help papers read more smoothly by providing coherenceA coherent paper allows the reader to flow from the first supporting point to the last.
Transitions indicate relations,
whether from sentence to sentence, or from paragraph to paragraph. This is a list of "relationships" which supporting ideas may have, followed by a list of "transitional" words and phrases which
can connect those ideas.
Addition:
also, besides, furthermore, in addition, moreover, again
Consequence:
accordingly, as a result, consequently, hence, otherwise, so then, therefore, thus,
thereupon
Summarizing:
after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any
event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short in summary, in the final
analysis, in the long run, on balance, on the whole, to sum up, to summarize,
finally
Generalizing:
as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily,
usually
Restatement:
in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put it
differently
Contrast and Comparison:
contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise, on one hand, on the
contrary, on the other hand, rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless,
in contrast
Sequence:
at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for
the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then,
soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion
Diversion:
by the way, incidentally
Illustration:
for example, for instance, for one thing
Similarity:
likewise, similar, moreover
Direction:
here, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above, to the left, to the
right, in the distance
