TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES
REASON
Many transition words follow similar patterns. Because of this, we
can categorize similar words together. These words reveal cause
and effect of a particular event.
Because of In view of Owing to
With this in mind With this intention So that
In fact With this purpose Granted that
In order to Seeing that Given that
Provided that For the purpose of
EXAMPLE: In order to achieve this, we need a budget.
RESULT
adds important information to the topic discussed
As a result For this reason Accordingly
Thus Due to Then
Consequently As a consequence (of) Forthwith
Hence Therefore Thereupon
EXAMPLE: I cannot attend the party tonight as a result of being so
tired from having worked late all week.
ADDITION
add important information to the topic discussed in your academic
paper.
Furthermore Not only…but also As well as
Also In addition to this Coupled with
As well as that Apart from this Not to mention
Along with Further Together with
Besides
EXAMPLE: You cannot go into the theatre as you have not got
tickets. Furthermore, you are not in the correct dress for this
performance..
ILLUSTRATIO
N
Used to give an example of what the speaker is referring to
For example/ For instance For one thing Namely
Such as As an example of In this case
Proof of this In the case of To simplify
Like To demonstrate In another case
To demonstrate/ To clarify To clarify Specifically
Illustrated by Including
EXAMPLE: There are lots of things to do at the park, for instance
feeding the ducks or playing on the slide.
CONTRAS
T
show the difference between two key pieces of information
expressed
Unlike However In contrast (to)
Nevertheless Contrarily Instead
On the other hand As opposed to Despite/in spite of
Nonetheless Yet
EXAMPLE: While this may be true, it doesn’t mean that biking is
not beneficial for your heart.
COMPARISON/SIMILARITY
shows how to ideas being discussed relate to each other
similarly Correspondingly In common
Equally As with In like manner
Similar to Equal In a similar manner
Same as Just as…so too
Compare(d) to (with) Likewise
By the same token Just as
EXAMPLE: My friend was late to the meeting. Similarly, I was also
delayed.
ORDER
show a change in the order or timing of consecutive ideas and
phrases
First/ firstly In the first place Subsequently
Second/ secondly To begin with Above all
Third/ thirdly Prior to After
Lastly and most importantly Previously Eventually
About Before Last but not least
EXAMPLE: I will go to the shop, then to the park, and finally, I will
relax in the bar.
CONCLUSION
used to conclude the ideas that have been previously mentioned
and/or indicates that you are about to wrap up your argument.
Therefore Overall to conclude
To summarise As noted In essence
In short As shown above In brief
To sum up In the end On the whole
In summary To end In conclusion
EXAMPLE: The acting was superb and the lighting was excellent,
all things considered, it made for an interesting play
GENERALIZATIO
N
used to give an example of an idea relating to the subject
In general/ Generally On the whole
On the whole Broadly speaking
Overall Mainly
Generally speaking
EXAMPLE: In general, Japanese cars are very reliable and
breakdowns are rare.
REFEREN
CE
used to literally make a reference to a continuing idea presented in
your essay.
With respect to As far as
Concerning As applied to
The fact that Pertaining to
With regards to In connection to
Regarding
EXAMPLE: I was explaining to John that the job he wanted was
not available due to the fact that they had already hired someone.
