Transition Phrases

Transition Phrases

Transition Phrases, or signal words, help you, the reader, follow the direction of a writer’s thought. They are like signposts on the road that guide the traveler. Below are lists of common signal words you might come across in your readings. Use these to help you navigate your texts to determine what the author is trying to convey.

Example wordstell us that a writer will provide one or more examplesto make a given idea clear. Here are some common example words:

(for) example / (for) instance / to illustrate
including / such as / once

Comparison words let the reader know that the author is pointing out a similarity between two subjects. Here are some common comparison words:

like / in the same way / similarly / likewise
equally / alike / just as / just
in like manner / similarity / as in a similar fashion / same

Contrast wordssignal that a writer is pointing out differences between subjects. Here are some common words that show contrast:

but / instead / still / difference
yet / in contrast / as opposed to / different(ly)
however / on the other hand / in spite of / differs from
although / on the contrary / despite / unlike
nevertheless / even though / rather than / while

Cause and effect words show that the writer is discussing one or more reasons or results. Here are some common cause and effect words:

therefore / so / because (of) / thus
(as a) result / effect / (as a) consequence / results in
cause / explanation / consequently / lead to
affect / due to / since / reason

Emphasis words are where the writer tells you directly that a particular idea or detail is especially important. Here are some common emphasis words:

important to note / the most substantial issue / a vital force / most of all
remember that / above all / a significant factor / a major event
a central issue / a primary concern / the chief outcome / a distinctive quality
a key feature / the principal item / especially relevant / the main value
pay particular attention to / should be noted / especially valuable / the chief factor

Addition words tell you that the writer’s thought is going to continue in the same direction. S/he is going to add on more points or details of the same kind. Here are some common addition words:

also / first / furthermore / likewise
and / another / first of all / in addition
moreover / second / finally / for one thing
last of all / next / the third reason / similarly