What We Have Covered in This Article
Last Updated on August 27, 2021 by Editor Futurescope
Every new day is a perfect opportunity to become a better writer. No matter if you are a gingerly beginner or a true essay guru, there is always some writing trick that might help you make your writing more powerful, convincing, and effective.
Transitional devices are among the most useful writing tools. And though we might think that we already know them all, it always pays to look through the ones you keep stored in your brain for future use and start using them more frequently. After all, the more diverse your writing toolkit is – the better.
There are many ways to diversify your transitional arsenal. Some writing exercises zoom in on transitional devices: they always come in handy. You can also read essays written by your favorite authors and take a closer look at the transitions. Another good idea would be to learn from a professional essay writer working for a reliable essay writing service.
But first, you need to make it clear for yourself what precisely transitional writing devices are and why they are so important.
What Are Transitional Devices?
Transitional devices are verbal ‘bridges’ built between sentences and paragraphs. They connect ideas into a logical argument and help the author guide the reader through the text. They can lead the reader’s attention forward toward the conclusion or, vice versa, point to something mentioned previously.
Why Are Transitional Devices So Important?
Transitional devices make your narrative more coherent, cohesive, and well-organized. They link different paragraphs to your thesis statement. In other words, they bind sentences and paragraphs into one synergistic unity.
Without them, your writing would seem patchy, jerky, and inconclusive. Metaphorically speaking, transitional devices tie the scattered beads into one sparkling necklace that your readers will duly appreciate.
What Are the Main Functions of Transitional Words in a Text?
Transitional words are a roadmap that helps the reader to find the way through the text. They not only connect the sentences and paragraphs into one unity, but they also serve various specific purposes. They can be used:
1. To Add Items and Ideas
Again, also, and then, and, another, as well as, besides, both-and, equally important, finally, for one thing, further, furthermore, in addition, in the second place, last, lastly, likewise, more, moreover, next, not only-but also, similarly, too, what’s more.
2. To Specify the Time
After, afterward, always, and then, as soon as, at first, at last, at length, later, at once, at the same time, before, briefly, concurrently, during the morning, day, week, etc., finally, for a minute, etc., immediately, in the meantime, in the past (or future), last, meanwhile, never, next, now, often, eventually once, ordinarily, previously, promptly, rarely, simultaneously, sometimes, soon, subsequently, then, thereafter, to begin with, usually.
3. To Describe Spatial Relationships
Under, above, among, around, straight ahead, at the bottom/front/rear/forefront, at the right/top/left, at this point, behind, below, nearby, beneath, beside, beyond, down, here, in front of, in the background above, in the distance, on the other side, in the forefront, at the left, along the edge, in the foreground, inside, across, next to, forward, on top, on, opposite, out of sight, over, surrounding, through, within sight.
4. To Explain and Convince
Evidently, for the same reason, furthermore, because, in any case, in fact, besides, indeed, moreover, since, that is, obviously.
5. To Compare and Contrast
After all, although this may be true, in contrast, although, in like fashion, analogous to, at the same time, balanced against, but, by comparison, compared to, contrarily, conversely, differently, even so, however, in like manner, in spite of, in the same way, meanwhile, notwithstanding, on the one/other hand, on the contrary, nevertheless, or, rather, similarly, still, up against, vis a vis, whereas, while this may be true, likewise, yet.
6. To Emphasize, Highlight, and Persuade
Above all, absolutely, always, certainly, definitely, emphatically, eternally, extremely, forever, furthermore, in any case, in fact, in truth, indeed, most important, naturally, never, obviously, of course, perennially, positively, really, surely, surprisingly, truly, undeniably, unquestionably, without a doubt, without reservation.
7. To Offer More Details
Especially, in detail, in particular, including, namely, specifically, to enumerate, to explain, to list.
8. To Point to the Result or Consequence
Consequently, due to, accordingly, as a result, for that/this reason, hence, since, so that, so, because, then, therefore, thus, with the result that.
9. To Illustrate and Offer an Example
For instance, in this/another case, as an illustration, for example, in this situation, on this occasion, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate.
10. To Compromise
At least, although, even though, at any rate, granted that, in spite of, still, of course, while it may be true.
11. To Make a Suggestion
With this in mind, therefore, for this purpose, to this end.
12. To Summarize or Conclude
As can be seen, as I have said/shown, all things considered, altogether, as has been noted, as shown above, after all, consequently, in conclusion, definitely, finally, in short, generally speaking, given these points, hence, in any event, in brief, in essence, in other words, in summary, in the long run, overall, summing up, therefore, thus, to conclude, to sum up, to summarize, ultimately.
Of course, these categories are provisional and have been introduced for the sake of the user’s convenience. Some of the words and phrases can be found in two or even more categories. Others have been omitted due to their extremely rare usage. However, the main aim of this classification is to illustrate the rich multitude of transitional devices and to motivate writers to expand their ‘transitional toolset.’
Another thing that you need to remember is that introducing transitional words and phrases is not enough to make your narrative logical and coherent, though they definitely can make your essay much more readable and convincing.
Final Thoughts
Your sentences and paragraphs should be able to work together even without transitions, and the logical relationships between them should be clear enough for the reader to see them ‘with the unaided eye.’
