Business Communication
Business Communication
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.
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.)
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.
Common Transitions
The following charts list some common transitions used to indicate relationships between ideas:
Utah Valley University (UVU) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, age (40 and over), disability status, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions,
citizenship, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to
educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.