Paragraph Transitions

Paragraph transitions help the reader understand the connections between the paragraphs' ideas. They
also help to clarify for the reader how ideas relate to the thesis.

Paragraph Transition Dos and Don'ts

Do put the transition at the beginning of the new paragraph that it introduces.
This will show readers how your new topic connects to what came before it.
Don't put the transition at the end of the previous paragraph.
This sounds like you're bringing up a new point and then dropping it, which can confuse your reader.
Paragraphs should almost always end with the main point of that paragraph, not some new
point. Learn more about body paragraph structure.
Do show how the new paragraph relates to what came before it.
example: "Maintaining their spirituality gave Africans the strength and focus to revolt against their
slave masters."
This paragraph reminds us what came before it (that African slaves maintained their spirituality), and
connects it to the new topic (that this spirituality helped the slaves revolt against their masters).
Don't rely on single transition words to make the connections between paragraphs.
example: "Additionally, Africans also revolted against their slave masters."
While this does have a transitional word, "additionally," it doesn't really tell readers how this
information relates to what came before it.
Do use subordinators to create transitions between paragraphs.
example: "Although medical studies do not usually confirm the effectivenss of acupuncture, many
patients claim it has helped them with pain management and recovery from injuries."
Subordinators such as although, since, when, while, because, and asare all useful in transitioning
between paragraphs.

Essay Example
Notice the differences in the following example with and without the transitions:
WITHOUT TRANSITIONS
Traveling is my life. I work every day to fund my next trip. When I was 22, I went on my first trip by
myself. I went to the Netherlands, Scotland, and Ireland. After that trip, I knew that I would spend
the rest of my life traveling. I am so addicted to traveling that if I am not traveling, I am planning my
next trip.
            I receive many emails a day from different traveling web sites. Sherman’s Travel and Travel
Zoo are two of my favorites. When I open my email, the first thing I see is “Sale. $500 all inclusive 5
nights in Hawaii.” In my mind, I am already there. I am imagining myself lying on the beach, far
away from my daily responsibilities.
            I recently paid to receive a monthly magazine called Budget Travel. I knew that this would
help feed my addiction while I am saving for my next trip. This is one of the best traveling
magazines I have ever found. It gives random tips about traveling like, “keep a $100 bill folded up
inside my luggage tag for emergencies” (14).  The pictures entice me even further. My current issue
showed the views of Sicily, and now I must travel there.
            I decided to get a job that paid me to travel because I just couldn’t afford my habit. I worked
for a company called Offroad where I lead bicycle trips. It was a really hard job, but I got to spend
two months living and working in France’s wine country. I also went to the south and stood on the
red carpet where they hold the Cannes Film Festival. Riding bikes all summer was great, and
traveling around France was incredible, but the job was too much work and not enough play, so
although it fed my traveling addiction, I knew that job wasn’t for me.
            I have still managed to travel on my limited budget; I am currently planning a trip to
Vancouver, BC next month. I love to travel so much that I subscribe to both magazine and online
sources to feed my addiction. Every time I take a trip, it makes me want to see more of the world and
enjoy all it has to offer.
This short essay feels choppy. All of the sentences start with "I", and the 
reader is not often clear about how the paragraphs relate to each other nor 
how they relate to the thesis. These have been left to the reader's interpretation.
WITH TRANSITIONS
Traveling is my life. I work every day to fund my next trip. When I was 22, I went on my first trip by
myself. I went to the Netherlands, Scotland, and Ireland. After that trip, I knew that I would spend
the rest of my life traveling. I am so addicted to traveling that if I am not traveling, I am planning my
next trip.
            Since I am addicted to traveling, I make sure to stay on top of the latest deals. I receive
many emails a day from different traveling web sites. Sherman’s Travel and Travel Zoo are two of
my favorites. When I open my email, the first thing I see is “Sale. $500 all inclusive 5 nights in
Hawaii.” In my mind, I am already there. I am imagining myself lying on the beach, far away from
my daily responsibilities.
            As if receiving constant emails about deals wasn’t enough, I recently paid to receive a
monthly magazine called Budget Travel. I knew that this would help feed my addiction while I am
saving for my next trip. This is one of the best traveling magazines I have ever found. It gives
random tips about traveling like, “keep a $100 bill folded up inside my luggage tag for emergencies”
(14).  This is something that I have never thought of, but I know that even if I don’t use it, I will
definitely start checking luggage tags at the airport! Not only do I appreciate the traveling tips, but
the pictures entice me even further. My current issue showed the views of Sicily, and now I must
travel there.
            Although looking at magazines and web sites is exciting, it doesn’t compare to actually
traveling, so I decided to get a job that paid me to travel because I just couldn’t afford my habit. I
worked for a company called Offroad where I lead bicycle trips. It was a really hard job, but I got to
spend two months living and working in France’s wine country. I also went to the south and stood on
the red carpet where they hold the Cannes Film Festival. Riding bikes all summer was great, and
traveling around France was incredible, but the job was too much work and not enough play, so
although it fed my traveling addiction, I knew that job wasn’t for me.
            Although I am no longer working for the traveling company, I have still managed to
travel on my limited budget; I am currently planning a trip to Vancouver, BC next month. I love to
travel so much that I subscribe to both magazine and online sources to feed my addiction. Every time
I take a trip, it makes me want to see more of the world and enjoy all it has to offer.
     
Notice that without the transitions, the essay is understandable, but the author's ideas seem
disconnected from one another. However, with the transitions, the author has taken more control over
the reader's interpretation of the writer's work. The author's voice is much stronger and clearer in the
second example. In addition to the transitions at the beginning of the sentences, the second example
has a transition after a quote. Instead of just leaving the quote alone, the author has now told us why
he/she used that particular quote, again taking control over the reader's interpretations.

Examples of Transitional Words

and Phrases
Transition words and phrases help make a piece of writing flow better and connect one idea to the
next. Because there's more than one way to connect ideas, there are many types of transitional
phrases to show a variety of relationships. Some words will help you show the order in which events
occur, while others explain a cause-and-effect relationship or allow you to present your ideas in a
hierarchy of importance.

What Are Transition Words and Phrases?

The most basic transition words are conjunctions that join words, phrases or clauses together. For
example, words like "and," "but" and "or" can connect two sentences together:
I ran home, and I got there just in time.

I ran home, but I was still late.

As you can see in the example above, even simple conjunctions serve different purposes. The first
sentence uses "and" as a transition word that connects the two occurrences equally. The second
sentence uses "but," which introduces a contrast. Knowing what different transition words mean will
help you choose the ones that best get your point across.
Other transition words are adverbs that describe the way an action is performed or how it relates to
another idea. For example:
I went to the mall after he gave me my paycheck.
Bowling is a sport in which the player with the highest score wins. Conversely, the goal in golf is to
get the lowest score.

Placement of Transition Words

Transition words can be used within a single sentence, between two different sentences or even
between paragraphs. See how the writing below can be improved by adding transition words in each
of these situations.
Original: Susan spoke, thinking of the right answer.

With Transitions: Susan spoke only after thinking of the right answer.

In this case, the transition words are used to connect two parts of a single sentence. This transition
highlights chronology, or the order in which events occurred.
Original: Michael didn't have enough money to buy his mom flowers. He wasn't old enough to get a
job. He felt sad on Mother's Day.

With transitions: Michael didn't have enough money to buy his mom flowers because he wasn't old
enough to get a job. Nevertheless, he felt sad on Mother's Day.
The example above combines two sentences into one and helps a third sentence flow logically from
the one before it. Adding these transition words shows how three disjointed sentences are related to
each other, which otherwise might not be obvious to the reader.
When transitions are used between paragraphs, they are often in the form of a phrase or clause that
refers to the previous information while introducing a new idea. These transitions often come at the
beginning of new paragraphs and may use phrases like these:
1. In addition to point A, point B is also important.
2. In conclusion, the thesis is clear.
3. It follows logically that the answer results from the points made earlier in this paper.

Categories of Transition Words

There are several types of transitional words and phrases, and each category helps the reader to make
certain connections. Some signal the building of an idea, while others help readers compare ideas or
draw conclusions.
Here are some common transition words and examples of them in use.

Comparison/Contrast
These transitions point out alternatives or differences:
1. likewise
2. similarly
3. but
4. on the contrary
The boy liked birds, but he was afraid of cats. Similarly, he did not like lions and tigers. On the
contrary, he liked animals that could fly, such as sparrows and falcons. Likewise, he thought bats
were the most interesting mammals thanks to their wings.
Chronology
These transitions help define time:
1. later
2. before
3. during
4. simultaneously
Before you go home, make sure you jot down your assignments so you can review your
work during the evening. Later, you'll be glad you did when you can simultaneously study and eat
dinner.

Cause/Effect
These transitions show the consequences of an action:
1. because
2. since
3. therefore
4. as a result
Since you're such a good student, you'll get into a good college. Therefore, you can get a job you
like. As a result, you should be a happy person, because it's much easier to be happy when you do
something you love and make good money.

Illustration/Examples
These transitions add emphasis or introduce evidence:
1. truly
2. to demonstrate
3. specifically
Ellen loves ice cream. Truly, she'd be happy to eat sundaes every day-specifically, chocolate fudge
brownie sundaes. To demonstrate her love of ice cream, Ellen is planning an ice cream social for all
her friends.

Addition
These transitions add information or reinforce ideas:
1. furthermore
2. also
3. moreover
Jonas promised to love, honor and also obey his wife. Moreover, he will do all the cooking and
cleaning while he studies at home. Furthermore, he is grateful that his new wife earns enough money
to let him do that.

Clarification
These transitions show support:
1. to put it another way
2. in other words
3. that is
I hate school; that is, I dislike it intensely. In other words, I want to drop out. To put it another way,
school is the worst place in the world.

Qualification
These transitions present conditions or intentions:
1. almost
2. with this in mind
3. possibly
With what was possibly the greatest catch of all time, the Patriots won the Super Bowl.
They almost always win big games. With this in mind, they could be called the greatest team of all
time.

Summary/Conclusion
These transitions restate ideas:
1. as can be seen
2. given these points
3. in the long run
All the facts have been presented and, as can be seen, the results are clear. Given these points, it's
clearly time to consider some changes. In the long run, these recommendations will benefit our
company.

Building Smooth Transitions

These are just a few examples of the many transition words and phrases available in the English
language to make your writing more cohesive. Bear in mind, that it is possible for some words to be
placed in more than one category, depending on the way you use it or the ideas you're trying to
connect. For a longer list of transition words, see Transitional Word Lists for Students. The more
transition words you use in your writing, the smoother and more interesting it will be for your readers

Example
Notice the differences in the following paragraph with and without the transitions:
WITHOUT TRANSITIONS
One of my favorite hobbies is traveling. I decided to get a job that paid me to travel because I just
couldn’t afford my habit. I worked for a company called Offroad where I led bicycle trips. It was a
really hard job. I got to spend two months living and working in France’s wine country. I went to the
south and stood on the red carpet where they hold the Cannes Film Festival. Riding bikes all summer
was great, and traveling around France was incredible. The job was too much work and not enough
play. While it fed my traveling addiction, I knew that job wasn’t for me.
WITH TRANSITIONS
One of my favorite hobbies is traveling. Therefore, I decided to get a job that paid me to travel
because I just couldn’t afford my habit. I worked for a company called Offroad where I led bicycle
trips. It was a really hard job. I got to spend two months living and working in France’s wine
country. In addition, I went to the south and stood on the red carpet where they hold the Cannes
Film Festival. Riding bikes all summer was great, and traveling around France was
incredible; however, the job was too much work and not enough play. Thus, while it fed my
traveling addiction, I knew that job wasn’t for me.
Transitions make the paragraph much clearer, helping readers see the connections between the
sentences. Notice that transitions do not appear in every sentence, just when the connection betwee
ideas would not be clear without them.
 Identifying Types of Definitions

Learning Objectives:

 Identify formal definitions.

 Identify informal definitions.
 Identify extended definitions.

LESSON
When writers are trying to explain an unfamiliar idea, they rely
on definitions. All definitions attempt to explain or clarify a
term. This lesson will introduce you to the three different types
of definitions: formal, informal, and extended.

Formal Definitions

A formal definition consists of three parts: the term, the part of

speech to which it belongs, such as a noun or a verb, and all
the traits or characteristics that are specific to that term. The
dictionary is filled with formal definitions, but it is not the only
place where you will find them. Writers often include formal
definitions when they are writing about something that may be
unfamiliar to their readers. In textbooks, you may find the
formal definition of terms listed at the beginning, at the end of a
chapter, or in the glossary, which is a mini-dictionary of terms
relevant to that text.

Formal definition example:

Term: freedom

Part of speech: noun

 Definition: The power or right to act, speak, or think as one
wants without hindrance or restraint.

Informal Definitions

In an informal definition, the writer uses known words or

examples to explain an unknown term. These definitions may
be synonyms or antonyms introduced by or, in other words,
or like.

Informal definition example:

Freedom, also referred to as liberty or independence, is a

state people reach when they are free to think and do
whatever they please.

Extended Definitions

Extended definitions generally have components of both

informal and formal definitions. However, as the name suggests,
the author uses a number of other techniques to define a word,
concept, or phrase, including the following:
 Listing and describing the parts: identifying smaller, more
familiar pieces of an idea to point to the definition of the bigger
concept.
 Etymology: sharing a word's origin.
 Examples or anecdotes: telling a story or example that
illustrates the term.
 Negation: defining a term by explaining what the concept is
not.
 Evoking the senses: using a word that creates a picture in
the reader's mind so that the reader might relate through memory
of sound, sight, touch, hearing, or smell.
 Environment or sector: pointing out how and where
something is used.
 Ramifications: showing how the term or concept affects
people or objects.
 Historical references: showing how a word has been
defined throughout history.

Extended definition example:

To our colonial forefathers, freedom meant having a voice

in their government. (historical reference) The
Revolutionary War was a last resort against an empire that
continued to tax its colonists without the representation of
the colonists in Parliament. Since the United States won the
right to rule itself, our country has been referred to as "the
land of the free and the home of the brave." (example) True
freedom means the ability to think, feel, say, or act
however one chooses. (listing parts) It is a state where the
bars of bondage do not exist. (negation) Unfortunately, the
widening gap between the haves and have nots means that
some are now shackled by their lack of education. (evoke
the senses: shackled) Americans can attain real freedom
when everyone has the same educational opportunities.
One's understanding of the meaning of various terminology is greatly facilitated if an
appropriate type of definition is used. At least five types of definitions are relevant to
the discussion of Taiwan status issues. 

Lexical definitions attempt to report usage. All good dictionary definitions are lexical,
since they state how native speakers employ the words in all of their various senses. 

Stipulative definitions are those which specify or stipulate the meaning of a word or

phrase. Sometimes these involve the introduction of new terms, or the stipulation of
new meaning for old terms. 

Extensional definitions are simply a list of all the things to which the term applies.
For example, the term "Chinese Provincial Capital" can be defined extensionally by
listing all the capitals of the Chinese provinces. 

Intensional definitions list a set of properties such that the term applies to all things
having that set of properties, and to nothing else. A chemist or geologist might
supply us with an intentional definition of the term "gold". 

Ostensive definitions indicate the meaning of a term by providing a sample of the

things denoted. We can define "polite" ostensively by making a listing of polite
actions and behavior. 

Parenthetical Definitions
Parenthetical definitions are words that quickly explain a term and are included within the same
sentence as the word being defined. These informal definitions can be a synonym or a short phrase.
The definition will be placed in parentheses immediately following the word being defined.
Parenthetical definitions are used to explain words that need clarification but are not the main focus
of the document. For example, you might write, 'Our company should invest in creating sinistral (left-
handed) office supplies to meet the growing market demand.'
Notice that the term being defined, sinistral, does not need a lengthy explanation for readers to
understand the concept of the sentence. Instead, a simple synonym placed immediately after the
word sufficiently explains the term.

Sentence Definitions
There are times when a few words are not enough to explain a technical term. In this case, the
definition provided needs to be more extensive. Sentence definitions can provide the additional
information needed to help increase comprehension.
Sentence definitions are an explanation of a word using one sentence. These are more formal
explanations than parenthetical definitions. Sentence definitions follow a similar form, which
includes:

 The word being defined

 The class to which the word belongs
 The feature that distinguish the term from other words

For example, 'The heart is an organ that pumps blood through the body.' Notice that the word being
defined is provided first (heart), then the word is put into a class or category (organ), and finally,
distinguishing features are explained (pumps blood).
Here are some other examples of sentence definitions:

 A pig is an animal that rolls in the mud.

 Scissors are an instrument that is used to cut items, such as paper.
 A hoyden is a girl who is boisterous and bold.
 A kickshaw is food served as an appetizer and is usually a delicacy.

Keeping the word-class-distinguishing feature format allows the readers to compare the word to
terms they may already know, while also understanding how it differs from those words, which
improves comprehension.

Extended Definitions
Although sentence definitions provide more specific details to define a word, there are times in
technical writing when the term is so important to the document or so complex in its meaning that an
entire paragraph or more is needed to help explain the term. This is when an extended definition is
necessary.
Extended definitions are the use of a paragraph or more to expand on a word that may be difficult
to comprehend. An extended definition almost always starts with a sentence definition, but then
expands on the word by providing additional sentences about