Transitions (Signal Words)

Transition signals

• Transition (Signal Words):

• Connect words or phrases

• Act as signposts

• Strengthen the internal cohesion

Three types of Transition signals

1. Sentence Connectors

2. Clause connectors

3. Others

- transition phrases - conjunctive adverbs

- coordinating conjunctions - subordinating conjunctions

1. Sentence Connectors (transition phrases & conjunctive adverbs)

Transition phrases: Appear in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. A coma is needed.

Example: For example, the Baltic Sea (, for example) in Northern

Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Rea Sea in the Middle East (, for example).

Conjunction Adverbs:• Often used with a semicolon and a comma to join two

independent clauses.

Examples: In warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, its net profit declined.

Some English words do not have exact equivalents in other languages; for example, there is no German word for the adjective fair, as in fair play.

Coordinating conjunctions• Used with a comma to join two independent clauses and to

form a compound sentence.

2. Clause Connectors

Examples: In a matriarchy, the mother is the head of the family, and all of the children belong to her clan.

In warm climate zones, water evaporates, so the concentration of salt is greater.

• Yet and But an opposite idea is coming.

• Yet: preferred when the 2nd clause is an unexpected or surprising contrast to the 1st clause.

• But: preferred when the 2 clauses are direct oppositions.

• Yet is similar in meaning to “nevertheless”.• But is similar to “however”.

Yet and But:

Examples: Thomas Edison dropped out of school at age 12, yet he became a famous inventor. I want to study art, but my parents want me to become an engineer.

Subordinating conjunctions• Used to introduce a dependent clause, which is joined to

form a complex sentence.• Position: use a comma if the DC comes before the IC; do

not use a comma if the DC comes after the IC.

Examples: Although the company’s sale increased last year, its net profit declined. The company’s net profit declined last year although its sales increased.

• Indicating transition: additional (adj.); despite (prep.); examples (n.).

3. Others

Examples: An additional reason for the firm’s bankruptcy was the lack of competent management.

Examples of vocabulary differences between British and American English include petrol/gasoline, windscreen/windshield, and lorry/truck.

Despite increased sales, the company’s profit declined last quarter.

Common Transition Signals

Meaning / function Sentence connectors

Clause connectors Others (adj, verb, prep)Coordinators Subordinators

To introduce a similar additional idea

also

besides

furthermore

in addition

moreover

too

and

nor (and not)

another

an additional

To compare things also

likewise

similarly

too

and

both…and

not only…but also

neither…nor

as

just as

as…as

like/alike

just like

similar to

be alike

be similar

To introduce an opposite idea, and to contrast things

however

in contrast

instead

in/by comparison

nevertheless

on the other hand

on the contrary

still

but

yet

although

even though

though

whereas

while

despite

in spite of

compared to/with

be different (from)

be dissimilar

be unlike

differ (from)

Meaning / function

Sentence connectors

Clause connectors Others (adj, verb, prep)

Coordinators Subordinators

To introduce an example

For example

For instanceIn this case

such as

like an example ofto demonstratetake the case of

To emphasize In fact

To explain and restate

Indeed (really, certainly)

That is

to introduce an alternative

otherwise or If

unless

Meaning / function

Sentence connectors

Clause connectors Others (adj, verb, prep)Coordinators Subordinators

To indicate time

thereafterthensoonat that timeat this point

Immediately

before, after

during

prior toformerlyfinallyPreviously

To signal chronological order

first, second, then, next…

first of all, now, soon

last, finally

meanwhile

gradually

after that

since then

after

as

as soon as

before

since

until

when

while

the first, the second

the next, the last, the final

before lunch

after the war

since 1990

in the year 2008(any time expression)

Meaning / function

Sentence connectors

Clause connectors Others (adj, verb, prep)

Coordinators Subordinators

To indicate order of important

above all

first and foremost

more/most importantly/ significantly

primarily

a more important

the most important

the second most significant

the primary

To introduce a cause or reason

consequently

therefore

for this purpose

for because

since

as

result from

be the result of

due to

because of

the effect of

the consequence of

as a result of

as a consequence of

Meaning / function

Sentence connectors

Clause connectors Others (adj, verb, prep)Coordinators Subordinators

To introduce an effect or result

Accordingly

As a result

As a consequence

Consequently

Hence, thus

Therefore

so result in

cause

have an effect on

affect

the cause of

the reason for

To conclude All in all

In brief

In conclusion

In short

In summary

In deed

accordingly

It is clear that…

We can see that…

The evidence suggests that…

These examples show that…

Sample text:

Sample Text

http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/trans1.html