LIST OF TRANSITIONAL WORDS FOR WRITING ESSAYS
John A. Braithwaite
The following is a list of transition words to help students write more fluently and meaningful essays.
I. Indicating similarity or addition:
againequallyin fact
alsoequally importantin general
andforin the same fashion
anotherfor examplelikewise
asfor instancemoreover
as iffurther(more)of course
as much asin addition similarly
as thoughin addition totoo
besidesin a like manner
- Indicating dissimilarity, or contradiction
although even thoughon the contrary
and yethoweveron the other hand
anotherin comparisonotherwise
as ifin comparison tostill
away fromin place ofthan
besidesin spite ofunfortunately
butinsteadunless
by comparisonless importantwhereas
converselyneitherwhile
differing fromneverthelessyet
even ifnotwithstanding
- Indicating cause, purpose, consequence, or result
asfor this reasonprovided that
accordinglyfortunately since
as a result hence so
becausein any casethen
consequentlyin facttherefore
forit began withthus
finallyof courseunfortunately
- Indicating spatial order or reference
abovebehindhere
acrossbelowin a corner
across frombeneathin back of
adjacentbesidein front of
againstbetweeninside
alongsidebeyondin the middle
amongdownnear
aroundeventuallynext to
atfacingon
beforefartheropposite
outsideto the side ofup
overtowardupon
throughoutunderwithin
throughunderneathwithout
V.Indicating Chronology or Sequence:
afterfirst, second, etc.presently
afterwardformerlyprovided that
as soon ashereaftersecondly
at firstin the beginningsince
at lastin the meantimethen
at lengthin the second placethereafter
at presentin the first placesoon
at the same timelaterto begin with
beforemeanwhileuntil
duringmoments laterwhen
earliernextwhile
finallynowyet
first of allonce
- Indicating priority or importance
above all furthernext
alsofurthermoreof greater
besidesin addition toof less importance
equally importantin the first placeprovided that
first, second, etc.more(most) importantto begin with
for one reasonmoreover
V.Indicating example or summary
as a resultin briefon the whole
as I have saidin conclusiononce
first, second, etcin factsecond
for examplein other wordsspecifically
for instancein shortto sum up
in any casein the first placein any event
in the second place
VOCABULARY FOR AP: If you know the word, the high-light it with marker. Then check dictionary for words you don’t understand.
eccentric
gregarious
avuncular
nepotism
satiate
filial
reminisce
kith and kin
matriarch
patriarch
flaccid
florid
vapid
conducive
chagrin
Champaign
certitude
ceremonious
chivalry
abate
abdicate
abhor
abet
abject
abjure
abnegate
abrogate
absolve
abstruse
abysmal
accede
accolade
accouterments
acrid
acumen
adamant
adherent
adroit
adduce
adulation
adulterate
affable
affiance
affluence
affinity
aghast
agnostic
agrarian
aggregate
alacrity
allege
alloy
allegory
altercation
altruism
ambiance
ambivalent
ameliorate
amenity
amiable
amnesty
amorphous
anarchy
anathema
angst
anomaly
apartheid
aphorism
apocalypse
apogee
apoplexy
apostasy
apotheosis
apparition
appropriate
apropos
arcane
ardent
assiduous
assimilate
assuage
astute
atone
atrophy
audacity
august
auspicious
austere
autocratic
avant-garde
avid
awry
axiom
bacchanal
bandy
bauble
banal
bane
beget
beleaguer
belligerent
benefactor
benign
bereaved
blatant
blandishment
bliss
blithe
boon
bourgeois
bovine
brawn
brazen
broach
brusque
bucolic
buffoon
burgeon
burlesque
Byzantine
cacophony
cajole
callow
calumny
candor
captivate
capacious
caprious
cardinal
Castigate
catharsis
catholic
caustic
cavil
celibacy
cerebral
chaff
chagrin
charlatan
chicanery
choleric
chortle
churl
cipher
circuitous
circumlocution
circumscribe
circumvent
clandestine
cliché
clique
coalesce
clone
clout
cogent
cogitate
cognitive
chort
cognizant
colloquial
collusion
compendium
complicity
conciliatory
concomitant
concentric
concord
condescend
condone
confluence
congenial
congenital
conjecture
connive
construe
consternation
contentious
contiguous
contretemps
contrive
contumely
convivial
convolution
corollary
corroborate
cosmopolitan
covenant
covert
cower
crass
craven
credulous
cryptic
culminate
culpable
curtail
curmudgeon
daunt
dearth
debacle
debauchery
debilitate
debunk
decadent
decimate
defame
deft
degenerate
deign
delectable
deleterious
delude
delve
demagogue
denizen
deplore
deprecate
depredate
deride
derogatory
desist
desiccate
despot
destitute
devout
dichotomy
dire
dictum
diffident
dilettante
discreet
discursive
desecrate
discriminate
disparage
disparate
dissuade
dissipate
dissolution
disseminate
distend
divulge
docile
dogmatic
doleful
dormant
dour
draconian
dross
dubious
duplicity
ebullient
eccentric
eclectic
edify
effusion
egalitarian
egocentric
egregious
elicit
elliptical
elusive
eminent
empirical
emulate
emaciate
embellish
embryonic
enmity
ennui
encroach
endemic
enervate
enfranchise
engender
enigma
ephemeral
epicurean
epigram
epitome
equanimity
equivocal
erudite
ensemble
esoteric
espouse
euphemism
evanescent
exacerbate
exalt
exasperate
exhort
exigency
existential
exonerate
expatriate
expedite
explicit
extol
extraneous
extrapolate
eradicate
evince
evoke
expiate
expunge
extrovert
exult
fabrication
facade
facetious
facile
fallacy
farcical
fastidious
fatuous
fauna
fawn
fecund
fervor
fetter
fedility
fickle
finesse
flagrant
flaunt
flippant
florid
flout
foible
foment
forbear
forensic
forgo
fortuitous
fraternal
frenetic
frugal
fulminate
furtive
futile
gaffe
garrulous
genteel
germane
gesticulate
glut
grandiloquent
gratuitous
gregarious
guile
guise
habituate
hapless
harginer
hegemony
heinous
heresy
histrionic
homily
homogeneous
hubris
hyperbole
iconoclast
idiosyncrasy
idyllic
ignominy
illicit
immutable
impeccable
impecunious
imperial
impetuous
impervious
impresario
improvise
impetuous
implement
impotent
impugn
inaugurate
incandescent
incantation
incessant
incipient
incisive
incongruous
incorrigible
increment
inculcate
indigenous
indigent
indignant
indolent
indulgent
ineffable
inept
inexorable
infamous
infatuated
infinitesimal
inflammatory
infrastructure
ingratiate
inimical
inimitable
ingenuous
inherent
injunction
innate
innocuous
insatiable
insouciant
insidious
insinuate
insipid
insolent
instigate
insular
insurgent
interloper
intractable
intricate
intransigent
inviolate
intrinsic
inundate
invective
inveterate
irascible
ironic
irrevocable
itinerant
jargon
jaunt
jingoism
jocular
judicious
junta
juxtapose
kinetic
labyrinth
laconic
lament
lampoon
languish
largess
lascivious
latent
laud
legacy
legerdemain
lethargy
levity
libel
limpid
litany
litigate
loathe
loquacious
lucid
ludicrous
lugubrious
luminous
machination
magnanimous
magnate
malaise
malfeasance
malinger
malleable
mandate
manifest
marshal
martial
marital
martyr
matriculate
maudlin
maverick
maxim
mediate
meander
mellifluous
melancholy
menagerie
mendacious
mendicant
mentor
mercenary
mercurial
metamorphosis
meticulous
microcosm
milieu
minuscule
misanthropic
mitigate
mollify
monolithic
mores
moribund
morose
mortify
mundane
munificent
myopia
myriad
narcissism
nebulous
nefarious
neologism
nepotism
nihilism
nominal
notorious
nuance
obdurate
obfuscate
oblique
oblivion
obscure
obsequious
obtuse
obviate
odious
officious
olfactory
oligarchy
onerous
opaque
opulent
opprobrious
oscillate
ostensible
ostentatious
oxymoron
pacify
palliate
paltry
panacea
pandemic
paradigm
paradox
paragon
parochial
parody
paroxysm
parsimonious
paternal
patrician
paucity
peccadillo
pedantic
pejorative
penchant
penitent
peremptory
perfidy
peripatetic
periphery
perjury
pernicious
perk (perquisite)
perturb
peruse
pervade
petulant
phlegmatic
philistine
platonic
plunder
pious
pivotal
placate
platitude
plebeian
plethora
poignant
polarize
polemic
ponderous
portent
posthumous
postulate
pragmatic
precept
precipitate
precocious
precursor
predilection
predispose
premise
prepossess
prerogative
presage
pristine
prevail
pristine
prodigal
progeny
prodigious
prodigy
profane
profligate
profound
profuse
proletariat
proliferate
promulgate
propensity
propagate
propitious
proponent
proprietary
prosaic
protagonist
protract
provident
provincial
provisional
prowess
prurient
prudent
punctilious
pundit
purblind
puritanical
purported
putative
qualitative
quandary
quell
quiescent
quintessential
querulous
quixotic
rampant
rancor
rapacious
raucous
rebuke
recalcitrant
recidivism
reclusive
recondite
recrimination
redolent
refractory
redundant
refute
relegate
relentless
relinquish
remonstrate
renaissance
rend
renounce
reparation
replete
reprehensible
reprisal
reprove
repudiate
resplendent
respite
reticent
revel
revere
rhetoric
ribald
rigorous
rogue
ruminate
rustic
sacrilege
sacrosanct
sagacious
salient
sanctimonious
sanguine
sardonic
savant
scintillate
scrupulous
scrutinize
secular
sedition
sentient
sequester
serendipity
servile
shackle
shrewd
slake
slander
solicitous
solvent
soporific
sordid
spawn
specious
sporadic
squalor
squander
staunch
stigmatize
stoic
stolid
stricture
stymie
sublime
subjugate
subordinate
subtle
subversive
succinct
succumb
superfluous
superficial
superfluous
surfeit
supine
surrogate
sycophant
synthesis
tacit
taciturn
taint
tangential
tangible
tantamount
tautological
temerity
tenable
tenacious
tenet
tentative
tenuous
terse
tirade
titular
tortuous
trauma
travesty
tryst
tout
transcend
transgress
transient
trepidation
trisected
turbid
trenchant
turpitude
ubiquitous
uncanny
unctuous
underpinning
unilateral
usury
unremitting
unwitting
urbane
utilitarian
utopia
vacillate
vacuous
vagary
vagabond
vagrant
valedictory
vapid
vehement
venal
venerate
verge
verger
veracity
verbatim
verbose
veridical
virile
verisimilitude
vernacular
vestige
vex
viable
vicarious
vicissitude
vie
vicarious
vilify
vindicate
vignette
virtuoso
virulent
visionary
viscous
vivacious
vocation
vociferous
vogue
volatile
voluptuous
voracious
volition
vortex
vouch
vulgar
waive
wane
wanton
wizened
wistful
wrath
zealous
zeitgeist
Vocabulary For
Alexander Hamilton Biography- by Ron Chernow
Betoken
Purblind
Disgorged
Metamorphosis
Promiscuous
Reticent
Vacillated
Mulatto
Ogre
Nemeses
Dank
Apothecary
Lackadaisical
Glaswegian ethos
Onerous
Splenetic
Vertiginous descent
Profligate
Providential
Ineradicable passim
Incongruously
Languid
Vendetta
Omnivorous
Valerian
Disinherited
Lambasted
Scuttlebutt
Decapitation
Despotism
Anglophile
Wenches
Vitriolic
Ravish
Pugnacious
Fidgets
Nomadic
Cloistered
Consternation
Complexion
Urbanity
Erudition
Jovial
Queasily
Collegian
Epicurean
Stoic
Unctuous
Stealthily
Acuity
Grandiloquence
Taunted
Tantamount
Puerile
Fallacious
Venial “sin”
Embryonic
Bravura
Dearth
Blatant
Hercules
Vociferous
Gesticulating
Clamber
Meandered
Banal
Reticent
Harum-scarum
Deign
Sangfroid
Plebian
Patrician
Polemical
Pander
Swooning
Frenetic
Anomalous
Meritocracy
Fastidious
Regaled
Riding the rail
Miscreants
Inauspicious
Gluttonous
Inebriate(d)
Dawdled and botched
Prowess
Jubilation
Voracious
Bulbous
Canard
Sterile
Condescension
Diffident
Taciturn
Intuit
Deft
Facile
Oedipal
Loathe
Avarice
Epaulets
Rapier
Congenial
Abstemious
Vivacity
Heroic verse
Badinage
Rakes
Anathematized
Vixens
August
Meteoric
Canine
Rapturous
Voguish
Sanguine
Covey
Vainglorious
Siphon
Diminutive
Rascality
Cocksure
Obdurate
Wunderkind
Throbbing
Inimitable
Tactless
Treacherous
Villainous
Cindery
Malevolent
Cabal
Debilitated
Famine
Snappish
Stoicism
Dragoon
Parochial
Pomposity
Duplicity
Martinet
Autodidact
Expunge
Pander
Cogent
Driveller
Umbrage
Sedative
Ubiquitous
Minions
Vilify
Hectored
Realpolitik
Bane
Virulent
Jocular
Nadir
Titillated
Sanctimony
Prig
Avarice
Termagant
Devoid
Supercilious
Rectitude
Seductress
Flirtatious
Termagant
Enraptured
Ardor
Opulent
Debonair
Claverack
Clandestine
Precocity
Schadenfreude
Jaundiced
Misanthropic
Gullible
Brazen
Provenance
Superabundant
Folie de grandeur
Probity
Marathon
Mortis
Coalesce
Unerring
Assuage
Sappers
Scurrilous
Poppycock
Quicksilver
Waspish
Barrister
Incongruous
Hypochondria
Surrogates
Mollify
Gaunter
Licentiousness
Hypoheteroerotic
Dawdle
Dour
Urbane
Sartorial elegance
Fastidious
Pomatum
Swashbuckling
Swathed
Pro bono basis
Olympian
Encomium
Pathos
Prolix
Meritocracy
Frivolous
Escapades
Tittle-tattle
Patent vanity
Womanizing
Habitués
Deism
Luminary
Autodidactic
Indigence
Agog
Tandem
Egalitarian
Nefarious
Perfidy
Cavalcade
Lurid
Rambunctious
Stevedore
Punctilious
Potentates
Venomous
Arrogating
Shibboleths
Circuitous
Republicanism
Tutelary
Trenchant
Hostelry
Onerous
Aplomb
Trepidation
Latent
Sanguine
Rhapsodized
Mercurial
Diminutive
Bedeviled
Quixotic
Visceral
Adumbrate
Apostasy
Fickle
Meritocratic
Jugular
Finagle
Limbo
Sop
Colluding
Conviviability
Besotted
Levitate
Gingerly
Devoid
Avidity
Quotidian politics
Nadir
Apex
Invective
Incipient
Treachery
Rotundity
Equipages
Taciturn
Banter
Mellifluous
Herculean
Juggernaut
Sedulous
Hyperbole
Insidious
Cabal
Sagacity
Opine
Exculpated
Hobgoblins
Truculence
Labdanum
Douceur
Laxity
Screed
Temerity
Luminous
Venal
Waft
Galvanic
Din
Excoriated
Dovetailed
Splenetic
Invective
Livid
Venomous
Conundrum
Dyspeptic
Prolix
Sanguinary
Misanthropic
Paean
Denigrated
Mercurial
Psychosomatic
Preening
Congruence
Uppity
Minions
Pecuniary
Avarice
Truculence
Encourage students to check vocabulary every week in the Reader’s Digest.
52 weeks X 4 years = 208 weeks
208 X 25 words = 5200 words during a four year high school career.