Transition Words

TRANSITIONAL W

ORDS

AND PHRASES

D E T A I LS &

EX A M P L E S B

Y AA R O N A

R C E L O

-Transition words are used to connect two thoughts and makes a sentence or a group of sentences flow smoothly.

DEFINITION OF A TRANSITION:

A sample of transition words used in a sentence: - Aaron loves to play sports. For

EXAMPLE, he plays volleyball and basketball.

- Aaron enjoys eating fruits. SPECIFICALLY, watermelons, oranges and pineapples.

- I love to travel. For INSTANCE, I have been to New York three times this year.

Transitions bring ideas together. Transitions leave one thought and enter a new one. If you think of these words as ending the old and opening the new, it will help you organize your thoughts and your essays.

Details ExamplesSpecifically For exampleEspecially For instanceIn particular To illustrateTo explain In other wordsTo enumerate As an illustrationIn detail In particular

DETAILS & EXAMPLESDetails and example words are used to illustrate a point. By

using such words it makes it easier for the reader to understand. It provides a smooth transition from one supporting detail to the next.

-Some words that emphasis details and examples are:

Transition Words of Addition

Addition words are used to present two or more ideas in a list of items.

Simple Words: Powerful Words:1.And 1.Consequently2.Second 2.Futhermore3.Too 3.Moreover4.Also 4.For instance5.Next 5.Therefore

Sample sentences: 1.Alex still hasn’t taken out the garbage;moreover,his room is still not clean.

2.Mary speaks French and Italian. She also speaks Spanish.

Transition Words of Time

Time words tell us when something happened in relation to something else.

Simple Words: Powerful Words:1.Before 1.Afterwards2.During 2.Ordinarily3.Rarely 3.Subsequently4.Next 4.Concurrently5.Then 5.Simultaneously

Sample Sentences: 1.Kate was downloading her email in one application and video in another, using the two connections simultaneously.

2.John and Bob arrived at the bus station before Tom, making them earlier.

SPACEThese transition words are used when talking about space. These transition words give a location, direction, or spatial reference.

Examples:•In the middle•To the left/right•In front of•On the side•Next•In the distance•Adjacent to

•At the left•At the right•Along the edge•Beside•Behind•Across•Beyond•Out of sight•Nearer•Farther

Space

Examples of spatial transitions:

When I went around the corner, to the left I saw a man I did not recognize.

On top of the high shelf, I could see the book that I needed.

As I squinted my eyes, in the distance I could see them coming over the horizon.

The pool ball, hitting along the edge, rolled tight into the pocket.

When crouched on the ground, looking under the bed, she was able to recover her missing sock.

Concession

Concession transitions are used when sentence A is true, but sentence B is not.

Ex: Many students dislike mathematics. Not all students like mathematics.

A concession transition can be used between these two sentences in order make them flow together more smoothly.

ConcessionConcession Examples:

•Although•Naturally•Of course•Certainly•At least•Still•While it may be true•In spite of

Ex: Many students dislike mathematics, although not all students dislike mathematics.

Illustration Thus, for example, for instance,

namely, to illustrate, in other words, in particular, specifically, such as.

Contrast On the contrary, contrarily,

notwithstanding, but, however, nevertheless, in spite of, in contrast, yet, on one hand, on the other hand, rather, or, nor, conversely, at the same time, while this may be true.

Consequence or ResultTo write a sentence illustrating a result or consequence transition, the relationship between ideas followed by words and phrases making the connection must be presented. In other words, these sentences is known to consist a cause and effect among a transitional word connecting the pair.

Some known transitional words are:

So that, with the result that, thus, consequently, hence, accordingly, for this reason, therefore, so, because, since, due to, as a result, in other words, then

For example:

• Hector lost his passport. Consequently, he could not fly to Europe and visit his family. • Jessica is not feeling so well. Therefore, she will not attend class today.

In these two examples, the cause is presented in the first sentence, followed by its effect in the second sentence. The transition word connects both sentences illustrating a consequence or result. This is done in two sentences.

You can also write it like this:

• Traffic slowed down on route 92 towards San Mateo Bridge as a result of heavy fog conditions.

In this example, the effect is presented first, followed by the cause. When the effect is used first, the transition word connects the phrase with the cause. This is done in one sentence.

Maricruz Carrillo

For example:

• Jessica needs plates, cups, napkins, chips, sodas, and cupcakes for the birthday party. Therefore, she is required to go to the grocery store.

• In the colonial times, women were not allowed to work outside their homes, vote in elections, extend their education, nor voice their opinions. In summary, women were not given the same equality rights as men.

In these two examples, several thoughts are illustrated followed by a transition word indicating the conclusion or summarized proportion. This demonstrates a link between the two sentences.

• The store is not willing to sell the new game system this Black Friday, but in any case I do not get paid until the following week.

You can also create a summarizing transition within a sentence, as illustrated above.

When summarizing sentences or a paragraph of an essay, how can you create a successful summary transition? This typical transition consists connections between thoughts, illustrating a relationship. To create a sentence so the reader can smoothly flow from one point to the next, there are numerous of words one can use to transitionally sum up your paragraph.

Some known transitional words include:

In summary, therefore, finally, consequently, thus, in short, in conclusion, in brief, as a result, accordingly, on the whole, in any case, after all

SummaryMaricruz Carrillo

Works CitedBrigham Young University. “Some Common English Transition Words and Phrses.”

English Language Center. Brigham Young University, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.elc.byu.edu/ classes/ buck/ w_garden/ classes/ buck/ transitions.html >.

“Transition Words.” English For Students. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.english-for-students.com/ Transition-Words.html>.

“Transition Words and Phrases.” Study Guides and Strategies. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://studygs.net>.

Works Cited Cont.University of Richmond Writing Center, and Joanna Taraba. “Transitional

Words and Phrases.” University of Richmond Writing Center. University of Richmond, 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://writing2.richmond.edu/ writing/ wweb/ trans1.html>.

The University of Wisconsin- Madison. “Transitional Words and Phrases.” The Writing Center @ THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN- MADISON. The University of Wisconsin- Madison, 4 Apr. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.noodletools.com/ noodlebib/ defineEntryMLA.php>.