Transition words and phrases are used to draw connections between ideas and the different sections in a paper or an essay. They are an important element in organizing the paper, thus establishing a flow that helps readers comprehend the logic of the written work. Transitions guide the reader through the paper or essay, telling them how to relate the various ideas and arguments presented with each other. The transition also predicts the nature of the information that follows it, signaling to the reader what to expect and how to link it to the information that preceded it. 

How to Use Transition Words 

Consider the following example which does not use transitions: 

Astronomer Percival Lowell was the first person to theorize the existence of a planet in the solar system beyond Neptune. Pluto is partly named after him, as the first two letters – P and L – are a monogram of his name, serving as a tribute. The planet itself was discovered a few years after Lowell’s death, by Clyde Tombaugh.  

With the addition of transitions, the extract reads as such: 

Astronomer Percival Lowell was the first person to theorize the existence of a planet in the solar system beyond Neptune. On account of this, Pluto is partly named after him, as the first two letters – P and L – are a monogram of his name, serving as a tribute. However, the planet itself was discovered a few years after Lowell’s death, by Clyde Tombaugh. 

Compared with the first one, the extract with transitions appears to be less jerky and flows smoother. The communication of the matter and the connection between the three sentences is clearer.  

Transition words or phrases are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence: 

The United States bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the 6th and 9th of August, respectively. Consequently, the Japanese Emperor surrendered on the 15th. 

They can sometimes be placed in the middle of a sentence too, but care should be taken that the usage in such an instance is correct. 

Transition words are required to prevent a paper from appearing disjointed and from being hard to follow. They can be used to connect sentences within the same paragraph, whole paragraphs themselves, or separate sections in a document.   

However, transitions are not a substitute for effective organization of the paper. As transitions direct the reader through the written work, they are definitely an important aspect of the organization. However, it is important for the writer to organize their draft and ideas before they begin writing and using transitions. If a paper has been poorly organized, transitions will not improve the final result much. In fact, it may even become difficult for the writer to select the right ones to use.  

Selecting the right transition words/phrases is very important too, as they are instrumental in indicating the structure of the paper. Using the wrong words will convey a message very different from the writer’s intention.  

Types of Transition Words and Phrases

Transitions are divided into different categories based on the kind of relationships they establish.  

• Cause and Effect: To establish consequences

•  Contrast: To contrast previously mentioned ideas and information

• Additional Support: To pave the way for supporting information or evidence

•  Example: To present examples

• Sequence: To help establish a sequence for a chain of events and/or to present points in order of importance

• Time: To establish chronological relationships 

•  Location: To establish positional relationships 

•  Clarification: To simplify or clarify information 

•  Summary: To summarize information 

•  Conclusion: To bring to a conclusion the point, or most often, the paper