Transitions: signals for your reader

Transitions are signals or cues in writing that show the reader the relationship between one idea and the next. Transitions help the reader see that a certain line of reasoning is being continued, developed, challenged, changed, or summarized. They make writing flow and make it easier for the reader to understand ideas. Use a transition to link paragraphs by putting a transition word or phrase in the first sentence of the new paragraph. Transitions are also used to link sentences within a paragraph.

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Cues that lead the reader forward: "here's more on this idea."

Again	Equally important
In addition	First, second, finally
Above all	Furthermore
Likewise	Similarly
In other words	Moreover
Next	Besides

Cues that show the reader contrast: "here's a different idea."

However	Although this is true
On the contrary	Nevertheless
Yet	Conversely
In contrast	Similarly
But	Instead

Cues that show cause and effect: "here's the result of that."

Thus
Therefore
As a result
Consequently
For that reason

Cues that introduce a summary or conclusion:

In brief
In conclusion
To sum up
Therefore
In general
In short
Finally

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Transitions: signals for your reader

Cues that lead the reader forward: "here's more on this idea."

Cues that show the reader contrast: "here's a different idea."

Cues that show cause and effect: "here's the result of that."

Cues that introduce a summary or conclusion:

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