanding upon my idea. They can be at the end of a sentence, too. Oh, I just did what I was describing.

Furthermore, these may be simple words to provide structure, like first, second and third. These are like signs on the road indicating milestones in the essay. They tell your reader that they're moving from one idea to another.

Here's an example: There are countless reasons I love salad. First, it's a healthy lunch option. Second, it's easy to prepare. Third, no one steals your salad from the fridge. Each idea here is separated by a transition word that tells us a new reason is coming. It's important that the transitions fit the logic of the work, though. If that last sentence was Third, my favorite food is ice cream, then it's the wrong transition.

In this case, you want something like 'however.' This is effectively a u-turn. Maybe you want to show a counterargument. You can use words like: 'but,' 'although,' 'however,' 'conversely,' 'still,' and 'yet.'

Transition Phrases

So far, we've focused on single words. With transitions, though, you're not limited to single words. This is like the difference between a sign that says 'stop' and one that says 'do not enter.' 'Stop' tells you all you need to know in one word. But what if 'do not enter' was just 'do' or 'not' or 'enter?' That wouldn't be good.

Think about these phrases: 'for example,' 'in other words,' 'in fact,' 'to illustrate,' and 'in particular.' These are like 'also' and 'likewise' in that they help you build upon an idea.

On the other hand, transitional phrases, like 'on the other hand,' can also serve as u-turns. Think about these: 'in contrast,' 'by comparison,' 'in spite of this,' 'be that as it may' and 'forget all that stuff I just said.' Wait, scratch that last one. But those others ones are all good.

Transition phrases can effectively signal to your reader that we're nearing the end: 'in summary,' 'in conclusion,' 'to summarize,' and 'as I have shown.'

Transitional Sentences

After single words and short phrases, there are more complex uses of transitions. In some situations, it's most effective to use transitional sentences to move from one paragraph to the next. Let's look at an example.

Let's say I'm reviewing a movie. I've just spent a paragraph on the ridiculous amount of fog in the movie. Now, I want to discuss the acting. Fog and acting? Those are two distinct topics. Here is the last sentence of the fog paragraph and the first sentence of the acting paragraph:

I'm fairly certain that the movie The Fog didn't have this much fog. The lead actor alternates between a blank stare and an open-mouthed blank stare.

We need a transition here. We could say: 'Meanwhile, the lead actor...' That's ok. But, in this case, when we're connecting such different ideas, a transitional sentence may be better. So, I start the acting paragraph with this: The absurd fog may make it hard to view the scenery, but at least it distracts from the wooden acting. I took two topics and talked about one in relation to the other. Now, I can logically transition to talking about the actors.

In summary (hey - see what I did there?), we learned all about using transitions . These are the words, phrases and sentences that connect ideas and sections in all different forms of writing.

First, we looked at transitions that you might find in fiction. These include time-based transitions like 'meanwhile' and 'later.' Next, we looked at transition words that expand upon ideas, like 'also' and 'likewise;' words that indicate order, like 'first;' and words that offer contrast, like 'however' and 'conversely.'

Then we looked at transitional phrases. These include 'for example,' in contrast,' and 'in conclusion.' Finally (again with the transitions), we looked at transitional sentences. These are more complex transitions that can be useful in easing readers between very disparate topics.

Learning Outcomes

After absorbing this lesson's details, you could interpret how transitional words, phrases, and sentences connect pieces and help to form cohesive writing passages. You could also explore the use of transition words in fiction and non-fiction.

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Transition Sentence

Ai generator.

In the realm of writing, transition sentences act as the invaluable bridge guiding readers from one idea to the next, ensuring a harmonious flow of thoughts. Mastering the art of transition not only enhances readability but also bolsters the coherence of your content. Whether you’re a budding writer or seasoned professional, understanding and employing effective transition sentences can elevate your writing to unparalleled heights.

What is the Transition Sentence? – Definition

A transition sentence is a statement that connects one idea or paragraph to the next. It serves as a smooth bridge, ensuring that readers can seamlessly move from one point to another without feeling jarred or lost. Essentially, it’s the linking thread that weaves various parts of content together, giving your writing a unified, cohesive feel.

What is the best Example of a Transition Sentence?

Consider an article discussing dietary habits. Moving from a paragraph about the benefits of vegetarianism to one discussing meat consumption, a transition sentence might read: “While vegetarian diets have their merits, consuming meat also offers a range of nutritional benefits.” This sentence acknowledges the prior point while introducing the next, ensuring the reader isn’t disoriented by the shift in topic.

100 Transition Sentence Examples

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In the symphony of seamless writing, transition sentences play the crucial role of conductors, guiding the audience from one melody to the next. They ensure that ideas flow harmoniously, preventing discordant jumps and sprints. Below, we’ve curated a selection of 100 transition sentences, artfully designed to bridge thoughts and offer readers a smooth journey through any narrative or exposition.

• Given these points , it’s clear that more research is necessary.
• Furthermore , considering the data, there’s more to uncover.
• However , not everyone agrees with this perspective.
• For instance , let’s examine a case from last year.
• Meanwhile , other experts have proposed alternative theories.
• Similarly , this phenomenon can be observed in multiple contexts.
• Conversely , some evidence points in the opposite direction.
• In addition , there are other factors to consider.
• On the other hand , not all data supports this conclusion.
• As a result , we need to re-evaluate our initial stance.
• In contrast , older studies present a different picture.
• Before diving deeper , let’s outline the basics.
• With this in mind , reconsider the primary hypothesis.
• By the same token , other elements also play a role.
• Hence , this issue is more complex than it first appears.
• In the meantime , we can explore interim solutions.
• Therefore , it’s imperative to approach with caution.
• Subsequently , the entire paradigm began to shift.
• Consequently , a new approach was developed.
• Despite this , some scholars remain unconvinced.
• Namely , several key figures have voiced concerns.
• To illustrate this point , look at the case of…
• After all , it’s essential to consider all angles.
• Indeed , this discovery changes everything.
• Especially since some evidence contradicts these findings.
• Then again , not all studies are created equal.
• As previously stated , we must consider every aspect.
• Considering this , it’s evident that further exploration is warranted.
• Nevertheless , the majority opinion remains unchanged.
• As has been noted , some patterns are undeniable.
• On a similar note , this trend has been observed elsewhere.
• In light of this , a change of strategy is advised.
• That being said , there’s more to the story.
• All things considered , this is a remarkable development.
• Generally speaking , consensus on this topic is rare.
• In other words , the implications are vast.
• To put it differently , the matter is far from settled.
• Significantly , this aligns with earlier predictions.
• To clarify , not all aspects have been examined.
• More importantly , key pieces of evidence are missing.
• Above all , it’s a matter of perspective.
• In any event , further research is a priority.
• With respect to this, many questions remain.
• In this case , the findings are conclusive.
• As a matter of fact , this isn’t the first time such results have emerged.
• Under these circumstances , a review is necessary.
• By and large , the response has been positive.
• To sum up , the debate continues.
• To emphasize , few topics have generated such intense discussion.
• At the same time , new data is constantly emerging.
• For this reason , a balanced view is essential.
• Without a doubt , this is a turning point.
• To be sure , the findings are intriguing.
• Firstly , the historical context must be understood.
• Secondly , consider the methodologies employed.
• Last but not least , implications for the future should be explored.
• Altogether , the landscape of the debate is shifting.
• With this purpose in mind , new experiments are underway.
• In summary , much remains to be discovered.
• In either case , caution is advised.
• To this end , multiple teams are investigating.
• Moreover , the scope of the research is expanding.
• Typically , such results would be groundbreaking.
• In this situation , the ramifications are profound.
• Ordinarily , such a discovery would be front-page news.
• As it stands , consensus is a long way off.
• In fact , this has been the subject of many dissertations.
• In essence , the core of the debate remains unchanged.
• By comparison , earlier studies seem outdated.
• Equally important , newer theories are gaining traction.
• To reiterate , the core principles remain the same.
• Surprisingly , some previously held beliefs have been challenged.
• Undoubtedly , this will be a hot topic for years to come.
• Specifically , certain elements require deeper investigation.
• In conclusion , the journey of discovery continues.
• In particular , attention should be given to…
• For the most part , the findings are consistent.
• Until now , this aspect was overlooked.
• Given that , certain cautionary steps should be taken.
• As an example , look to the recent controversies.
• In the final analysis , much is still unknown.
• By the way , this isn’t the only area of interest.
• To tell the truth , the entire field is evolving rapidly.
• In retrospect , earlier warnings were prescient.
• Be that as it may , the current state of affairs is promising.
• In reality , we’ve only scratched the surface.
• At this point , collaboration is key.
• At present , new methodologies are being developed.
• By all means , further inquiries should be made.
• As things stand , we’re at a pivotal moment.
• For all intents and purposes , the debate is far from over.
• To a certain extent , we’re charting unknown territory.
• In detail , several facets warrant deeper exploration.
• Up to the present time , few have challenged these notions.
• For the purpose of , the research was conducted.
• In the process , many myths were debunked.
• Along the same lines , other discoveries were made.
• Prior to this , few suspected such outcomes.
• In the long run , this research will prove invaluable.
• As shown above , the power of transition sentences cannot be underestimated.

These examples encapsulate the versatility and importance of transition sentences, illuminating their capacity to enrich and guide the reader’s experience.

Transition Sentence Between Paragraphs Examples for an Essay

Seamless flow in essays is achieved with expertly crafted transition sentences between paragraphs. These connectors ensure a coherent narrative, enhancing readability and guiding the reader’s thought process. Dive into these examples that exemplify the finesse of transitioning between essay paragraphs.

• Given the historical background , it’s fascinating to see modern perspectives on the issue.
• Building on the previous argument , we can deduce further implications.
• Conversely , while some scholars advocate for this view, others offer a counter-narrative.
• In light of these facts , it’s crucial to understand the broader implications.
• Drawing from the data , we transition into the potential outcomes.
• Reflecting on the past , we pivot towards future possibilities.
• While the above points stand , the next section offers an alternative viewpoint.
• Understanding this foundation , we now explore the subsequent layers of the argument.
• Following this line of thought , the next paragraph delves deeper into the topic.
• Having established these criteria , we can examine how they manifest in different contexts.

Transition Sentence to Completion Examples

Final thoughts in any narrative or exposition are critical. Transition sentences to completion ensure a satisfying and logical conclusion. They wrap up the discourse, offering closure and insight. Below are examples that masterfully guide readers to a piece’s conclusion.

• In the grand scheme of things , it’s evident that this topic has multifaceted implications.
• Drawing all these threads together , we can appreciate the complexity of the issue.
• In wrapping up , it’s essential to revisit the core arguments presented.
• Given all the evidence , we conclude that the subject merits further research.
• Culminating our discussion , the insights gained are invaluable.
• Summing up our journey , the revelations encountered shape our understanding.
• Bringing our exploration to a close , we recognize the depth and breadth of the topic.
• In the final analysis , the conclusions drawn are both enlightening and provocative.
• Synthesizing all points raised , the overarching narrative becomes clear.
• As we conclude , it’s pertinent to reflect on the journey undertaken in this discourse.

Transition Sentence Examples for Essays

Transition sentences are the backbone of essays, ensuring that ideas are linked cohesively. Crafting them skillfully is essential for guiding the reader and establishing a logical flow. Here are examples that embody the art of transitioning within essays.

• Examining the evidence , it becomes clear where the truth lies.
• In contrast to earlier theories , modern research offers fresh insights.
• As outlined in the previous section , subsequent findings offer a counterpoint.
• Shifting our focus , we delve into the socio-political implications.
• Based on these observations , the next logical step is to evaluate their significance.
• Pivoting from this point , we explore how global perspectives align or diverge.
• Having dissected this argument , the next segment offers a comparative analysis.
• In relation to these facts , it’s worth noting some outliers.
• Broadening our horizon , we now turn to implications on a macro level.
• While the initial findings were surprising , further examination corroborates them.

Transition Sentence for Body Paragraphs

The main content of any essay, the body, thrives on cohesive flow. Transition sentences for body paragraphs act as bridges, ensuring seamless progression of ideas. They’re pivotal in maintaining a reader’s engagement, effortlessly guiding them from one point to the next. Delve into these exemplary transition sentences curated specifically for body paragraphs.

• Delving deeper into the topic , we uncover nuances previously overlooked.
• Beyond the primary arguments presented , there lies a wealth of supplementary evidence.
• While the initial point stands firm , the subsequent discussion offers a fresh perspective.
• Having explored the historical context , we now turn to modern interpretations.
• Drawing parallels with earlier assertions , we navigate the intricate maze of this debate.
• Armed with this foundational knowledge , we venture into uncharted territories of the discourse.
• Building upon this momentum , the next segment presents a riveting exploration.
• Branching out from the central theme , we touch upon related, equally intriguing facets.
• As the narrative unfolds , newer, groundbreaking ideas come to the fore.
• Piggybacking on this revelation , we plunge into the heart of the matter.

Transition Sentence Starter Examples

A strong start sets the stage. Transition sentence starters establish the tone and direction of what follows, acting as gateways to deeper exploration. Essential for maintaining flow and clarity, these sentence starters are indispensable tools in a writer’s arsenal. Explore these compelling transition sentence starters to kickstart any discourse.

• In view of the evidence provided , it’s pertinent to question long-held beliefs.
• Given the current scenario , one can’t help but wonder about potential outcomes.
• Taking into account all the data , we draw a series of inferences.
• With a nod to historical events , we discern patterns repeating in the present.
• Reflecting upon these testimonies , we are compelled to reconsider our stance.
• Setting the context aside , we zero in on the core arguments at hand.
• Grounded in these fundamentals , we embark on a detailed examination.
• Bearing in mind these insights , it’s imperative to delve deeper.
• Anchored in this framework , we pivot to an exploration of wider implications.
• While acknowledging these points , it becomes evident that a broader perspective is needed.

How do you start a good transition sentence?

Starting a transition sentence effectively is pivotal to guiding your readers through your text, ensuring fluidity and coherence. These sentences act as bridges between ideas, enabling seamless progression. Here’s a guide to kick off a compelling transition sentence:

• Identify the Relationship : Understand the connection between the paragraph or sentence you’re transitioning from and the one you’re transitioning to. This could be additive (addition), adversative (contrast), causal (reason), or sequential (sequence).
• Keep it Relevant : Your transition sentence should directly relate to the content of both the preceding and following sentences or paragraphs.
• Use Varied Starters : Avoid repetitively starting with phrases like “Furthermore” or “Additionally”. Mix it up with varied introductory phrases such as “On the other hand”, “Simultaneously”, or “In conjunction with”.
• Maintain Clarity : While variety is essential, ensure that the transition’s meaning is clear and straightforward.
• Be Concise : Transition sentences should be efficient. They’re signposts guiding the reader, not main attractions.
• Avoid Common Pitfalls : Don’t force a transition where one isn’t needed. Not every paragraph or sentence requires a transitional phrase. Use them where they can provide clarity or enhance the text’s flow.
• Practice and Review : Write multiple versions of transition sentences and choose the one that fits best. Over time, crafting them will become more intuitive.

What is a good transition for a paragraph?

Transitioning between paragraphs means understanding the connection between them and effectively conveying this relationship to the reader. A good paragraph transition will seamlessly carry the reader from one idea to the next. Here’s how to craft one:

• Use Transitional Words and Phrases : Words like “however”, “moreover”, “thus”, and “therefore” indicate relationships between paragraphs. Choose a word or phrase that accurately represents the relationship.
• Repeat Key Concepts : Reiterate a keyword or phrase from the previous paragraph to provide a bridge to the next.
• Use Pronouns : Refer back to a noun used in the preceding paragraph using pronouns like “it”, “these”, or “this”.
• Pose Questions : Asking a question based on the previous paragraph can be an effective way to introduce the content of the next.
• Use Imagery and Metaphors : These can help in creating a mental bridge for the reader, making the transition smooth and memorable.
• Combine Methods : Use a combination of the above strategies to create a robust and seamless transition.
• Keep Consistency : The transition should maintain the tone, style, and voice of the entire text. A sudden shift can jolt the reader out of the narrative.
• Revise and Refine : Once you’ve written your transition, revisit it after a break. Reading it with fresh eyes can help you identify areas for improvement.

In essence, effective paragraph transitions guide readers through your text, making your writing cohesive, clear, and more enjoyable to read.

How do you write a Transition sentence? – Step by Step Guide

Transition sentences are pivotal in guiding readers smoothly from one idea to the next. They add clarity, flow, and cohesion to your text. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting effective transition sentences:

• Identify the Purpose : Determine the type of relationship you want to convey between the ideas, such as contrast, continuation, example, emphasis, or conclusion.
• Review Context : Examine the preceding and following sentences or paragraphs. Understand the main points you’re transitioning between.
• Choose a Transitional Word/Phrase : Words like “however”, “in addition”, “on the other hand”, and “as a result” can set the tone. Make sure the transitional word or phrase you select fits the context and relationship you wish to convey.
• Maintain Logical Flow : Ensure that your transition sentence logically links the preceding and following texts. It should feel like a natural progression.
• Be Clear and Concise : Transition sentences should be straightforward, getting to the point without unnecessary verbosity.
• Test the Transition : Read the sentences or paragraphs before and after the transition out loud. It should enhance the flow, not disrupt it.
• Revise as Needed : As with any piece of writing, be prepared to revise your transition sentences for clarity, brevity, and effectiveness.

Tips for Using Transition Sentences

• Variety is Key : Avoid over-relying on the same transitional words or phrases. This can become repetitive and tedious for the reader.
• Positioning Matters : While many transition sentences start paragraphs, they can also appear at the end or even in the middle of a paragraph to ensure fluidity.
• Maintain Consistency : Ensure that your transition maintains the tone, style, and voice of the entire content.
• Avoid Forcing Transitions : Not every sentence or paragraph requires a transitional phrase. Use them where they genuinely aid in clarity or flow.
• Be Contextually Relevant : Your transition should be directly related to the content in both the preceding and following sentences or paragraphs.
• Use Pronouns Sparingly : While pronouns like “it”, “these”, or “this” can be useful, ensure that it’s always clear to which subject or object the pronoun refers.
• Practice Regularly : The more you write and revise transition sentences, the more intuitive and effective they will become.
• Seek Feedback : Sometimes, what feels like a smooth transition to you might be jarring or unclear to another reader. Get feedback to hone your skills further.

In summary, mastering transition sentences can significantly elevate your writing, making your content more accessible, engaging, and persuasive to readers.

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Essay Writing Guide

Transition Words For Essays

Last updated on: Dec 19, 2023

220 Best Transition Words for Essays

By: Nova A.

15 min read

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Jul 9, 2019

Writing essays can be hard, and making sure your transitions are smooth is even harder. 

You've probably heard that good essays need good transitions, but what are they? How do you use them in your writing? Also, your essays are assessed according to particular criteria and it is your responsibility to ensure that it is being met.

But don't worry, we are here to help. This blog will give you transition words for essays, including how to choose the right ones and where to place them for maximum impact. Essay writing is a technical process that requires much more effort than simply pouring your thoughts on paper.

If you are new to the concept of transition words and phrases, deep dive into this article in order to find out the secret to improving your essays.

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What Are Transition Words 

Transition words are essential elements in essay writing that create smooth transitions between ideas. 

Think of a transition as a conjunction or a joining word. It helps create strong relationships between ideas, paragraphs, or sentences and assists the readers to understand the word phrases and sentences easily.

As writers, our goal is to communicate our thoughts and ideas in the most clear and logical manner. Especially when presenting complex ideas, we must ensure that they are being conveyed in the most understandable way.

To ensure that your paper is easy to understand, you can work on the sequencing of ideas. Break down your ideas into different sentences and paragraphs then use a transition word or phrase to guide them through these ideas.

Why Should You Use Transitions

The purpose of transition words goes beyond just connectivity. They create a cohesive narrative , allowing your ideas to flow seamlessly from one point to another. These words and phrases act as signposts and indicate relationships. 

These relations could include:

• Cause and Effect
• Comparison and Contrast
• Addition and Emphasis
• Sequence and Order
• Illustration and Example
• Concession and Contradiction
• Summary and Conclusion

They form a bridge and tie sentences together, creating a logical connection. In addition to tying the entire paper together, they help demonstrate the writer’s agreement, disagreement, conclusion, or contrast.

However, keep in mind that just using or including transitional words isn’t enough to highlight relationships between ideas. The content of your paragraphs must support the relationship as well. So, you should avoid overusing them in a paper.

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Types of Transitions

Transitions in essays can be classified into different types based on the relationships they indicate between ideas. Each type serves a specific purpose in guiding readers through your arguments. 

Let's explore some common types of transitions and their examples:

Additive Transitions 

These transitions are used to add information or ideas. They help you expand on your points or provide additional supporting evidence. Examples:

• In addition
• Furthermore
• Additionally
• Not only... but also
• Coupled with

Adversative Transitions

Adversative transitions show contrast or contradiction between ideas. They are used to present opposing viewpoints or highlight differences. Examples:

• Nevertheless
• On the other hand
• In contrast

Causal Transitions

Causal transitions explain cause-and-effect relationships. They help you establish the reasons behind certain outcomes or actions. Examples:

• As a result
• Consequently
• Resulting in
• For this reason

Sequential Transitions

Sequential transitions indicate the order or sequence of events or ideas. They help you present your thoughts in a logical and organized manner. Examples: 

• Subsequently
• In the meantime
• Simultaneously

Comparative Transitions

Comparative transitions highlight similarities or comparisons between ideas. They help you draw connections and illustrate relationships. Here are some transition words for essays examples: 

• In the same way
• Compared to
• In comparison
• Correspondingly
• By the same token
• Equally important
• Analogous to

Getting started on your essay? Check out this insightful read on essay writing to make sure you ace it!

List of Good Transition Words for Essays

As mentioned above, there are different categories of transitions that serve a unique purpose. Understanding these different types will help you pick the most suitable word or phrase to communicate your message.

Here we have categorized the best transition words for essays so you can use them appropriately!

Transition Words for Argumentative Essays

In argumentative essays , the effective use of transition words is essential for presenting a well-structured and coherent argument. 

Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays

In compare and contrast essays , transition words play a crucial role in highlighting the similarities and differences between the subjects being compared. 

Here are a few transition words that are particularly useful in compare and contrast essays:

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays

In cause and effect essays , transition words help illustrate the relationships between causes and their corresponding effects. 

Here are a few transition words that are particularly useful in cause-and-effect essays:

Transition Words for Different Parts of Essays

Transition words are valuable tools that can be used throughout different parts of an essay to create a smooth and coherent flow. By understanding the appropriate transition words for each section, you can logically connect your ideas. 

Introduction Transition Words for Essays

Introductions are one of the most impactful parts of the essay. It's important that it connects logically with the rest of the essay. To do this, you can utilize different transition words for essays to start. Here are some starting transition words for essays:

Transition Words for Essays Body Paragraph

In an essay, body paragraphs play a crucial role in presenting and developing your ideas. To ensure a logical flow within each body paragraph, the strategic use of transition words is essential.

Here are lists of transitions for essays for different body paragraphs:

Transition Words for Essays for First Body Paragraph

Here is a list of transition words that you can use for the first body paragraph of an essay:

Transition Words for Essays Second Body Paragraph

Here is a list of transition words for the second body paragraph of an essay:

Transition Words for Essays Third Body Paragraph

Transition Words for Essays Last Body Paragraph

Transition Words for Essays Conclusion 

Here is a list of ending transition words for essays:

Do’s and Don’ts of Using Essay Transitions

When it comes to using transitions in your essay, there are certain do's and don'ts that can help you effectively enhance the flow of your writing. Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind:

• Add transitions only when introducing new ideas.
• Go through the paper to make sure they make sense.
• Start by creating an outline, so you know what ideas to share and how.
• Use different transitions for each idea.
• Don’t overuse them.
• Don’t keep adding transitions in the same paragraph.
• Don’t completely rely on transitions to signal relationships.
• Don’t incorporate it into your content without understanding its usage.

By now, you have probably understood how transition words can save you from disjointed and directionless paragraphs. They are the missing piece that indicates how ideas are related to one another. You can also generate more essays with our AI powered essay writer to learn the art of transitioning smoothly from one paragraph to another. 

If you are still unable to distinguish transitions to open or conclude your essays, don’t be upset - these things require time and practice.

If you are looking for the perfect essay-writing service, get in touch with the expert writers at 5StarEssays.com. We will include the right transitions according to the type of paper, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas.

Just say ‘ write my essay ’ now and let our essay writer create quality content at the most pocket-friendly rates available.

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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45 Best Transition Words and Phrases For Essays

But how to make sure that everything ties together, and that you present your arguments in a logical, smooth manner? It’s simple. You do it by using transition words and phrases, which can turn your scattered thoughts into a well-organized, and neatly looking piece of prose. “Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.” – Tom Stoppard It is common knowledge that the ability to write a great essay is tremendously helpful to those who are pursuing higher education. So, it wouldn’t hurt to add all the weapons you can find to your essay-writing arsenal, like these transition words.

What are transition words?

Here are the main rules for the usage of transitional words:, using transitional words in essays.

Your regular essay will comprise five paragraphs – an introduction, three paragraphs to present your points, and a conclusion. Your job is to make the prose consistent, and that’s why you need words and phrases to create links between the ideas. The words and phrases below are mostly used in persuasive (argumentative) essays where you need to convince the readers of your opinion confidently. But in fact, they’re useful in almost any type of writing (such as expository essays ) simply to keep the structure intact. If you use them well, they can emphasize contrast, highlight a similarity, and solidify your conclusion. Transition, a formal definition: the process of changing from one situation, form, or state to another.

Transition words are used at the beginning of each new paragraph. For Example:

They can also be used when you present a new point in the same paragraph. for example:, there’s a multitude of transition words that will contribute to a sleeker essay.

Many students make the mistake of repeating the same words repeatedly. This causes them to lose impact and meaning. Among grammarians, this phenomenon is called grammar saturation. The important thing to know is that there are several categories to transition words depending on the type of impact you’d like to create in your writing . Often, there are several words suitable for one transition. Just remember that they don’t always mean the same and you might need some practice to recognize the subtle differences between them. To avoid this, look up synonyms and never use the same transition word more than once in a single piece of prose (especially in the same paragraph). If you need a more in-depth course on this topic, you may read A Writer’s Guide To Transitional Words and Expressions.

Here’s a list of the best transition words that’ll come to your rescue:

When you want to indicate similarity or addition:, examples of use:, when you want to indicate dissimilarity, contrast, or contradiction:, when you want to indicate similarity:, when you want to indicate cause, effect, purpose, consequence, or result:, when you want to emphasize something:, when you want to indicate the time or sequence of events:, when you want to indicate spatial order or reference:, how do these words relate to the format of your essay, introductory transitions.

These come in handy when you craft your first supporting paragraph (the one after the introductory one). Here you usually start building on your thesis and start giving arguments in its favor.

Words to use in an introductory paragraph:

Connecting the second paragraph to the third:, connecting the third paragraph to the fourth:, connecting the body to the conclusion:.

Pro tip: Words like ‘for’, ‘and’, ‘nor’, ‘but’, ‘or’, ‘yet’, and ‘since’ shouldn’t be used at the beginning of a sentence if you’re writing a formal essay. “The best part of your story is when it changes.” – Bella Bloom Bonus material – a printable PDF chart with link words (always keep it beside you): A complete list of transition words and conjunctions.

Now it’s your turn to use these transition words

Starting an essay is always challenging, even for advanced writers. Hopefully, by reading this article, I made your task easier by adding a valuable tool to your writer’s toolbox. Just remember to use these phrases originally, and without repetition. The last thing you want to do is to sound mechanical as if you’re writing from a template. Next up, you may want to check a list of amazing short pretty words in English .

Rafal Reyzer

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

How to Make a Good Transition Sentence

Sampson quain, 20 jun 2018.

One of the most important skills required in writing an essay or research paper is the ability to use transition sentences that logically link paragraphs or sections and provide a road map for the essay. Transition sentences provide a smooth change to a new topic, contrast a preceding sentence or add meaning to what was just written. Some common transitional words include "despite," "however" and "similarly," which are used to create effective transition sentences.

Explore this article

• Review Your Work
• Choose Your Words
• Make the Point
• Consider Your Purpose

1 Review Your Work

Review your essay up to the point where you want to use a transition sentence. Determine the relationship between the two paragraphs. Is the transition introducing a new point, contradicting material you just wrote, or making further points about the same topic? Ensure that your transition sentence makes sense in the context of what was written before it. For example, if the preceding sentence is, "John Smith gazes up at the moon in the dark sky," the transition sentence, "As a result, he is sitting as he watches the sky," does not make sense, because the preceding sentence did not cause the transition sentence.

Vocabulary Builder

2 choose your words.

Use words such as "another" when you are introducing a new point in your essay. For example, if you are writing an essay explaining how the Dust Bowl developed in the Midwest and you have already listed two reasons, a transition sentence could be: "Another factor that weakened the soil was the poor farming techniques employed at the time..." and continue the sentence from there.

3 Make the Point

Use words such as "in addition," "furthermore" and "equally important" when you are making more points about a subject after already listing several in the preceding paragraph or sentence. In an essay about contributions that Louis Pasteur made to society, in which you have listed various accomplishments, you could write, "Pasteur's discoveries saved many lives during his lifetime, but in addition, they led to a new understanding of disease that saved many more even after he was gone."

4 Consider Your Purpose

Use transitional words such as "however," "in spite of," and "on the other hand" when you are contradicting a paragraph or sentence you just wrote. For example, if you explaining Marie Curie's contributions to society but wanted to show the downside of those achievements, you could write, "Marie Curie's contributions to society were noteworthy. However, Marie Curie paid a high price for her studies since the prolonged exposure to radiation eventually led to her death."

• Use transition sentences sparingly to avoid confusing the reader.

About the Author

Sampson Quain is a screenwriter and filmmaker who began writing in 1996. He has sold feature and television scripts to a variety of studios and networks including Columbia, HBO, NBC, Paramount and Lionsgate. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting from the University of Southern California.

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How to Structure an Essay

Essay writing is a fundamental skill, a basic task, that is expected of those who choose to pursue their undergraduate and master’s degrees. It constitutes a key requirement for students to complete a given course credit. However, many students and early career researchers find themselves struggling with the challenge of organizing their thoughts into a coherent, engaging structure. This article is especially for those who see essay writing as a daunting task and face problems in presenting their work in an impactful way.  

Table of Contents

• Writing an essay: basic elements and some key principles  
• Essay structure template 
• Chronological structure 
• Problem-methods-solutions structure 
• Compare and contrast structures 
• Frequently asked questions on essay structure 

Read on as we delve into the basic elements of essay writing, outline key principles for organizing information, and cover some foundational features of writing essays.  

Writing an essay: basic elements and some key principles

Essays are written in a flowing and continuous pattern but with a structure of its own. An introduction, body and conclusion are integral to it. The key is to balance the amount and kind of information to be presented in each part. Various disciplines may have their own conventions or guidelines on the information to be provided in the introduction.  

A clear articulation of the context and background of the study is important, as is the definition of key terms and an outline of specific models or theories used. Readers also need to know the significance of the study and its implications for further research. Most importantly, the thesis or the main proposition should be clearly presented.  

The body of the essay is therefore organized into paragraphs that hold the main ideas and arguments and is presented and analyzed in a logical manner. Ideally, each paragraph of the body focuses on one main point or a distinct topic and must be supported by evidence and analysis. The concluding paragraph should bring back to the reader the key arguments, its significance and food for thought. It is best not to re-state all the points of the essay or introduce a new concept here. 

In other words, certain general guidelines help structure the information in the essay. The information must flow logically with the context or the background information presented in the introductory part of the essay. The arguments are built organically where each paragraph in the body of the essay deals with a different point, yet closely linked to the para preceding and following it. Importantly, when writing essays, early career researchers must be careful in ensuring that each piece of information relates to the main thesis and is a building block to the arguments. 

Essay structure template

• Introduction 
• Provide the context and share significance of the study 
• Clearly articulate the thesis statement 
• Body  
• Paragraph 1 consisting of the first main point, followed by supporting evidence and an analysis of the findings. Transitional words and phrases can be used to move to the next main point. 
• There can be as many paragraphs with the above-mentioned elements as there are points and arguments to support your thesis. 
• Conclusion  
• Bring in key ideas and discuss their significance and relevance 
• Call for action 
• References 

Essay structures

The structure of an essay can be determined by the kind of essay that is required.  

Chronological structure

Also known as the cause-and-effect approach, this is a straightforward way to structure an essay. In such essays, events are discussed sequentially, as they occurred from the earliest to the latest. A chronological structure is useful for discussing a series of events or processes such as historical analyses or narratives of events. The introduction should have the topic sentence. The body of the essay should follow a chorological progression with each para discussing a major aspect of that event with supporting evidence. It ends with a summarizing of the results of the events.  

Problem-methods-solutions structure

Where the essay focuses on a specific problem, the problem-methods-solutions structure can be used to organize the essay. This structure is ideal for essays that address complex issues. It starts with presenting the problem, the context, and thesis statement as introduction to the essay. The major part of the discussion which forms the body of the essay focuses on stating the problem and its significance, the author’s approach or methods adopted to address the problem along with its relevance, and accordingly proposing solution(s) to the identified problem. The concluding part offers a recap of the research problem, methods, and proposed solutions, emphasizing their significance and potential impact. 

Compare and contrast structures

This structure of essay writing is ideally used when two or more key subjects require a comparison of ideas, theories, or phenomena. The three crucial elements, introduction, body, and conclusion, remain the same. The introduction presents the context and the thesis statement. The body of the essay seeks to focus on and highlight differences between the subjects, supported by evidence and analysis. The conclusion is used to summarize the key points of comparison and contrast, offering insights into the significance of the analysis.  

Depending on how the subjects will be discussed, the body of the essay can be organized according to the block method or the alternating method. In the block method, one para discusses one subject and the next para the other subject. In the alternative method, both subjects are discussed in one para based on a particular topic or issue followed by the next para on another issue and so on.  

Frequently asked questions on essay structure

An essay structure serves as a framework for presenting ideas coherently and logically. It comprises three crucial elements: an introduction that communicates the context, topic, and thesis statement; the body focusing on the main points and arguments supported with appropriate evidence followed by its analysis; and a conclusion that ties together the main points and its importance .  

An essay structure well-defined essay structure enhances clarity, coherence, and readability, and is crucial for organizing ideas and arguments to effectively communicate key aspects of a chosen topic. It allows readers to better understand arguments presented and demonstrates the author’s ability to organize and present information systematically. 

Yes, while expert recommend following an essay structure, early career researchers may choose how best to adapt standard essay structures to communicate and share their research in an impactful and engaging way. However, do keep in mind that deviating too far from established structures can hinder comprehension and weaken the overall effectiveness of the essay,  By understanding the basic elements of essay writing and employing appropriate structures such as chronological, problem-methods-solutions, or compare and contrast, researchers can effectively organize their ideas and communicate their findings with clarity and precision. 

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No matter the document you're composing—whether it's an essay, a dissertation, or a speech—captivating your audience right from the beginning is crucial. And what could be more effective than starting with a meticulously crafted topic sentence? In this comprehensive guide, we will explore everything about topic sentences, we’ll delve into effective writing strategies, provide you with examples, and offer valuable tips on seamlessly integrating them into your writing.

What is a Topic Sentence?

At its core, a topic sentence serves as the foundation of a paragraph , encapsulating the main idea or point that the paragraph will discuss. It acts as a roadmap for both the writer and the reader, guiding them through the paragraph’s content and providing cohesion within the text. Think of it as the hook that draws your readers in and sets the tone for what lies ahead.

How to Write a Topic Sentence

Crafting a compelling topic sentence requires careful consideration and planning. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it effectively:

• Identify the Main Idea : Before you can write a topic sentence, you need to have a clear understanding of the main point you want to convey in the paragraph.
• Be Clear and Concise : Your topic sentence should be straightforward and succinct, conveying the essence of the paragraph without unnecessary fluff.
• Focus on the Reader : Consider your audience and what they need to know. Your topic sentence should address their interests and provide them with a reason to continue reading.
• Use Strong Language : Choose your words wisely to create impact. Strong verbs and vivid imagery can make your topic sentence more engaging.
• Avoid Ambiguity : Make sure your topic sentence is specific and avoids vague language. It should clearly indicate what the paragraph will discuss.

Examples of Topic Sentences

To better illustrate how to write an effective topic sentence, let’s look at some examples across different contexts:

Example : "The sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean beckoned to me, promising a summer of adventure and self-discovery."

Example : "Universal healthcare is not only a basic human right but also a practical solution to alleviate the burden of medical expenses on society."

Example : "The ancient oak tree stood majestically in the heart of the forest, its gnarled branches reaching towards the heavens."

Example : "The process of photosynthesis is essential for the survival of all living organisms, as it converts sunlight into energy for plants to thrive."

How to Start a Topic Sentence

Starting a topic sentence can sometimes be the most challenging part. Here are some techniques to kickstart your writing process:

• Pose a Question : Engage your readers by posing a thought-provoking question that sets the stage for the paragraph’s discussion.
• Use a Quotation : Incorporate a relevant quotation that encapsulates the theme or topic of the paragraph.
• Provide a Statistic : Start with a startling statistic or fact to grab the reader’s attention and highlight the importance of the topic.
• Paint a Picture : Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture that immerses the reader in the setting or subject matter of the paragraph.

How to Write a Good Topic Sentence

To ensure that your topic sentences are effective, keep the following tips in mind:

• Stay On Topic : Make sure your topic sentence directly relates to the main idea of the paragraph and the overall thesis of your essay.
• Link to the Previous Paragraph : Use transitional phrases or reference the previous paragraph to maintain coherence and flow in your writing.
• Vary Your Sentence Structure : Experiment with different sentence structures to keep your writing dynamic and engaging.
• Revise and Edit : Take the time to revise and refine your topic sentences to ensure they are clear, concise, and impactful.

How to Write a Topic Sentence for an Essay

When writing topic sentences for essays, it’s essential to consider the overarching thesis statement and how each paragraph contributes to its support or development. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Align with the Thesis:

Your essay's thesis statement serves as the central argument or main idea that you aim to convey to your readers. Each topic sentence within your essay should directly support or relate to this thesis. Before crafting your topic sentences, revisit your thesis statement and identify the key points or arguments that you will address in your essay. Then, ensure that each topic sentence reflects one of these main points, providing a clear link between the paragraph's content and the overall argument of your essay.

Example : If your thesis statement argues that renewable energy is crucial for mitigating climate change, your topic sentences should address different aspects of this argument, such as the environmental benefits of solar power, the economic feasibility of wind energy, or the social implications of transitioning to renewable sources.

2. Provide Direction:

In addition to aligning with the thesis, each topic sentence should serve as a guidepost for the reader, indicating what the paragraph will discuss and how it contributes to the overall argument of the essay. Think of your topic sentence as a mini-thesis for the paragraph, succinctly summarising the main point or argument that you will explore in more detail.

Example : If your topic sentence introduces a paragraph discussing the environmental benefits of solar power, it should clearly state this focus and provide a preview of the evidence or examples you will use to support this claim.

3. Offer Evidence:

A strong topic sentence not only introduces the main point of the paragraph but also previews the evidence or examples that you will present to support your argument. This helps to establish the relevance and significance of the paragraph's content within the context of your essay, providing a roadmap for the reader to follow as they navigate through your argument.

Example : Following the topic sentence on the environmental benefits of solar power, you might include evidence such as statistics on reduced carbon emissions, examples of successful solar energy projects, or quotes from environmental experts advocating for solar as a sustainable solution.

4. Contribute to Coherence:

Finally, each topic sentence should contribute to the overall coherence and cohesion of your essay, linking back to the main argument and advancing the narrative in a logical and structured manner. As you write your topic sentences, consider how they flow from one to the next, building upon each other to form a cohesive and compelling argument.

Example : After discussing the environmental benefits of solar power, your next topic sentence might transition to the economic advantages, highlighting how solar energy can create jobs, reduce energy costs, and stimulate economic growth.

Make Your Topic Sentence Impactful

Mastering the art of writing compelling topic sentences is essential for captivating your readers and guiding them through your writing. By following the strategies outlined in this guide and incorporating examples into your own writing, you can hook your readers from the very first sentence and keep them engaged until the very end. So, go ahead, unleash your creativity, and craft topic sentences that leave a lasting impression.

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Introductions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of introductions, offer strategies for creating effective introductions, and provide some examples of less effective introductions to avoid.

The role of introductions

Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write. Usually when you sit down to respond to an assignment, you have at least some sense of what you want to say in the body of your paper. You might have chosen a few examples you want to use or have an idea that will help you answer the main question of your assignment; these sections, therefore, may not be as hard to write. And it’s fine to write them first! But in your final draft, these middle parts of the paper can’t just come out of thin air; they need to be introduced and concluded in a way that makes sense to your reader.

Your introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transport your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. If your readers pick up your paper about education in the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, for example, they need a transition to help them leave behind the world of Chapel Hill, television, e-mail, and The Daily Tar Heel and to help them temporarily enter the world of nineteenth-century American slavery. By providing an introduction that helps your readers make a transition between their own world and the issues you will be writing about, you give your readers the tools they need to get into your topic and care about what you are saying. Similarly, once you’ve hooked your readers with the introduction and offered evidence to prove your thesis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. (See our handout on conclusions .)

Note that what constitutes a good introduction may vary widely based on the kind of paper you are writing and the academic discipline in which you are writing it. If you are uncertain what kind of introduction is expected, ask your instructor.

Why bother writing a good introduction?

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.

Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. In many academic disciplines, your introduction should contain a thesis that will assert your main argument. Your introduction should also give the reader a sense of the kinds of information you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your paper.

Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper. The introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, an interesting question, or a vivid example can get your readers to see why your topic matters and serve as an invitation for them to join you for an engaging intellectual conversation (remember, though, that these strategies may not be suitable for all papers and disciplines).

Strategies for writing an effective introduction

Start by thinking about the question (or questions) you are trying to answer. Your entire essay will be a response to this question, and your introduction is the first step toward that end. Your direct answer to the assigned question will be your thesis, and your thesis will likely be included in your introduction, so it is a good idea to use the question as a jumping off point. Imagine that you are assigned the following question:

Drawing on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , discuss the relationship between education and slavery in 19th-century America. Consider the following: How did white control of education reinforce slavery? How did Douglass and other enslaved African Americans view education while they endured slavery? And what role did education play in the acquisition of freedom? Most importantly, consider the degree to which education was or was not a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

You will probably refer back to your assignment extensively as you prepare your complete essay, and the prompt itself can also give you some clues about how to approach the introduction. Notice that it starts with a broad statement and then narrows to focus on specific questions from the book. One strategy might be to use a similar model in your own introduction—start off with a big picture sentence or two and then focus in on the details of your argument about Douglass. Of course, a different approach could also be very successful, but looking at the way the professor set up the question can sometimes give you some ideas for how you might answer it. (See our handout on understanding assignments for additional information on the hidden clues in assignments.)

Decide how general or broad your opening should be. Keep in mind that even a “big picture” opening needs to be clearly related to your topic; an opening sentence that said “Human beings, more than any other creatures on earth, are capable of learning” would be too broad for our sample assignment about slavery and education. If you have ever used Google Maps or similar programs, that experience can provide a helpful way of thinking about how broad your opening should be. Imagine that you’re researching Chapel Hill. If what you want to find out is whether Chapel Hill is at roughly the same latitude as Rome, it might make sense to hit that little “minus” sign on the online map until it has zoomed all the way out and you can see the whole globe. If you’re trying to figure out how to get from Chapel Hill to Wrightsville Beach, it might make more sense to zoom in to the level where you can see most of North Carolina (but not the rest of the world, or even the rest of the United States). And if you are looking for the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive so that you can find the Writing Center’s main office, you may need to zoom all the way in. The question you are asking determines how “broad” your view should be. In the sample assignment above, the questions are probably at the “state” or “city” level of generality. When writing, you need to place your ideas in context—but that context doesn’t generally have to be as big as the whole galaxy!

Try writing your introduction last. You may think that you have to write your introduction first, but that isn’t necessarily true, and it isn’t always the most effective way to craft a good introduction. You may find that you don’t know precisely what you are going to argue at the beginning of the writing process. It is perfectly fine to start out thinking that you want to argue a particular point but wind up arguing something slightly or even dramatically different by the time you’ve written most of the paper. The writing process can be an important way to organize your ideas, think through complicated issues, refine your thoughts, and develop a sophisticated argument. However, an introduction written at the beginning of that discovery process will not necessarily reflect what you wind up with at the end. You will need to revise your paper to make sure that the introduction, all of the evidence, and the conclusion reflect the argument you intend. Sometimes it’s easiest to just write up all of your evidence first and then write the introduction last—that way you can be sure that the introduction will match the body of the paper.

Don’t be afraid to write a tentative introduction first and then change it later. Some people find that they need to write some kind of introduction in order to get the writing process started. That’s fine, but if you are one of those people, be sure to return to your initial introduction later and rewrite if necessary.

Open with something that will draw readers in. Consider these options (remembering that they may not be suitable for all kinds of papers):

• an intriguing example —for example, Douglass writes about a mistress who initially teaches him but then ceases her instruction as she learns more about slavery.
• a provocative quotation that is closely related to your argument —for example, Douglass writes that “education and slavery were incompatible with each other.” (Quotes from famous people, inspirational quotes, etc. may not work well for an academic paper; in this example, the quote is from the author himself.)
• a puzzling scenario —for example, Frederick Douglass says of slaves that “[N]othing has been left undone to cripple their intellects, darken their minds, debase their moral nature, obliterate all traces of their relationship to mankind; and yet how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of a most frightful bondage, under which they have been groaning for centuries!” Douglass clearly asserts that slave owners went to great lengths to destroy the mental capacities of slaves, yet his own life story proves that these efforts could be unsuccessful.
• a vivid and perhaps unexpected anecdote —for example, “Learning about slavery in the American history course at Frederick Douglass High School, students studied the work slaves did, the impact of slavery on their families, and the rules that governed their lives. We didn’t discuss education, however, until one student, Mary, raised her hand and asked, ‘But when did they go to school?’ That modern high school students could not conceive of an American childhood devoid of formal education speaks volumes about the centrality of education to American youth today and also suggests the significance of the deprivation of education in past generations.”
• a thought-provoking question —for example, given all of the freedoms that were denied enslaved individuals in the American South, why does Frederick Douglass focus his attentions so squarely on education and literacy?

Pay special attention to your first sentence. Start off on the right foot with your readers by making sure that the first sentence actually says something useful and that it does so in an interesting and polished way.

How to evaluate your introduction draft

Ask a friend to read your introduction and then tell you what they expect the paper will discuss, what kinds of evidence the paper will use, and what the tone of the paper will be. If your friend is able to predict the rest of your paper accurately, you probably have a good introduction.

Five kinds of less effective introductions

1. The placeholder introduction. When you don’t have much to say on a given topic, it is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction contains several sentences that are vague and don’t really say much. They exist just to take up the “introduction space” in your paper. If you had something more effective to say, you would probably say it, but in the meantime this paragraph is just a place holder.

Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people.

2. The restated question introduction. Restating the question can sometimes be an effective strategy, but it can be easy to stop at JUST restating the question instead of offering a more specific, interesting introduction to your paper. The professor or teaching assistant wrote your question and will be reading many essays in response to it—they do not need to read a whole paragraph that simply restates the question.

Example: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass discusses the relationship between education and slavery in 19th century America, showing how white control of education reinforced slavery and how Douglass and other enslaved African Americans viewed education while they endured. Moreover, the book discusses the role that education played in the acquisition of freedom. Education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

3. The Webster’s Dictionary introduction. This introduction begins by giving the dictionary definition of one or more of the words in the assigned question. Anyone can look a word up in the dictionary and copy down what Webster says. If you want to open with a discussion of an important term, it may be far more interesting for you (and your reader) if you develop your own definition of the term in the specific context of your class and assignment. You may also be able to use a definition from one of the sources you’ve been reading for class. Also recognize that the dictionary is also not a particularly authoritative work—it doesn’t take into account the context of your course and doesn’t offer particularly detailed information. If you feel that you must seek out an authority, try to find one that is very relevant and specific. Perhaps a quotation from a source reading might prove better? Dictionary introductions are also ineffective simply because they are so overused. Instructors may see a great many papers that begin in this way, greatly decreasing the dramatic impact that any one of those papers will have.

Example: Webster’s dictionary defines slavery as “the state of being a slave,” as “the practice of owning slaves,” and as “a condition of hard work and subjection.”

4. The “dawn of man” introduction. This kind of introduction generally makes broad, sweeping statements about the relevance of this topic since the beginning of time, throughout the world, etc. It is usually very general (similar to the placeholder introduction) and fails to connect to the thesis. It may employ cliches—the phrases “the dawn of man” and “throughout human history” are examples, and it’s hard to imagine a time when starting with one of these would work. Instructors often find them extremely annoying.

Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history.

5. The book report introduction. This introduction is what you had to do for your elementary school book reports. It gives the name and author of the book you are writing about, tells what the book is about, and offers other basic facts about the book. You might resort to this sort of introduction when you are trying to fill space because it’s a familiar, comfortable format. It is ineffective because it offers details that your reader probably already knows and that are irrelevant to the thesis.

Example: Frederick Douglass wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave , in the 1840s. It was published in 1986 by Penguin Books. In it, he tells the story of his life.

And now for the conclusion…

Writing an effective introduction can be tough. Try playing around with several different options and choose the one that ends up sounding best to you!

Just as your introduction helps readers make the transition to your topic, your conclusion needs to help them return to their daily lives–but with a lasting sense of how what they have just read is useful or meaningful. Check out our handout on  conclusions for tips on ending your paper as effectively as you began it!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself . New York: Dover.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Infidelity, Dysfunction, Secrets — This Family Novel Delivers

“Same as It Ever Was,” by Claire Lombardo, is a 500-page, multigenerational examination of the ties that bind.

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By Hamilton Cain

Hamilton Cain is a book critic and the author of “This Boy’s Faith: Notes From a Southern Baptist Upbringing.”

SAME AS IT EVER WAS, by Claire Lombardo

For a certain Gen X elder, Talking Heads were the definitive ’80s band, sparking dorm-room debates over David Byrne’s nerdy mystique, the artistic merits of “Remain in Light” versus “More Songs About Buildings and Food” and whether or not the group sold out with “Little Creatures.”

Julia Ames, the protagonist of Claire Lombardo’s poignant, punctilious “Same as It Ever Was” — the novel owes its title to a Heads lyric — belongs to this demographic, evoking the stasis that clings to Gen X, the cohort trained to sit quietly as boomers and millennials scrapped over the bounty of postwar privilege. She blasts the band as she drives her 3-year-old son, Ben, around Chicago one fateful day in the early 2000s. They end up in a botanic garden, where a chance encounter ensnares her, trailing her family into the future and amplifying the consequences of choices she’d made on the sly. Lombardo shifts across timelines, weaving Julia’s volatile past with her seemingly settled present.

Approaching 60, Julia is ensconced in affluent suburbia, content with her beautiful house and the large automobile, a hostess serving wine and canapés with aplomb. Her husband, Mark, is intelligent and kind. Ben, now 24, lives nearby; her 17-year-old daughter, Alma, a “narcissistic lioness,” frets about college acceptances and a capricious girlfriend. Theirs is the good life, except that it’s not: “They are a family whose clock is always slightly askew, affections misplaced and offenses outsized.”

Julia is still tormented by her blue-collar adolescence and an illicit affair. While shopping for a party, she spies Helen Russo, a retired lawyer who was volunteering at that botanic garden two decades earlier. The women became confidantes; Helen had eventually guessed that marriage and motherhood weren’t making much sense to Julia. She’d swept the younger woman into her well-heeled brood, consisting of a husband and five sons, all dependent on her as breadwinner and dispenser of sage advice. Their sprawling residence was “one of those houses that seemed to have been engineered to entertain a revolving door of people, rosters of children and friends of children and colleagues and craftsmen.” Julia would sit at the kitchen island, “feeling suspicious of the ease and also a bit like the homely cousin from a BBC dramedy, swinging her legs in figure eights around the rungs of a bar stool.”

Helen dominates flashback upon flashback, a hybrid of Dorothy Parker and Martha Stewart, and Julia falls hard. At the same time, her son Nathaniel was bunking in his parents’ carriage house, on the road to nowhere yet lean and attractive — a bad-boy counterpoint to dull, reliable Mark. Nathaniel had unlocked Julia’s sensuality.

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