As a “part of speech” transition words are used to link words, phrases or sentences. They help the reader to progress from one idea (expressed by the author) to the next idea. Thus, they help to build up coherent relationships within the text. In this lesson, you will learn a list of useful transition words and phrases in English.
Table of Contents
Transition Words and Phrases
Transition Words of Addition
List of transition words of addition.
- As well as
- And
- Too
- Furthermore
- Also
- In addition to
- Not only – but also
- Or
- And
- In addition to
- Furthermore
- Moreover
- Besides
- Than
- Too
- Also
- Both-and
- Another
- Equally important
- First
- Second
- Again
- Further
- As well as
- In the second place
- Next, likewise
- Similarly
- For example
- For instance
- However
Transition words of addition with examples
- As well as
He plays classical music, as well as pop and jazz.
- And
There is no paradise on earth equal to the union of love and innocence
- Too
‘Nice to talk to you.’–‘Nice to talk to you too.’.
- Furthermore
He is lazy, and furthermore, he has no sense of responsibility.
- Also
The rehearsal process also irked him increasingly.
- In addition to
The film star has an incredible car in addition to a large house.
- Not only – but also
We do not only meet to share each other’s burdens but also to partake in each other’s joys.
- Or
Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak.
Transition Words of Illustration
List of transition words of illustration.
- Thus
- For example
- For instance
- Namely
- To illustrate
- In other words
- In particular
- Specifically
- Such as
- In this case
- For one thing
- In the case of
- Illustrated by
Transition words of illustration with examples.
- Such as
America wants to eliminate tariffs on items such as electronics.
- In this case
In this case, several solutions could be tried.
- For one thing
For one thing, intelligence does have some impact on foreign policy, for example, towards rogue states.
- For instance
Murder, petty theft and tax evasion, for instance, all have different motives and consequences.
- For example
There is a similar word in many languages, for example in French and Italian.
- In the case of
In the case of the car industry, in the case of Ford, it’s even higher.
- Illustrated by
The difference is best illustrated by a case example.
- As an example
It is given only as an example which is easy to state.
Transition Words of Cause and Effect
List of cause and effect transition words.
- Consequently
- Therefore
- So
- Because
- Thus
- Hence
- Due to
- As a result
Cause and effect transition words with examples.
He has broken his leg and therefore he can’t walk.
- So
Places are strictly limited, so you should apply as soon as possible.
- Because
Because friendships enhance our lives, it is important to cultivate them.
- Thus
He didn’t work hard. Thus he was fired.
- Hence
Cocaine production requires large amounts of water, hence factories are nearly always built by streams.
- Due to
The country economic problems are largely due to the weakness of the recovery.
- As a result
As a result, he went bankrupt soon.
- Consequently
My car broke down and consequently I was late.
Transition Words of Comparison
List of comparison transition words.
- Similarly
- Likewise
- In like fashion
- In like manner
- Analogous to
- As …as
- As if
- Equally
- Similarly
- Like
- In the same way
Comparison transition words with examples
- As …as
He is as tall as his brother.
- As if
Since his cancer was diagnosed, he feels as if he’s living on borrowed time.
- Equally
False humility and its obverse, arrogance, are equally unpleasant.
- Similarly
Similarly, Fire Support Company had to set up their display of mortars, anti-tank missiles and Scimitar tracked recce vehicles.
- Like
Benefits please like flowers, while they are fresh
- In the same way
We like them in the same way that we like pretty curtain material.
- Comparable
Its brain is closely comparable to the brain of a chimpanzee.
- In like manner
And in like manner buyers will fence, and pretend to be less eager than they really are.
Transition Words of Contrast
List of contrast transition words
- On the contrary
- Contrarily
- Notwithstanding
- But
- However
- Nevertheless
- In spite of
- In contrast
- Yet
- On the one hand
- On the other hand
- Rather
- Or
- Nor
- Conversely
- At the same time
- While this may be true
Contrast transition words with examples
- But
Weak men wait for opportunity, but the strong men make it.
- However
The ant is the most industrious animal; however, it is the most taciturn one.
- On the other hand
I want to go to the party, on the other hand, I ought to be studying.
- Otherwise
Shut the window, otherwise, it’ll get too cold in here.
- Unlike
Dan’s actually quite nice, unlike his father.
- Conversely
In real life, nobody was all bad, nor, conversely, all good.
- At the same time
I was afraid of her, but at the same time, I really liked her.
- In spite of
In spite of my efforts, the boy remained passive.
Transition Words of Emphasis
List of transition words of emphasis
- Above all
- Indeed
- Truly
- Of course
- Certainly
- Surely
- In fact
- Really
- In truth
- Again
- Besides
- Also
- Furthermore
- In addition
Transition words of emphasis with examples
- Especially
Divorce is very painful, especially when children are concerned.
- Also
The study also demonstrated a direct link between obesity and mortality.
- In particular
The military, in particular, were subjected to intense political indoctrination.
- Furthermore
He is old and unpopular. Furthermore, he has at best only two years of political life ahead of him.
- In addition
The company provides cheap Internet access. In addition, it makes shareware freely available.
- Indeed
This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.
- Of course
In any of these discussions, of course, honesty is of the essence.
- Certainly
There certainly wasn’t any malice in her comments.
Transition Words of Order
List of transition words of order
- First/ firstly
- Second/ secondly
- Third/ thirdly
- Finally
- At that time
- Previously
- Before
List of transition words of order with examples
- First/ firstly
Firstly, they must make certain that their pension needs are adequately catered for.
- Second/ secondly
Firstly, it’s expensive, and secondly, it’s too slow.
- Third/ thirdly
Thirdly, they tend to see human behaviour as shaped by the system.
- Finally
I kept at it and finally finished at 3 o’clock in the morning
- At that time
At that time, it was completely unheard-of for girls to go to university.
- Previously
A number of trades, previously thought of as lowly ones, began to receive more attention.
- Before
He snatched the photos out of my hand before I had a chance to look at them.
Transition Words of Summary/ Conclusion
List of transition words of conclusion
- In conclusion
- To summarise
- Altogether
- In short
- To sum up
- Briefly
- To conclude
- Therefore
- Finally
- Consequently
- Thus
- In short
- In conclusion
- In brief
- As a result
- Accordingly
Transition words of conclusion with examples
- In conclusion
In conclusion, walking is a cheap, safe, enjoyable, and readily available form of exercise.
- To summarise
To summarise, this is a clever approach to a common problem.
- Altogether
Altogether, our achievements are very great.
- In short
Try tennis, badminton or windsurfing. In short, anything challenging.
- To sum up
Well, to sum up, what is the message that you are trying to get across?
- In summary
In summary, all government departments are administered rather differently.
- Briefly
Briefly, the hunter and his quarry glared at each other.
- To conclude
To conclude, I’d like to express my thanks to my family.
Transition Words of Time & Sequence
List of transition words of time & sequence
- Later
- After
- Before
- Then
- Soon
- Finally
- First, second…
List of transition words of time & sequence with examples
- Later
Later, it transpired she had failed the examination.
- After
It is not enough to help the feeble up but to support him after.
- Before
Before you give up, think of the reason why you held on so long.
- Then
If you doubt yourself, then indeed you stand on shaky11 ground.
- Soon
Always taking out the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom.
- Finally
Finally, he returned to the official line from which he had swerved.
- First, second…
First, catch your hare then cook him.
Transition Words of Direction & Place
List of transition words of direction & place
- Here
- Over there
- Beyond
- Under
- To the left
- In the distance
- Opposite
List of transition words of direction & place with examples
- Here is a summary of the news/a news summary.
- Are they friends of yours, over there?
Frew Shibru
Thursday 24th of August 2023
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Lily
Tuesday 23rd of March 2021
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ALYSSA MAE
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
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ALYSSA MAE
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
ALYSSA MAE
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
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