By Judy Vorfeld
Transitional words and phrases
Have you ever wondered how to use connecting words or phrases properly? These transitional words and phrases are like bridges, and connecting parts of a sentence or connecting ideas. Take a look at some of them:
ADDITION
additionally, and, also, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.), what’s more.
CONCESSION
anyway, yet, still, however, at any rate, while I admit that…, nevertheless, in spite of, even so, despite, of course, in any event, once in a while, sometimes
CONTRAST AND COMPARE
likewise, by the same token, but, whereas, converselybut, yet, on the other hand, on the contrary, nevertheless, on the other hand, similarly, by comparison, balanced against, vis a vis, however, meanwhile.
DIVERSION
by the way, incidentally
FOR EFFECT
clearly, definitely, extremely, obviously, without a doubt, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, certainly, undeniably, without reservation.
EXAMPLES
to illustrate, for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate,
ILLUSTRATION
for example, for instance, for one thing, because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is
RESTATEMENT
in essence, in brief, as I have said, in other words, as I have noted, as has been noted, that is, namely.
SEQUENCE/TIME
afterward, immediately, at this point, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, at first, finally, then, subsequently, later, previously, formerly, in conclusion, first, second, third, etc., next, then, meanwhile, concurrently, therefore, next.
SUMMARIZING
after all, in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, in any event, in the final analysis, accordingly,in short, thus, as a result, consequently, all things considered.
RELATED LINK:
Writer’s Web Transitional Words and Phrases
With inspiration from The Gregg Reference Manual and Purdue University Online Writing Lab