How to Transition Between Paragraphs and Sentences: Transition words with examples

How to transition between paragraphs and sentences

When writing an essay, the connections between your ideas are clear in your head, but those connections may not be as clear for readers. To help your readers better understand how your ideas relate to one another, you’ll need to use transitions.In this video you’ll learn all about three ways to transition between paragraphs and sentences. Let’s start!
PART 1 First, what are transitions? Transitions are words, phrases, and sentences that connect one idea to another. They help us bridge ideas and eliminate confusion for readers. Without clear transitions, writing becomes choppy and doesn’t show the relationship between sentences and paragraphs. Let's look at different types of transitions.
PART 2 TRANSITIONAL Words/phrases
The first way to transition between ideas is to use transitional words or phrases.
2a. To add to an idea and smoothly flow from the previous sentence, you can use transition words like Also, In addition, moreover, furthermore or besides, not only…but also, and
2b. For ideas with Cause/effect relationships, you can use Accordingly, consequently, as a result, since, therefore, so, or then, subsequently
2c. In order to contrast ideas, use transitions like:
Although, however, One the one hand…on the other hand, Regardless, Despite, in contrast.
Tip be sure to understand the meaning of each transitional word/phrase and don’t assume you can use them in the same way. For example, However and even though are contrasting transitions but you can start this sentence with however, yet can’t do the same with even though. You’ll need to add more to create a dependent clause when using even though.
Keep in mind that transitions like Although, despite or regardless are subordinate conjunctions, so the comma goes after the clause rather than the word.
2d. Comparison:When you compare ideas, use transitions like Similarly, Both, In the same way, likewise. Just as…so do(es)
2f. Example. When you want to prove your point with an example, use For instance, For example, specifically or to illustrate
2g elaboration/emphasis/clarification In order to elaborate or clarify a point, use In other words, as explained.
2h Time and sequence Finally, to show how your ideas are related by time or sequence use transitions like First, Second, meanwhile, then, while, next and finally.
PART 3 Besides transition words, you can use Pointing words to repeat ideas and connect them. Pointing words include this that, these or those. In the following example, you can see how This refers to the idea in the previous sentence. If you use this strategy, be sure that your pointing word clearly refers to a specific idea in the previous sentence and is not easily confused with other parts of your argument.
Understanding the science of cooking makes one a good cook. This is especially true if one needs to improvise with ingredients.
PART 4 Lastly, in addition to transition words and pointing words, you can repeat keywords or ideas concisely. When you repeat the idea of a previous paragraph, it helps your audience see the connection to the current paragraph. For instance, here is an outline of an essay on how to cook. In the first paragraph I discuss the importance of reading a lot of recipes. In the second paragraph I discuss practicing common cooking techniques. In order to connect them. The first sentence of my second paragraph starts with a transitional phrase AND repeats the idea from the first paragraph using different words. It’s important to repeat ideas without the exact wording to avoid monotony.

00:00 Start
00:21 What are transitions?
00:45 Transition words and phrases
00:51 addition transition words and phrases with examples
01:16 cause/effect transition words and phrases with examples
01:27 contrast transition words and phrases with examples
01:50 comparison transition words and phrases with examples
02:09 example transition words and phrases
02:22 transition words and phrases to elaborate or clarify an idea
02:29 time or sequence transition words or phrases with examples
02:51 Pointing words
03:19 Idea links


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