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:

		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

Pronouns: use pronouns to clearly refer to nouns:

Mary was such a kidder. She always liked to bring jokes to class.