Transition Words & Phrases | List & Examples

Published on July 19, 2024 by Kayla Anderson Hewitt, MA Revised on September 24, 2025

Transition words and phrases are used to connect ideas in your writing and help readers understand your arguments. Also called connecting words, linking words, transitional words, or sentence starters (when used at the beginning of a sentence), these words describe the relationship between phrases, sentences, or paragraphs.

Transition words example

Many researchers (e.g., Bates, 2019; Chan, 2022) have argued that the two variables are correlated. Others, however, disagree (Jones and Hernandez, 2023). Thus, the question is not yet settled.

Understanding and using transition words effectively is necessary to produce clear and cohesive writing. Using a paraphraser like QuillBot’s can help you integrate transition words into your writing.

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Transition words for essays
How to use transition words effectively
Common mistakes with transition words
Frequently asked questions about transition words

Transition words for essays

Transition words can be divided into four categories: sequential, additive, causal, and adversative. These four categories can be further subdivided into more specific functions.

Sequential transition words

Sequential transition words can be used to indicate the order you’re presenting ideas in your essay or an order of events. They are often used in academic writing to orient the reader to the text.

Transition words for initiation

Words and phrases to introduce “what happened first” include:

First of all
To begin with
Initially
In the first place
At first

Transition words for initiation example

Initially, I planned to survey 500 students, but this proved infeasible.

Transition words for enumeration

You can use these words and phrases to list or order your points:

First/second/third, etc.
Finally
Firstly/secondly/thirdly, etc.
Lastly
As a final point

Transition words for enumeration example

There are three questions to consider when analyzing a source: First, is the author an expert in the field? Second, has it been published within the past 10 years? Third, …

Transition words for continuation

Words to order steps in a sequence or process include:

Next
Subsequently
Before X
After X
Then
Previously
Eventually
Afterward

Transition words for continuation example

Next, I examine the justifications given for not entering the conflict.

Transition words for resumption

You can use these phrases to signal that you’re coming back to a previous point:

returning to/to return to
to resume
at any rate
as previously stated/mentioned

Transition words for resumption example

Returning to the nature versus nurture debate, it is evident that …

Transition words for summation

These words and phrases show that you’re going to make a summary or conclusion:

In summary
Overall
In conclusion
Altogether
In sum
To summarize

Transition words for summation example

Milholland (2021) makes a similar point. Overall, the critical consensus is …

Additive transition words

You can use additive transition words to introduce examples or new details. They add to, clarify, or make a comparison with previous text.

Transition words for examples and illustrations

The following transition words introduce examples or highlight specific cases:

For example
For instance
Such as
Like
Including
Particularly
In particular
Especially

Example of transition words for examples and illustrations

Employees expressed dissatisfaction about many aspects of the company. For example, Participant A mentioned …

Transition words for addition

These words and phrases show that you are adding or reinforcing a point:

Additionally
Moreover
Furthermore
Also
Both x and y
Not only x but also y

Transition words for addition example

Residents were surprised by the lack of communication. Furthermore, they expressed anger that …

Transition words for similarity

You can use the following transition words and phrases to point out similarities or make comparisons:

Likewise
Similarly
In the same way
Equally

Transition words for similarity example

Students celebrated the creation of the new major. Likewise, faculty expressed their excitement about it.

Transition words for reference

These words and phrases signal the topic or subject you’re about to address:

In regard to x,
Considering x,
On the subject of x,
Concerning x

Transition words for reference example

Location and pay scale were mentioned frequently by participants. On the subject of location, participants described …

Transition words for clarification

Words and phrases to introduce a clarification or further explanation include:

Namely
Specifically
That is (to say)
In other words
More precisely

Transition words for clarification example

Confirmation bias is the human tendency to interpret events in light of one’s already-held beliefs. In other words, we see what we want to see.

Transition words for emphasis

You can use these words and phrases to emphasize a point you’re making:

Indeed
Above all
More/most importantly
In fact

Transition words for emphasis example

We need to focus on several goals this quarter. Most importantly, we should aim to reduce complaints by 10%.

Causal transition words

You can use causal transition words to describe causes and effects.

Transition words for condition

These words and phrases introduce a condition:

Provided that
On the condition that
(Even/only) if/when
As long as
In the event that
Inasmuch as
In case

Transition words for condition example

We enrolled teenagers in the study provided that they had parental permission.

Transition words for consequence

The following words signal that you’re pointing out a consequence:

Hence
Thus
Consequently
Therefore

Transition words for consequence example

Pilot study participants indicated unfamiliarity with the term “scaffolding.” Thus, a definition was provided.

Transition words for purpose

You can use these words and phrases to explain a purpose:

In order to/that
So that
For the purpose of
With this in mind

Transition words for consequence example

We designed the program to be as flexible as possible. With this in mind, we included a substantial amount of asynchronous study.

Adversative transition words

You can use adversative transition words to indicate a contrast or disagreement with what has come previously.

Transition words for conflict

These words and phrases introduce a contrast or contradiction between two ideas:

However
But
Although
While
On the other hand
In contrast
Whereas
Conversely
Though

Transition words for conflict example

Kim’s work is bold and colorful. In contrast, Levant employs a more muted style.

Transition words for dismissal

These words and phrases downplay the importance of a previous point, indicating that it does not affect the overall argument.

Whatever the case
Regardless
Either way
In any event/in either event
All the same
At any rate

Transition words for dismissal example

It is not clear whether the CEO’s complaints were related more to style or substance. Regardless, the project has been nixed.

Transition words for concession

You can use these words and phrases to show that you accept a fact or point, but this doesn’t change your argument:

Nonetheless
Nevertheless
Even so
Despite x
Notwithstanding x
Regardless (of x)
In spite of x
Admittedly
Though

Transition words for concession example

Admittedly, Lebens (2022) is correct in her critique of the book’s length. Nevertheless, it is an important work of fiction.

Transition words for replacement

Here are some words and phrases to adjust what you’ve just said or offer an alternative:

(Or) rather
(Or) at least
Instead
If not
Or (perhaps) even

Transition words for replacement example

If not beautiful, the building is at least awe-inspiring.

These lists of transitions are adapted from those created by Prof. Campbell, Prof. Buckhoff, and Prof. Dowell at Michigan State University under a Creative Commons license.

How to use transition words effectively

Often, transition words are used to begin a new sentence or clause. They show how the sentence relates to the previous one.

Transition word at the beginning of a sentence example

The proposed plan will not fit into the company’s budget. Moreover, it has no chance of succeeding in the current climate.

Transition words can also be used in the middle of a clause. When used in this way, you need to pay careful attention to placement.

Transition word in the middle of a sentence example

Critics say the proposed plan is too expensive and, moreover, doomed to fail.

Example paragraph with and without transition words

The text below contains all of the necessary facts, but it lacks any transition words. This makes it difficult to determine what the connection is between the sentences and what point the writer is trying to make.

Paragraph without transition words example

Advocates of free will argue that humans have the ability to make choices that are not determined solely by external or internal factors. Supporters of determinism argue that all events have causes and are predictable in principle if one had complete knowledge of the influencing factors. Genetic determinism is the idea that genetic variations can predispose individuals to certain behavioral tendencies.

Paragraph with transition words example

Advocates of free will argue that humans have the ability to make choices that are not determined solely by external or internal factors. In contrast, supporters of determinism argue that all events have causes and are predictable in principle. For example, genetic determinism is the idea that genetic variations can predispose individuals to certain behavioral tendencies.

Don’t overuse transition words

It is possible to overdo transition words. Not every clause needs an explicit transition. In the example below, the repetition of the same type of linking word feels repetitive.

Overuse of transition words example

We gave the subjects a piece of paper and a pen. Then, we asked them to write down five random numbers. Then, we collected the papers. Next, we gave students a multiple-choice arithmetic test. Subsequently, we returned their original paper.

In this example, it makes the most sense to combine sentences so that fewer linking words are required.

Appropriate use of transition words example

We gave the subjects a piece of paper and a pen and asked them to write down five random numbers. We then collected the papers and gave students a multiple-choice arithmetic test. Next, we returned their original paper.

Effective use of transition words involves finding the right balance. Too few transition words can mean a text is difficult to follow, but too many can seem unnatural.

Common mistakes with transition words

It is easy to make mistakes with transition words and phrases because they often have subtle differences in meaning and grammatical function.

Using transition words incorrectly means that your audience won’t be able to follow your arguments. Identifying some of the more common mistakes can help you be aware of them in your writing.

Creating sentence fragments

Some transition words (e.g., “if,” “because,” “although”) are subordinating conjunctions. They are used to begin dependent clauses, which cannot stand on their own as sentences.

Clauses that start with these words must be attached to an independent clause. When they’re not, they are considered a sentence fragment.

Sentence fragment example

In the example below, the second sentence is a sentence fragment. It is introduced by a subordinating conjunction but not attached to an independent clause.

We excluded the results from people over age 65 from the analysis. Because there were only two people in this age bracket.

It can be fixed by connecting the dependent clause to the independent clause. The dependent clause can come before or after the independent clause.

We excluded the results from people over age 65 from the analysis because there were only two people in this age bracket.
Because there were only two people over age 65, we excluded their results from the analysis.

Beginning a sentence with and, so, or also

In academic writing, the words “and,” “so,” and “also” are not used to begin sentences because they are considered too informal.

Improper sentence beginning example

Also, respondents filled out a Likert scale questionnaire.

This can be fixed by moving the transition word or by using a more formal transition word.

Respondents also filled out a Likert scale questionnaire.
Additionally, respondents filled out a Likert scale questionnaire.

Misuse of therefore

“Therefore” and other causal transition words are used when something follows logically, or is the result of, what has come before. People often misuse “therefore” when there is no cause-and-effect relationship.

Therefore example

We asked participants to log the number of minutes of exercise they did each day. Therefore, the average amount of exercise per day was 23 minutes.

This example is illogical because it implies that the average amount of exercise is a result of participants being asked to log their exercise, which is false. In this case, we can delete “therefore” to make the sentence logical.

We asked participants to log the number of minutes of exercise they did each day. The average amount of exercise per day was 23 minutes.

Frequently asked questions about transition words

What are good transition words for conclusions?: Good transition words and phrases for conclusions include:

To conclude (with)

Finally

At last

As a final point

In conclusion

Lastly

In sum

Overall

The transition you choose will depend on the level of formality of your text and the argument you have made.

Using QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tool can help you vary your word choice.
What are good transition words to start a paragraph?: Good transition words and phrases to start a paragraph depend on the purpose of the paragraph and how it relates to the previous one.

Transition words to start a paragraph

Function of paragraph Transition word examples

Introducing a point to begin with, first of all, first (or second or third)

Building on a previous point furthermore, to illustrate, considering x, on the subject of x, similarly, consequently, returning to x

Contrasting with a previous point however, in contrast, on the other hand

QuillBot’s free AI paragraph generator makes starting paragraphs easy. Simply give it a prompt, and it will instantly craft a well-structured paragraph. Or, you can input paragraphs you’ve already written an ask the tool to suggest appropriate transitions.
What are good transition words to show contrast?: Good transition words and phrases to show contrast include:

However

Although

In contrast

Conversely

Whereas

On the other hand

While

The transition you choose will depend on the level of formality of your text and your sentence structure.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your word choice.
What are good transition words for essays?: Some good transition words and phrases for essays include “first (of all),” “initially,” “to begin with,” “for example,” “in particular,” “conversely,” “in summary,” “overall,” and “finally.”

QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool can help you add variety to the transition words you use in your writing.
What are good transition words for the first body paragraph in an essay?: Good transition words and phrases for the first body paragraph in an essay include:

To begin with

First

Initially

First of all

Considering x

On the subject of x

QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool can help you find options for transition words.

Transition words to start a paragraph
Function of paragraph	Transition word examples
Introducing a point	to begin with, first of all, first (or second or third)
Building on a previous point	furthermore, to illustrate, considering x, on the subject of x, similarly, consequently, returning to x
Contrasting with a previous point	however, in contrast, on the other hand

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Anderson Hewitt, K. (2025, September 24). Transition Words & Phrases | List & Examples. Quillbot. Retrieved November 5, 2025, from https://quillbot.com/blog/sentence-and-word-structure/transition-words/

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Kayla Anderson Hewitt, MA

Kayla has a master's degree in teaching English as a second language. She has taught university-level ESL and first-year composition courses. She also has 15 years of experience as an editor.