A Collection Of Literary Transition Words For Essay Writing
Transitions (also called “signal words”) are the words and phrases that help link ideas and give them the right expression. They help the writer communicate clearly and subordinate the thoughts presented when placed at key points, leading the audience through the text. Transitions can be assigned to the following categories:
Addition
- in addition
- also
- moreover
- even more
- besides
- further
- furthermore
- too
- finally
- first
- second, secondly, etc.
- last, lastly
- finally
- again
- likewise
- in the same way
- after
- afterward
- following this
- hence
- indeed
- nor
- consequently
- subsequently
- thus
- what’s more
Contrast
- although
- a distinct difference
- an opposing view
- a striking distance
- but
- by contrast
- in contrast
- yet
- while
- and yet another distinction
- balanced against
- conversely
- by contrast
- contrarily
- even though
- different from
- for
- at the same time
- despite
- despite the fact that
- up against
- the antithesis of
- regardless
- otherwise
- to oppose
- on the other hand
Comparison
- likewise
- just as
- also
- as well as
- equal
- conversely
- compared to
- analogous to
- identical
- matching
- similarly
- relatively
- similarly
- too
- in like manner
- in similar fashion
Time order
- earlier
- recently
- in retrospect
- previously
- former
- formerly
- (not) long ago
- preceding
- now
- by now
- until now
- at present
- during
- so far
- currently
- simultaneously
- at this moment
- hereafter
- in the future
- henceforth
- in a while
- after a long time
- afterward
- soon after
- right after
- later on
- always
- never
- once
Place
- here
- there
- nearby
- wherever
- beyond
- above
- opposite to
- below
- close to
Cause and Effect
- consequently
- as a consequence
- resulting in
- as a result
- accordingly
- due to
- for
- so
- subsequently
- because
- hence
- in effect
- owing to
- then
- therefore
- thus
- on account of
Example and Illustration
- for example
- for instance
- in fact
- as an example
- in this case
- in order to clarify
- in particular
- to illustrate
- as an illustration
Exception
- despite
- in spite of
- nevertheless
- yet
- still
- however
Emphasis and Intensification
- actually
- after all
- above all
- moreover
- especially
- certainly
- mostly
- most of all
- indeed
- surely
- to be sure
- to emphasize
- without a doubt
- undoubtedly
- likely
- primarily
- in fact
- the major concern
- increasingly
- by all means
- of course
Summary and Conclusion
- all in all
- finally
- to sum up
- to summarize
- summarizing all the above mentioned
- in sum
- in summary
- in brief
- briefly
- to conclude
- in conclusion
- as has been noted
- on the whole
- the upshot of all
All in all, literary transitions are an essential part of any piece of writing. They help readers have the right and easier perception of the text by making it more readable, emotional and coherent.
