Transitions

Audience Concerns

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.

Use of parallel structures and phrases that repeat:

Often times he was late to class. Often times he over slept.

Repetition of a few key words. Use synonyms throughout or key words:

Transitions are the mortar of essays. This cement allows a solid binding of ideas, which glues one idea to another.

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.

Using this type of bridge will help in organizing your essays, as readers will not be aware that a forced transition has been implemented; they will just think that the ideas have "flowed" together in a rather seamless manner.