Transitional Words and PhrasesLELI English Academic Writing Center

PreviewWhy use transitional words and phrases?

Why are transitional words and phrases used mostly in academic writing?What is the stylistic value of transitional words in academic writing?

Types of transitional words and phrasesAdditionComparisonContrastTimePurpose ResultExample

ExplicitnessWhy are transitional words and phrases more common in academic writing than in other styles of writing?In academic writing, you must make direct (explicit) connections between ideas.Transitional words and phrases are the tools that are used to make this type of connection, and are therefore more common in academic writing.

CoherenceMany times, academic writing can sound like just a list of sentences with no links between them.

Transitional words are also used to add coherence and smoothness to academic writing.

Types of Transitional Words and PhrasesAddition – New information that enhances or adds to old informationComparison – New information that is similar to old informationContrast – New information that is different from old informationTime – Events or thoughts that occurred before, after, or concurrently with one anotherResult - New information that is the cause of or was caused by old informationExample – New information that is an example of old information

AdditionFurtherFurthermoreIn additionMoreoverAdditionallyFirst…second…third…etc.

ComparisonSimiliarlyComparablyLikewiseIn the same way By the same tokenAnalogously

ContrastHoweverNeverthelessOn the other handOn the contraryIn contrastConverselyAlternatively

TimeBefore

BeforehandPreviouslyEarlier

At the same timeMeanwhileConcurrently

AfterAfterwardsFinallySubsequentlyThereafter

ResultHenceThereforeAs a resultConsequentlyThus

ExampleFor exampleFor instanceIn particularThis can be seen inAn example of this is