Popular Transition Words & Phrases in English

Transition words & phrases in English are used to combine two clauses or sentences presenting contrast, comparison, condition, supposition, purpose, …

Transition words and phrases enable us to establish clear connections between ideas. Most linking words can either connect clauses within a sentence or start a sentence to form
a link with the previous statement.

Contents

Transition Words & Phrases

What are Transition Words and Phrases?

Transition words and phrases are words and phrases that connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. They indicate a logical relationship between the ideas being presented and help to guide the reader through the text. They can be used to show a contrast, to give an example, to show cause and effect, to show time relationships, or to summarize.

Some examples of transition words and phrases include “however,” “therefore,” “as a result,” “in addition,” “furthermore,” “in contrast,” and “nevertheless.” They are important in both written and spoken communication to make the text clear, easy to understand and more effective.

List of Transition Words & Phrases

Comparison

Similarly
Equally
Likewise
In like manner
Like
In the same way
Comparable
As…as
As if

Time & Sequence

Before
After
Afterward
Then
Next
First, second, …
Finally
Soon
Later

Addition

As well as
And
Too
Furthermore
Also
In addition to
Not only … but also
Or

Direction & Place

Here
There
Over there
Beyond
Opposite
Under
Above
To the left
In the distance

Illustration

Illustrated by
In the case of
Such as
For example
As an example
For instance
In this case
For one thing

Cause & Effect

Therefore
So
Because
Thus
Hence
Due to
As a result
Consequently

Contrast

But
However
On the other hand
Otherwise
Unlike
Conversely
At the same time
In spite of

Emphasis

Markedly
Especially
Specifically
Expressively
Surprisingly
Frequently
Significantly
With this in mind
Important to
Another key point
Indeed
In particular

How to Use Transition Words and Phrases in Sentences

Examples of how to use transition words and phrases in sentences and paragraphs:

Conjunctive adverbs: “However, the data shows that the new product is not performing as well as expected.”
Transitional expressions: “On the one hand, the company’s profits have increased, but on the other hand, customer satisfaction has decreased.”
Prepositional phrases: “In addition to increasing sales, the new marketing campaign has also improved brand awareness.”
Use of transition words and phrases in a paragraph: “The new policy has been met with mixed reactions. On the one hand, it has been praised for its ability to reduce costs. However, it has also been criticized for its negative impact on employee morale. In addition to these concerns, there are also worries that the policy may not be sustainable in the long term. Despite these challenges, the company is committed to implementing the policy and finding ways to mitigate any negative effects.”
Conjunctions: “The meeting was long and arduous, but ultimately productive.”

It’s important to note that using transition words and phrases correctly can help to make your writing clear, smooth, and easy to understand. It also helps to show the relationship between ideas and make your writing more coherent.