Audience Concerns: Transitions
Transitions are words or phrases that cue the reader of a movement from one idea to the
next. They occur within a paragraph and between them. Since ideas should be written as if
they flow together in some kind of sensible manner, a transition act as a bridge between
the writer's thoughts. If a writer does not use transitions, her writing will often feel
jerky or unorganized. Many times the reader will have to pause and try to figure how one
idea relates to another. This is a problem, as anytime the "flow" of the text is
interrupted there is a danger that the reader will be lost completely.
The most common types of transitional expressions which signal relationships between
ideas:
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| Addition: also, in addition, moreover, and besides, furthermore, equally important, then
finally,
| |
Example: for example, for instance, thus, as an illustration, namely, specifically
Contrast: but, however, on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, conversely, in
contrast, still , at the same time
Comparison: similarly, likewise, in the same way
Concession: of course, to be sure, certainly, granted
Result: therefore, thus, as a result, so, accordingly
Summary: hence, in short, in brief, in summary, in conclusion, finally,
Time sequence: first, second, third, next, finally, afterwards, before, soon, later,
meanwhile, subsequently, immediately, eventually, currently
| Place: in the front, next to, in back of, in the background, adjacent, nearby, in the
distance, near, before
Other types of transition devices are
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The best way to use transitions between paragraphs is to change the form
of a word of the last sentence of a paragraph, and use it as one of the first words in the
next paragraph. Watch how I use this device here.