Transition signals

What are transition signals?

Transition signals signpost or indicate to the reader the relationships between sentences and between paragraphs, making it easier for the reader to understand your ideas. We use a variety of transition signals to fulfil a number of functions. 

Some of these functions include: 

• to show the order or sequence of events.
• to indicate that a new idea or an example will follow.
• to show that a contrasting idea will be presented.
• to signal a summary or a conclusion.

How are transition signals useful?

Transition signals will:

• make it easier for the reader to follow your ideas.
• create links between sentences and paragraphs to improve the flow of information across the whole text. 
• help to carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another or from one paragraph to another.

How are transition signals used?

• Transition signals are usually placed at the start of sentences; however, they may also appear in the middle or end of sentences.
• A transition signal, or the clause introduced by a transition signal, is usually separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
• You DO NOT need to use transition signals in every sentence in a paragraph; however, good use of transition words will help to make the relationship between the ideas in your writing clear and logical.

Which transition signals can I use?

Before choosing a particular transition signal to use, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure that it's the right match for the logic in your paper. Transition signals all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations.

To introduce examples

specifically	in this case	to illustrate	for instance
for example	one example of this is	to demonstrate	on this occasion

To show opposite ideas or exceptions

alternatively	in contrast	on the other hand	but
despite	in spite of	still	instead
whereas	even though	nevertheless	while
however	one could also say	yet

To show agreement

accordingly

in accordance with

To introduce an additional idea

additionally	as well as	in addition	again
also	besides	moreover	equally important
and	furthermore	one could also say	further
and then

To indicate sequence or order, or divide an idea

after	eventually	previously	next
finally	first	second	third
at this point	followed by	subsequently	simultaneously
at this time	last	concurrently	ultimately
before	meanwhile	and then

To indicate time

after	earlier	previously	later
at this point	finally	prior to	formerly
soon	at this time	immediately	then
before	initially	thereafter	during

To compare

likewise	like	just like	another way to view this
by comparison	balanced against	whereas	while
similarly

To contrast

a different view is	even so	nevertheless	yet
balanced against	in contrast	still	however
but	on the contrary	unlike	notwithstanding
conversely	on the other hand	differing from

To show cause and effect

and so	consequently	therefore	as a consequence
as a result	for this reason	thus	hence

To summarise or conclude

as a result	in conclusion	therefore	as shown
in other words	thus	consequently	in summary
to conclude	finally	on the whole	to summarise
hence	summing up	ultimately	in brief

Example

The example below illustrates how transition signals can be used to improve the quality of a piece of writing. Note how the ideas flow more smoothly and the logical relationships between the ideas are expressed clearly.

References:

The Learning Centre. (2013), Transition signals in writing, University of New South Wales. https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/transition-signals-writing#main-content

Unilearning 2000, Transition signals, University of Wollongong.<The UniLearning website is no longer available>.