English is a language that will build your career. It has immense potential as it is one of the most important skills in the corporate world. In a sentence, transitional words and phrases will help to make every piece of the sentence in a flow. It will help to connect one idea to another and make the flow better.
In the English language, there are many times types of transitional phrases which will show a variety of relationship by connecting ideas. Some transitional words will help you to show the order where you could easily understand the event that occurs, while others explain a cause-effect relationship. This relationship will allow you to present your ideas in a hierarchy of importance.
But before moving ahead we will learn about the transitional words and phrases and later on we will discuss the application.
The Purpose & Use of Transition Words and Phrases
Some of the most basic transitional words are conjunctions that will help you to join the sentences. For example, words like ‘and’, ‘but’ and ‘or’ are some words that are as transitional words in a sentence.
Let’s check out this sentence. It will help you to understand it in a better way.
- She ran home. She got there just in time.
- She ran home and got there just in time.
As you can see in the above example, even this simple conjunctions serve different purposes when you need to join the sentences. In the first case, the sentence uses “and” as a transition word that connects the two occurrences equally. With such examples you can easily know the different transition words mean will help you choose the ones that best get your point across. Some other transition words are adverbs that describe the way an action is performed or how it relates to another idea.
The Different Categories & Types Of Transition Words
You might not be surprised to know that there are several types of transitional words and phrases. Every category will help the readers to make certain connections. In some transitional phrases or words, you would see that they build ideas whereas in some cases you draw conclusions.
Now, we will help you to know what are some categorical transitional words.
1. Different Words used for Comparison And Contrast : They can be used alternatively.
- Likewise
- Similarly
- But
- on the contrary
2. Different Chronology Words – These transitions help define time:
- later
- before
- during
- simultaneously
3. Transition Words for Cause/Effect : These transitions show the consequences of an action:
- because
- since
- therefore
- as a result
4. Transitions for Illustration/Examples : These transitions add emphasis or introduce evidence:
- truly
- to demonstrate
- specifically
5. Transition Words say ‘In Addition’ : These transitions add information or reinforce ideas:
- furthermore
- also
- moreover
6. Transitions for Clarification : These words help you show support:
- to put it another way
- in other words
- that is
7. Transition words for Qualification : These transitions present conditions or intentions:
- almost
- with this in mind
- possibly
Placement Of Transition Words in Sentences and Paragraphs
Now we will help you to understand the placement of these transition words in a sentence.
For example,
- Did you know bowling is a sport in which the players with the highest score wins?
You need to know that the transition words can be used within single sentences, in between two different sentences or even between paragraphs. You will see how your writing or using transition words can improve the level of your sentences. You can add transition words in a place where you would feel that the sentences are ending up abruptly and there is no relationship between them. This can happen in the case of paragraphs as well.
Mostly the transition words are used to connect two parts in a single sentence. They are helpful in highlighting the chronological events that are occurring. When the transition words are used, they will combine the two sentences will help the third sentence flow logically from the one before it. When you add these transition words, you will see that there are disjointed words.
We saw the use of transition words in the case of sentences. Now we would move ahead to know how they can be used in between the paragraphs. This time you would be needing transition phrases. They will be used at the beginning of the paragraph. Or it will refer to the previous information while introducing a new idea. For example,
- In addition, you will have to prepare for different exams.
- In conclusion, your thesis and dissertation work will be profound.
Read More about using Transitions to connect sentences and paragraphs.
Conclusion:
Here we could help you out with a few examples that make use of transitional words and phrases available in the English language. You can keep practicing daily from your end to make sure that your writings are smooth and worthy of reading. EnglishBix will always be there to help you.