Transitions

Transitions are the bridges between parts of your paper. They help to create both coherence and cohesion in a paper (aka “flow”), and they enable the reader to make the logical connections between the writer’s ideas in the way that the writer intends. Transitions help carry a thought from sentence to sentence, one idea to another, and one paragraph to the next.

There are several different types of transitional words and phrases, and each type helps create a different connection between ideas. Some transitions indicate that two ideas are similar; others show that two ideas are in contrast; others show a cause and effect relationship.

When choosing a transitional word or phrase, ask yourself:

  • How does this idea relate to the one that came before it? Is it supporting the same argument? Is it presenting another viewpoint? Are the two ideas dependent on one another?

  • What effect do you want to create for the reader? Do you want the same emphasis on two ideas, or do you want one to dominate the other?

Apart from thinking of the function of transitions, you also need to consider how they can fit into a sentence grammatically. Some transitions can be followed by a subject and verb (a clause), while others only by a noun (or a noun phrase).

There are four main grammatical categories of transitions:

  • Coordinating conjunctions-and, but, so- connect two independent clauses.1
  • Subordinating conjunctions-because, if, when- help attach a dependent clause to independent.
  • Conjunctive adverbs-however, additionally, consequently- can start or end a clause, or even come in the middle of a clause.
  • Prepositions-despite, because of, in spite of- can be one/two/three-word units that are followed by a noun (e.g.,students) or a noun phrase (e.g.,the students in this class).

The transitions displayed on the next page are grouped according to their meaning and grammatical function.

Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions Conjunctive Adverbs Prepositions
添加或相似 and

as

as if

like

just as

也

moreover

furthermore

in addition

additionally

similarly

 in addition to
Cause or Effect

so

for

because

since

therefore

consequently

as a result

thus

because of

due to
Contrast or Exceptions

but

yet

even though

although

though

whereas

while

however

on the other hand

on the contrary

nevertheless

nonetheless

in comparison

despite

in spite of
Condition

或

nor

if

unless

whether

in case

in the event

 otherwise
Example

for example

for instance

in this case

to illustrate

 such as
Sequence or Order

after

as

before

as soon as

by the time

once

every time (that)

first, second, third

next

then

finally

previously

simultaneously

concurrently

consequently

 prior to
Summary or Conclusion

to conclude

in conclusion

in brief

on the whole

summing up
He finished his paper,buthe did not submit it.

•Althoughhe finished his paper, he did not submit it.

• He did not submit his paper,althoughhe finished it.

•However, he did not submit his paper.

• He did not,however, submit his paper.

• He did not submit his paper,however.

 Despite完成他的论文,他做到了not submit it.

1For more information about independent and dependent clauses as well as related punctuation rules, see the quick guides “Avoiding Fragments with Dependent Clauses” and “Combining Clauses to Avoid Comma Splices, Run-ons, and Fragments”.