Transition Words and Phrases: 120 Examples by Use, With Punctuation
Transition words link one idea to the next and tell the reader how they relate: addition, contrast, cause and effect, sequence, example or conclusion. Pick the one that matches the real relationship, then punctuate it correctly: "however" after a semicolon or full stop takes a comma, while "but" does not. Use them where the logic needs a signal, not in every sentence.
The short answer
A transition word (or phrase) is a signpost that shows how a sentence relates to the one before it. "Also" signals more of the same, "however" signals a turn, "therefore" signals a result, and "finally" signals the end of a sequence. Choose the transition by the job it does, not by how impressive it sounds, and check the punctuation that goes with it.
Three rules cover most mistakes:
- Match the relationship. "However" after a sentence that does not contrast with it is a false signpost.
- Punctuate the join. A transition that starts a new sentence usually takes a comma after it. A transition that joins two full sentences needs a semicolon or full stop before it.
- Do not stack them. If every sentence opens with a transition, none of them stands out and the text sounds mechanical.
The rest of this guide gives about 120 transitions grouped by function, each with an example sentence, then the punctuation rules, a before and after rewrite, a formal versus conversational comparison, and the transitions that teachers and examiners most often mark as overused.
Transitions that add information
Use these when the next sentence continues the same line of thought.
| Transition | Example |
|---|---|
| also | The library opens at eight. It also offers free printing. |
| and | The course covers grammar and punctuation. |
| in addition | In addition, students may borrow laptops for the week. |
| additionally | Additionally, the guide includes a one-page checklist. |
| moreover | Moreover, the survey was repeated in two cities. |
| furthermore | Furthermore, the second draft was shorter and clearer. |
| besides | Besides, the deadline has already been extended once. |
| what is more | What is more, the results held up when the sample doubled. |
| as well as | The report covers costs as well as risks. |
| along with | She submitted the essay along with a short reflection. |
| likewise | Likewise, the second group improved its scores. |
| similarly | Similarly, a short summary helps readers of a long report. |
| equally important | Equally important, the introduction must state the argument. |
| not only ... but also | He not only edited the draft but also rebuilt the outline. |
| too | The editor liked the title, and the author did too. |
| again | Again, the evidence points to the same conclusion. |
| in the same way | In the same way, a conclusion should echo the opening. |
| by the same token | By the same token, a single anecdote cannot prove a trend. |
| plus | The ticket includes lunch, plus a free workshop. |
| on top of that | On top of that, the room was too small for the audience. |
Transitions that contrast or concede
Use these when the next idea turns against, limits or qualifies the previous one.
| Transition | Example |
|---|---|
| but | The plan was sound, but the budget was too small. |
| however | The plan was sound; however, the budget was too small. |
| yet | The essay is short, yet it covers every point. |
| still | The paper has flaws. Still, its method is useful. |
| nevertheless | Nevertheless, the committee approved the proposal. |
| nonetheless | The test was long; nonetheless, most students finished. |
| on the other hand | On the other hand, remote work reduces commuting costs. |
| in contrast | In contrast, the control group showed no change. |
| by contrast | By contrast, the 2019 study used a much larger sample. |
| conversely | Conversely, shorter sentences can feel choppy. |
| although | Although the data are limited, they are consistent. |
| though | The room was cold, though the talk was lively. |
| even though | Even though she was tired, she revised the last section. |
| whereas | The first study measured speed, whereas the second measured accuracy. |
| while | While the plan is ambitious, it is not unrealistic. |
| despite | Despite the delay, the report was accurate. |
| in spite of | In spite of the noise, we finished the survey. |
| instead | He did not email the client. Instead, he phoned. |
| otherwise | Cite your sources; otherwise, the work may count as plagiarism. |
| rather | The aim is not speed but, rather, clarity. |
Transitions that show cause and effect
Use these to state a reason or a result. Make sure the logic really is causal.
| Transition | Example |
|---|---|
| because | The meeting moved because the manager was travelling. |
| since | Since the grant ended, the project has shrunk. |
| as | As the deadline was close, the team worked late. |
| for | The team was anxious, for the results were late. |
| therefore | The sample was small; therefore, the findings are tentative. |
| thus | Thus, the hypothesis was not supported. |
| hence | Hence, the need for a second round of testing. |
| consequently | Consequently, the library extended its opening hours. |
| as a result | As a result, grades rose in both classes. |
| accordingly | The rules changed, and the staff adjusted accordingly. |
| so | The printer broke, so we emailed the file. |
| so that | He wrote clearly so that everyone could follow. |
| due to | The delay was due to heavy snow. |
| owing to | Owing to a clerical error, the form was rejected. |
| because of | Because of the new policy, the form is shorter. |
| thanks to | Thanks to peer review, the argument is stronger. |
| for this reason | For this reason, the survey was anonymous. |
| that is why | That is why every claim needs a source. |
| in that case | In that case, the deadline will have to move. |
| if ... then | If the sample is biased, then the results are weak. |
Transitions that order ideas and events
Use these for steps, stages and the order of an argument.
| Transition | Example |
|---|---|
| first | First, state the question the essay will answer. |
| first of all | First of all, read the prompt twice. |
| second | Second, collect two or three strong sources. |
| third | Third, draft the body before the introduction. |
| next | Next, group the notes by theme. |
| then | Then write one sentence summarising each group. |
| after that | After that, check the order of the paragraphs. |
| afterwards | Afterwards, ask a friend to read it aloud. |
| later | Later, add the citations in the required style. |
| meanwhile | Meanwhile, the second team prepared the figures. |
| at the same time | At the same time, the data were being cleaned. |
| previously | Previously, the form had to be posted. |
| before | Before you submit, run a spelling check. |
| earlier | Earlier, we defined the key term. |
| subsequently | Subsequently, the findings were published online. |
| eventually | Eventually, the committee reached a decision. |
| in the meantime | In the meantime, keep the old template. |
| finally | Finally, proofread the title and the headings. |
| lastly | Lastly, thank the people who helped. |
| to begin with | To begin with, define what you mean by "success". |
Transitions that give examples and emphasis
Use these when the next sentence illustrates, restates or stresses the point.
| Transition | Example |
|---|---|
| for example | Many words are confused; for example, "affect" and "effect". |
| for instance | For instance, a table can replace three sentences of numbers. |
| such as | Use sources such as journal articles and government reports. |
| namely | Two skills matter most, namely planning and revising. |
| in particular | In particular, check the dates in the footnotes. |
| particularly | The ending is particularly weak. |
| specifically | Specifically, the survey asked about sleep. |
| to illustrate | To illustrate, consider a student writing her first report. |
| as an illustration | As an illustration, take the opening of this guide. |
| that is | The text is concise, that is, it has no filler. |
| in other words | In other words, the claim is unproven. |
| to put it differently | To put it differently, the result is not typical. |
| indeed | Indeed, the second draft was twice as clear. |
| in fact | In fact, most errors came from a single habit. |
| of course | Of course, small samples can still be useful. |
| certainly | Certainly, the author makes a fair point. |
| obviously | Obviously, the data are incomplete; say so plainly. |
| above all | Above all, answer the question you were asked. |
| most importantly | Most importantly, give the reader a reason to continue. |
| notably | Notably, none of the studies used a control group. |
Transitions that conclude or summarize
Use these to close a paragraph, section or essay. Save them for a real conclusion.
| Transition | Example |
|---|---|
| in conclusion | In conclusion, clear structure helps both writer and reader. |
| to conclude | To conclude, the evidence supports a modest change. |
| in summary | In summary, the project met two of its three goals. |
| to sum up | To sum up, edit for clarity before style. |
| to summarize | To summarize, three findings stand out. |
| overall | Overall, the pilot was a success. |
| in short | In short, shorter emails get faster replies. |
| in brief | In brief, the policy applies to new staff only. |
| all in all | All in all, the proposal is workable. |
| on the whole | On the whole, the reviewers were positive. |
| in the end | In the end, the committee chose the cheaper option. |
| ultimately | Ultimately, the reader decides whether the argument works. |
| as a result | As a result, the team changed its schedule. |
| given these points | Given these points, the policy should be reviewed. |
| taken together | Taken together, the studies suggest a small effect. |
| as shown above | As shown above, costs fell in every quarter. |
| thus | Thus, the argument holds under both readings. |
| therefore | Therefore, the committee should adopt the change. |
| for all these reasons | For all these reasons, the pilot should continue. |
| all things considered | All things considered, the method is sound. |
Punctuation: the rules that go with transitions
The most common transition error is punctuation, not word choice. Standard English usage, as set out in guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style and Oxford style guidance, works like this.
| Pattern | Rule | Correct example |
|---|---|---|
| Transition opens a sentence | Comma after it | However, the results were mixed. |
| Transition joins two full sentences | Semicolon before, comma after | The test was hard; however, most students passed. |
| Same pair of sentences | Or use a full stop and start a new sentence | The test was hard. However, most students passed. |
| Transition in the middle of a clause | Commas on both sides | The results, however, were mixed. |
| Coordinating conjunction (but, so, and, yet) | Comma before when joining two full clauses, none after | The test was hard, but most students passed. |
| Subordinating conjunction (although, because, while) | Comma after the opening clause, none before when it comes second | Although the test was hard, most students passed. |
| Short opener (then, thus, also, so) | Comma optional | Thus the hypothesis failed. |
Two errors to avoid:
- A comma splice with a conjunctive adverb. "The test was hard, however, most students passed" joins two sentences with only a comma. Use a semicolon or a full stop before "however".
- A comma after "but" or "and". Write "But the results were mixed", not "But, the results were mixed".
Transitions that start a sentence are called conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases; "but", "and", "so" and "yet" are conjunctions. Starting a sentence with "But" or "And" is acceptable in modern edited prose, and most style guides allow it; some teachers still ask students to avoid it in formal essays, so follow your course rules. Our guide to when to use a semicolon covers the semicolon before "however" and "therefore" in more depth, and conjunctions explains the different families.
Before and after: how many transitions is too many?
Here is a paragraph with a transition in almost every sentence.
Before (over-signposted):
Firstly, many students struggle to finish essays. Moreover, they often start too late. Furthermore, they do not plan. Additionally, they skip proofreading. Consequently, their marks suffer. However, a plan helps. Therefore, students should plan. In conclusion, planning is important.
Every sentence carries a label, but the labels are doing the work the ideas should do. "Moreover", "furthermore" and "additionally" all say the same thing, and the final two sentences repeat each other.
After (transitions where the logic needs them):
Many students struggle to finish essays. They start too late, skip the plan and never proofread, so their marks suffer. A one-page plan changes that: it fixes the order of the argument before the writing begins, and it makes proofreading faster because the structure is already clear.
This version keeps one real transition ("so", for a result) and one signal of explanation (the colon). It is slightly longer because it carries more ideas, and it reads more like a person talking to a person. The idea is not to delete transitions; it is to keep the ones that carry meaning and let sentence order, repeated key words and pronouns carry the rest.
A useful test: remove the transition and read the two sentences together. If the relationship is still obvious, you probably do not need it. If the reader would wonder how the sentences connect, keep it.
Academic vs conversational transitions
Some transitions suit essays and reports; others suit emails, talks and blog posts. Mixing registers can sound odd, such as "nevertheless" in a text to a friend or "plus" in a formal thesis.
| Job | Academic or formal | Conversational or informal |
|---|---|---|
| Add | moreover, furthermore, in addition | also, plus, on top of that |
| Contrast | nevertheless, nonetheless, conversely | but, still, though |
| Cause | consequently, accordingly, hence | so, that is why |
| Order | subsequently, previously | then, after that, later |
| Example | namely, to illustrate | for example, like |
| Conclude | in conclusion, to summarize | all in all, in short, so |
In a university essay, the formal column is a good default, but a plain "but" or "so" is perfectly acceptable and often better than a heavier word. Quality of reasoning matters more than the formality of the connector.
Transitions that teachers and examiners flag as overused
Teachers and exam markers often comment on connectors used mechanically. Public writing criteria for exams such as IELTS Academic and General Training Writing include a "coherence and cohesion" criterion, and the published band descriptors reward cohesive devices that are used appropriately and treat faulty or mechanical use as a weakness. The pattern is easy to recognise:
- Firstly, secondly, thirdly at the start of every paragraph, followed by In conclusion.
- Moreover and Furthermore in the same short answer, where one would do.
- On the other hand with no earlier "on the one hand".
- In a nutshell, needless to say and last but not least, which add words but no meaning.
- Thus and hence in an informal piece, where "so" reads naturally.
- However at the start of every second sentence.
A better habit is to vary how you connect ideas. Repeat a key word from the last sentence, use a pronoun ("this approach", "that decision"), or let a topic sentence do the signalling, as in our guide to how to write a topic sentence. For more ways to open a sentence, see sentence starters. School essays that follow the five-paragraph pattern are especially prone to the "firstly, secondly, finally" template, and the guide to the five-paragraph essay shows how to avoid it.
Using AdeptWrite to check your transitions
Paste a draft into the Grammar Checker to catch comma splices and missing commas after openers, and run the Spell Checker set to American, British or Australian English before you submit. If a paragraph reads as stiff or repetitive, the Sentence Rewriter and the Paraphrasing Tool can suggest other ways to connect ideas; they produce generated text, so read the result and keep only what matches your meaning and your own voice. The Readability Checker shows sentence length, which helps you see where a long, over-linked paragraph needs splitting. Each run handles up to 6,000 characters, so check a long essay in sections.
A quick checklist
- Does each transition match the real relationship (addition, contrast, cause, sequence, example, conclusion)?
- Is the punctuation right: semicolon or full stop before "however", comma after?
- Could any transition be deleted without losing the logic?
- Do two or more sentences in a row open with a transition? If so, vary them.
- Does the register fit: formal for an essay, plain for an email?
- Did you save "in conclusion" for the end?
If you can answer yes to the first two and no to the third and fourth, your transitions are doing their job.
Try the tools
Frequently asked questions
What are transition words?
Transition words and phrases connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs and show their relationship, such as addition (also), contrast (however), cause and effect (therefore), sequence (next), example (for instance) or conclusion (in summary). They help readers follow your reasoning without having to guess how one point leads to the next.
Do you put a comma after "however"?
Yes, when "however" opens a sentence or follows a semicolon: "The plan was sound; however, the budget was small." When it sits mid-sentence, put commas on both sides: "The budget, however, was small." Do not join two sentences with only a comma before "however", because that creates a comma splice.
How many transition words should an essay have?
There is no fixed number. Use one wherever the relationship between ideas would otherwise be unclear, and rely on topic sentences, repeated key words and pronouns elsewhere. If nearly every sentence begins with a transition, the text will probably read as mechanical, and a teacher or examiner may comment on it.
Can I start a sentence with "but" or "and"?
Yes. Modern style guides accept "But" and "And" at the start of a sentence in edited prose. Some teachers prefer you to avoid them in formal essays, so follow your course instructions. Do not put a comma after them: write "But the results differed", not "But, the results differed".
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