A transition is a word or phrase such as however, as a result, for example or then that tells the reader how one idea connects to the last. The skill is not memorising a list. It is deciding what the relationship between two sentences really is, then choosing the word that says so.
Transitions appear in every continuous writing task, and examiners notice when a link says the opposite of what the sentences mean. This lesson follows maintaining clear pronoun reference in paragraph cohesion.
How do you choose the right transition?
Ask one question about the second sentence: what is it doing to the first? Most relationships fall into a few groups.
| Relationship | What the second sentence does | Examples of transitions |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast | goes against the first | however, but, on the other hand, even so |
| Cause and result | follows because of the first | as a result, therefore, so, consequently |
| Addition | adds another point in the same direction | also, in addition, moreover |
| Example | gives a case of the first | for example, for instance |
| Sequence | comes after the first in time or order | then, next, afterwards, finally |
Work out the relationship first. Only then pick from the row. If you cannot name the relationship, the sentences may not be connected yet, and a transition will not fix that.
Worked example
Fill each gap with a fitting transition.
(a) Kavi revised every night. ______ he found the mock paper hard.
(b) The bus was late. ______ Kavi missed the first ten minutes of the exam.
(c) Kavi calmed down and read the instructions slowly. ______ he wrote a short plan for the essay.
(a) The second sentence goes against what we expected from all that revision. That is contrast, so: Even so, he found the mock paper hard. or However.
(b) Missing the start of the exam is caused by the late bus. That is cause and result, so: As a result, Kavi missed the first ten minutes.
(c) The plan comes after the calming down and reading. That is sequence, so: Then he wrote a short plan.
In each case the word was chosen because of what the second sentence does, not because it looked formal.
The mistake to watch for
Students often reach for moreover or furthermore as a general “formal” link.
The bus was late. Furthermore, Kavi missed the first ten minutes of the exam.
Furthermore promises another point in the same direction, as if the late bus and the missed time were two separate problems. They are one chain: the bus caused the missed time. The correction is to match the cause and result.
The bus was late. As a result, Kavi missed the first ten minutes of the exam.
The same trap appears with however used where there is no contrast, and with therefore used where nothing has been proved. A wrong transition is worse than none, because it sends the reader in the wrong direction.
Check yourself
1. Choose a transition: “The road was flooded. ______ we took the longer route.”
Show answer
The second sentence follows because of the first, so this is cause and result: “Therefore,” or “So,” or “As a result,”.
2. Choose a transition: “Most of the class prefers studying in the morning. ______ a few concentrate better late at night.”
Show answer
The second sentence goes against the general statement, so it is contrast: “However,” or “On the other hand,”.
3. What relationship does the second sentence have, and what transition fits? “Plants need light to grow. ______ a cactus kept in a dark cupboard will weaken quickly.”
Show answer
The second sentence is a case that illustrates the first, so it is an example: “For example,” or “For instance,”.
Where this leads next
Links between sentences work well when the paragraphs themselves are organised around the task. Continue with connect topic sentences with the task. You can also try your own paragraphs in the writing revision compare view, changing only the transitions and reading both versions aloud.
If you notice that you use the same three linking words in every answer, a teacher can help you widen your range while keeping each one accurate. That is part of online one-to-one English First Language tuition.