Transitions (Signal Words)

Transition signals
• Transition (Signal Words):

• Connect words or phrases

• Act as signposts

• Strengthen the internal cohesion

Three types of Transition signals

1. Sentence Connectors - transition phrases

- conjunctive adverbs

2. Clause connectors - coordinating conjunctions

- subordinating conjunctions

3. Others
 1. Sentence Connectors
(transition phrases & conjunctive adverbs)

Transition phrases:
 Appear in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
 A coma is needed.

Example:
For example, the Baltic Sea (, for example) in Northern
Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Rea Sea in the
Middle East (, for example).
Conjunction Adverbs:
• Often used with a semicolon and a comma to join two
independent clauses.

Examples:
In warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore,
its net profit declined.

Some English words do not have exact equivalents in other

languages; for example, there is no German word for the
adjective fair, as in fair play.
2. Clause Connectors
Coordinating conjunctions
• Used with a comma to join two independent clauses and to
form a compound sentence.

Examples:
In a matriarchy, the mother is the head of the family,
and all of the children belong to her clan.

In warm climate zones, water evaporates, so the

concentration of salt is greater.
Yet and But:
• Yet and But an opposite idea is coming.
• Yet: preferred when the 2nd clause is an unexpected or
surprising contrast to the 1st clause.
• But: preferred when the 2 clauses are direct oppositions.

• Yet is similar in meaning to “nevertheless”.

• But is similar to “however”.

Examples:
Thomas Edison dropped out of school at age 12, yet he
became a famous inventor.
I want to study art, but my parents want me to become an
engineer.
Subordinating conjunctions
• Used to introduce a dependent clause, which is joined to
form a complex sentence.
• Position: use a comma if the DC comes before the IC; do
not use a comma if the DC comes after the IC.

Examples:
Although the company’s sale increased last year, its
net profit declined.
The company’s net profit declined last year although
its sales increased.
 3. Others
• Indicating transition:
additional (adj.); despite (prep.); examples (n.).

Examples:
An additional reason for the firm’s bankruptcy was the lack of
competent management.
Examples of vocabulary differences between British and
American English include petrol/gasoline,
windscreen/windshield, and lorry/truck.
Despite increased sales, the company’s profit declined last
quarter.
Common Transition Signals
Meaning / function Sentence Clause connectors Others
connectors Coordinators Subordinators (adj, verb, prep)

To introduce a also and another

similar additional besides nor (and not) an additional
idea furthermore
in addition
moreover
too

To compare things also and as as…as

likewise both…and just as like/alike
similarly not only…but also just like
too neither…nor similar to
be alike
be similar

To introduce an however but although despite

in contrast yet even though in spite of
opposite idea,
instead though compared to/with
and to contrast in/by comparison whereas be different (from)
things nevertheless while be dissimilar
on the other hand be unlike
on the contrary differ (from)
still
Meaning / Sentence Clause connectors Others
function connectors (adj, verb, prep)
Coordinators Subordinators

To introduce an For example such as

example For instance like
In this case an example of
to demonstrate
take the case of

To emphasize In fact

To explain Indeed (really,

certainly)
and restate
That is

to introduce otherwise or If
an alternative unless
Meaning / Sentence Clause connectors Others
function connectors Coordinators Subordinators (adj, verb, prep)

To indicate thereafter Immediately

time then before, after
soon
during
at that time
at this point prior to
formerly
finally
Previously

To signal first, second, then, after the first, the second

chronological next… as the next, the last, the
order first of all, now, soon as soon as final
last, finally before before lunch
meanwhile since after the war
gradually until since 1990
after that when in the year 2008
since then while (any time expression)
Meaning / Sentence Clause connectors Others
function connectors Coordinators Subordinators
(adj, verb, prep)

To indicate above all a more important

order of first and foremost the most important
important
more/most importantly/ the second most
significantly significant
primarily the primary

To introduce consequently for because result from

a cause or therefore since be the result of
reason
for this purpose as due to
because of
the effect of
the consequence of
as a result of
as a consequence of
Meaning / Sentence Clause connectors Others
function connectors Coordinators Subordinators (adj, verb, prep)

To Accordingly so result in
introduce As a result cause
an effect or
As a consequence have an effect on
result
Consequently affect
Hence, thus the cause of
Therefore the reason for
To conclude All in all It is clear that…
In brief We can see that…
In conclusion The evidence
In short suggests that…
In summary These examples
show that…
In deed
accordingly
 Sample text:

http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/trans1.html