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Business Communication

This document discusses the use of transitions to connect ideas in academic writing. It explains that transitions help guide readers through an argument by showing how ideas are connected. Specific types of transitions are described for connecting phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. Examples are provided to illustrate transitions and how they help link topics in a logical flow. The document also notes that strong transitions alone cannot save a paper if the organization of sentences and paragraphs is unclear.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
71 views2 pages

Business Communication

This document discusses the use of transitions to connect ideas in academic writing. It explains that transitions help guide readers through an argument by showing how ideas are connected. Specific types of transitions are described for connecting phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. Examples are provided to illustrate transitions and how they help link topics in a logical flow. The document also notes that strong transitions alone cannot save a paper if the organization of sentences and paragraphs is unclear.

Uploaded by

abdul wajid
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Transitions

Note: This document should only be used as a reference and should not replace assignment guidelines.
Transitions connect ideas. A paper without transitions may seem to jump from point to point, while a
paper with transitions guides the reader through the argument.

Transitions Between Phrases


Adding transitions between phrases or sentences shows how ideas are connected. They also improve
the flow of the paper.
Transitions Show the Relationship Between Ideas
Transitions guide readers through your paper and show them why you put two ideas next to each other.
Never assume readers already understand how your ideas connect.

BEFORE: Henry didn’t understand his homework. His dad helped him.
AFTER: Since Henry didn’t understand his homework, his dad helped him.
Henry didn’t understand his homework, so his dad helped him.

Also, make sure each transition fits the specific situation. A badly selected transition may confuse, rather
than help, readers.

CONFUSING: Nobody inquired about the money found outside. Moreover, it was given to charity.
(The word moreover indicates that one action happened in addition to the other.)

HELPFUL: Nobody inquired about the money found outside, so it was given to charity. (The word
so indicates that one action happened as a result of the other.)

Transitions Between Paragraphs


Using transitions between paragraphs helps your reader understand how they relate to each other.
Without transitions, readers may not see how ideas build on each other to prove your main point. Since
the ideas in your paragraphs are longer than the ideas in your sentences, the transitions between
paragraphs can be a sentence or two.

To create an effective transition between paragraphs, mention the main idea of the previous paragraph
plus the new paragraph’s idea. For example, if you were writing a paper about health, you might
transition from a paragraph about exercise to one about diet by emphasizing that both are essential for
a healthy lifestyle:

EXAMPLE: . . . Thus, establishing a daily exercise routine is essential for maintaining good health.
In addition to exercise, a well-balanced diet is essential to good health. Any well-
balanced diet should include. . .

In this example, placing the phrase in addition to at the beginning of the second paragraph prepares the
reader for a change in ideas or a transition from the old idea to a new one. The use of the word essential
with exercise and diet emphasizes the similarity between the two topics. This comparison connects
exercise and diet and shows they are both important for health.

Transitions and Organization


Though transitions will strengthen a logical paper, they won’t help much if sentences or paragraphs do
not make sense in the order you have them. If you have a hard time finding the connection between
two ideas, check to see if there is a better place to put one of the ideas. If you cannot find a good place
anywhere, check to see if that idea supports your thesis or main idea. If it does not, think about taking it
out of your paper or changing it so that it supports your thesis and relates to your other ideas.

FL 208 • 801-863-8936 • www.uvu.edu/writingcenter


Facebook: UVUWritingCenter • Twitter: @uvuwritingctr
Transitions
Note: This document should only be used as a reference and should not replace assignment guidelines.

Common Transitions
The following charts list some common transitions used to indicate relationships between ideas:

ADDITION CONTRAST CONCESSION CAUSE & EFFECT


Additionally Although Admittedly As a result
Also But Certainly Because
As well as Despite Clearly Consequently
Besides However Evidently Since
Furthermore In contrast Granted So
In addition Instead Naturally Therefore
Likewise On the contrary Obviously
Moreover On the other hand Of course
Not only Unlike Undeniably
Similarly Yet Understandably

EXAMPLES CONCLUSIONS TIME & ORDER TIME & ORDER


For example Finally After Often
For instance Generally At once Presently
In particular In brief Before Shortly
Specifically In conclusion During Soon after
Such as In summary First…second…third Still
To illustrate On the whole First…next…then Temporarily
If…then… Until
In the meantime When
Meanwhile While

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