Improving Style: Using Transitions

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Transitions.html

U S I N G Handbook Index Improving Your Writing Style

Clear, Concise Sentences Using Transitions

T R AN S I T I O N S

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Transitional Words and Phrases

Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper. However, these words all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations. Before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure that it's the right match for the logic in your paper. Addition Comparison Effect Intensification Summary Pronouns Time Contrast Clarification Concession Conclusion Exemplification or Illustration Place Cause Qualification Purpose Demonstratives

In this section, you will find many instructional materials we've developed for our Writing Center teaching. However, there are limitations to these materials. Assignments vary, and different instructors want different things from student writers. Therefore, the advice here may or may not apply to your writing situation. Finally, handouts can give only a fraction of the customized guidance that an individual conference with a Writing Center instructor can provide. If you have questions about the information in our handouts, please make an appointment to see a Writing Center instructor.

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Addition
furthermore also in addition further besides second, secondly, etc. moreover in the second place even more last, lastly and, or, nor too again next finally first

Time
while after when meanwhile during next then so far immediately later, earlier soon sometimes afterwards following at length this time never always whenever in the meantime now, until now once simultaneously subsequently

Place
here beyond adjacent to there wherever neighboring on nearby opposite to above, below

Exemplification or Illustration
to illustrate for instance for example to demonstrate as an illustration specifically e.g., (for example)

Comparison
in the same way in like manner by the same token likewise similarly in similar fashion

Contrast
yet nonetheless and yet after all nevertheless but

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Improving Style: Using Transitions

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Transitions.html

however on the contrary on the other hand

though in contrast at the same time

otherwise notwithstanding

Clarification
that is to say i.e., (that is) to put it another way in other words to clarify to explain to rephrase it

Cause
because since on account of for that reason

Effect
therefore thus consequently hence accordingly as a result

Purpose
in order that for this purpose so that to that end, to this end

Qualification
almost never perhaps nearly always maybe probably frequently although

Intensification
indeed of course without doubt in fact to repeat doubtedly yes, no surely by all means certainly undoubtedly in fact

Concession
to be sure granted of course, it is true

Summary
to summarize to sum up in sum in short in brief in summary

Conclusion
in conclusion to conclude finally

Demonstratives acting as transitions

this that those these

Pronouns serving as links to clearly refer to a specific word or phrase

his it her its their they theirs your our

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Improving Style: Using Transitions

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Transitions.html

Last updated: Monday, 2 July 2012 Feedback, questions or accessibility issues 2009 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

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