TRANSITION WORDS
Transitions are connecting words or phrases that strengthen the internal cohesion of your
writing. Transition words tell the reader how one idea relates to another. Using them
appropriately makes your argument more convincing because the reader is able to understand
the flow between and within paragraphs, including the relationship between different ideas,
evidence, and analysis.
Sample Transition Words and Phrases
Contrast/
exception/
concession
1
4
Addition
additionally • again • also • another • as well as • besides •
coupled with • further • furthermore • equally important •
in addition • likewise • moreover
accordingly • after • as consequence • as a result • at that time •
before • concurrently • consequently • finally • followed by •
for this purpose • for this reason • hence • initially • next • otherwise •
previously • so then • subsequently • then • therefore • thus
as well as • comparatively • conversely • correspondingly •
coupled with • in the same way • likewise • moreover • on the one hand •
similar • similar to • similarly • together with • whereas • while
a different view is • admittedly • albeit • alternatively • although •
and (yet) • conversely • despite/in spite of (+ noun) • differing from •
even so • even though • granted • however • in contrast • instead •
it could also be said that • nevertheless • notwithstanding (+ noun) •
nonetheless • on the contrary • on (the) one hand • on the other hand •
otherwise • rather • regardless of (+ noun) • still • unlike • whereas
1
1
Cause/
effect/
result
2
1
Comparison
3
