Transitional Expressions or Relationship Words

Relationship Coordinating Conjunctions Conjunctive Adverbs Subordinating Conjunctions

parallel / addition and

furthermore, similarly, additionally, also, equally important, further, again, and then, in the first

place, moreover, next, second, still, too

in addition to, besides the fact that

I would like to buy that apple pie; in addition, I would like the pint of vanilla ice cream.

Besides the fact that I would like the apple pie, I would like to buy

the pint of vanilla ice cream.

comparison and

also, likewise, similarly, in the same way in the same way, just as, as though

The juniors are stressed about the ACT; similarly, the freshmen are stressed about the EXPLORE.

The freshmen are stressed about the EXPLORE in the same

way that the juniors are stressed about the ACT.

contrasting but, or, nor, yet

however, despite that, even so, in contrast, and yet, but at the same time, for all that, instead,

nevertheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, regardless, still

although, despite, even though, even if, in spite of, though,

than, unless, whereas

I would like to go shopping for new clothes; however, I don’t have any money.

Although I don’t have any money, I would like to go shopping for new clothes.

cause-and-effect for, so

accordingly, consequently, as a result, therefore, thus, hence, for that reason, otherwise

because, if, unless, in order to, so that, that, provided that

The bus broke down. Consequently, Gustavo and Tyler were late to the concert.

They were late to the concert because the bus broke down.

emphasiscertainly, indeed, in fact, of course, to be sure, to

be clear, definitely, obviouslyShe is the most popular girl in school. In fact, they just crowned her prom queen.

example or illustration

for example, for instance, to illustrate, after all, as an illustration, in conclusion, indeed, in fact, in

other words, in short, it is true, of course, namely, specifically, that is, thus, truly

even, that, how, what, considering that

The boys’ rugby team works extremely hard. For instance, they practice during the week and on Saturdays.

Considering that they practice on the weekend, I would say that the rugby team works

hard.

summary

all in all, altogether, as has been said, finally, in brief, in conclusion, in other words, in particular,

in short, in simpler terms, in summary, on the whole, overall, that is, therefore, to put it

differently, to summarizeIn conclusion, kinetic energy depends on the mass of an object.

time sequence after a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as long as, at last, at length, at that time, before,

besides, currently, earlier, eventually, first, finally, formerly, further, furthermore, in

addition, in the first place, in the past, last, lately, meanwhile, moreover, next, now, presently, second, shortly, simultaneously, so far, soon, still, subsequently, then, thereafter, too, until

now

after, as, before, by the time, once, since, until, when,

whenever, wherever, where, while, why

Transitional Expressions or Relationship Words

First, we dined like royalty. Then, we took a walk.

Once we dined like royalty, we took a walk.

Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) can join words, phrases, and clauses. When coordinating conjunctions join two or fewer words or phrases, they do not use a comma.

o Fabio loves listening to new music and reading fast-paced novels.

When coordinating conjunctions join two or more independent clauses, they use a comma.o Fabio loves listening to new music, and he loves reading fast-paced novels.

When coordinating conjunctions join three or more items in a list, they use a comma.o Fabio loves listening to new music, reading fast-paced novels, and swimming long

distances.

Conjunctive adverbs act like parenthetical phrases. When conjunctive adverbs are between two independent clauses, use periods or semicolons

before and commas after.o Fabio loves listening to new music. In addition, he loves reading fast-paced novels.o Fabio loves listening to new music; in addition, he loves reading fast-paced novels.

When conjunctive adverbs are in one independent clause, separate them from the sentence with commas.

o In addition, he loves reading fast-paced novels.o He loves, in addition, reading fast-paced novels.o He loves reading fast-paced novels, in addition.

Subordinating conjunctions make independent clauses dependent. When a subordinating conjunction is at the beginning of a sentence, it means the first clause is

dependent and must have a comma after it.o In the same way that Fabio loves listening to music, he loves reading fast-paced novels.

When a subordinating conjunction is in the middle of a sentence, it means the second clause is dependent and does not need a comma.

o Fabio loves reading fast-paced novels in the same way that he loves listening to music.