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50 linking words to use in academic writing

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Effective Transition Words for Research Papers

What are transition words in academic writing?

A transition is a change from one idea to another idea in writing or speaking and can be achieved using transition terms or phrases. These transitions are usually placed at the beginning of sentences, independent clauses, and paragraphs and thus establish a specific relationship between ideas or groups of ideas. Transitions are used to enhance cohesion in your paper and make its logical development clearer to readers.

Types of Transition Words

Transitions accomplish many different objectives. We can divide all transitions into four basic categories:

Additive transitions signal to the reader that you are adding or referencing information
Adversative transitions indicate conflict or disagreement between pieces of information
Causal transitions point to consequences and show cause-and-effect relationships
Sequential transitions clarify the order and sequence of information and the overall structure of the paper

Additive Transitions

These terms signal that new information is being added (between both sentences and paragraphs), introduce or highlight information, refer to something that was just mentioned, add a similar situation, or identify certain information as important.


Adding Information	Also; Additionally; Furthermore; Moreover	In addition to; As well as; In fact; Not only…but also; As a matter of fact	“ , the data shows that X is a significant factor.”“ the above-mentioned study, Rogers also presents…”
Introducing/Highlighting	Particularly; Notably; Especially; Significantly	For example/instance; To illustrate; In particular; One example (of this is)	“ , only two species of this fish survive.”“ phenomenon is X.”
Referencing	Considering (this); Concerning (this); Regarding (this)	As for (this); The fact that; With regards to (this); On the subject of (this); Looking at (this information); With reference to (something)	“ the amount of research in this area, little evidence has been found.” “ the Blue Whale, its teeth are also the largest of any mammal.”
Showing Similarity	Similarly; Likewise; Equally;	By the same token; In the same way; In a similar way	“ the algorithm was applied to Y.”“ this principle can be applied to Z.”
Clarifying/Identifying Important Information	Specifically; Namely	That is (to say); In other words; (To) put (it) another way; What this means is; This means (that)	“There are two factors: , X and Y.”“ , the fall of the Empire was caused by over-expansion.”

Adversative Transitions

These terms and phrases distinguish facts, arguments, and other information, whether by contrasting and showing differences; by conceding points or making counterarguments; by dismissing the importance of a fact or argument; or replacing and suggesting alternatives.


Contrasting/ Showing conflict	But; Still; However; While; Whereas; Conversely; (and) yet	In contrast; On the contrary; On the other hand; …when in fact; By way of contrast	“ there is still more research needed.”“ the 1997 study does not recognize these outcomes.”
Distinguishing/ Emphasizing	Indeed; Besides; Significantly; Primarily	Even more; Above all; More/Most importantly	“ a placebo is essential to any pharmaceutical study.”“ the X enzyme increased.”
Conceding a point	Nevertheless; Nonetheless; Although; Despite (this); However; Regardless (of this); Admittedly	Even so; Even though; In spite of (this); Notwithstanding (this); Be that as it may	“ X is still an important factor.”“ New York still has a high standard of living.”“ this may be true, there are still other factors to consider.”
Dismissing an argument or assertion	Regardless (of)	Either way; In any case; In any event; Whatever happens; All the same; At any rate	“ of the result, this fact is true.”“ the effect is the same.”“ this will not change the public’s view.”
Replacing/ Indicating an Alternative	Instead (of); (or) rather;	(or) at least	“ using X, the scientists used Z.”“ why not implement a brand new policy?”

Causal Transitions

These terms and phrases signal the reasons, conditions, purposes, circumstances, and cause-and-effect relationships. These transitions often come after an important point in the research paper has been established or to explore hypothetical relationships or circumstances.


Showing Cause or Reason	Since; For; As; Because (of the fact that)	Due to (the fact that); For the reason that; Owing to (the fact); Inasmuch as	“ the original sample group was too small, researchers called for more participants.”“ funding will be cut in half.”
Explaining the Conditions	If…then; Unless; Granting (that); Granted (that); Provided (that)	In the event that; As/So long as; Only if	“ these conditions change, more will need to be done.”“ there is oxygen, there will be oxygenation.”
Showing the Effects/Results	Consequently; Therefore; Thus; Accordingly; Because (of this)	As a result (of this); For this reason; As a consequence; So much (so) that	“ we can conclude that this was an asymmetric catalysis.”“ many consumers began to demand safer products.”
Showing the Purpose		For the purpose(s) of; With (this fact) in mind; In the hope that; In order that/to; So as to	“ following standards, X rule was observed.”“ this study focused on preservation.”
Highlighting the Importance of Circumstances	Otherwise	Under those circumstances; That being the case; In that case; If so; All else being equal	“ this effect will continue into the future.”“ the economic impact of this law seems positive.”

Sequential Transitions

These transition terms and phrases organize your paper by numerical sequence; by showing continuation in thought or action; by referring to previously-mentioned information; by indicating digressions; and, finally, by concluding and summing up your paper. Sequential transitions are essential to creating structure and helping the reader understand the logical development through your paper’s methods, results, and analysis.


Organizing by Number	Initially; Secondly; Thirdly; (First/Second/Third); Last	First of all; To start with; In the (first/second/third) place	“ subjects were asked to write their names.”“ dolphins are the smartest creatures in the sea.”
Showing Continuation	Subsequently; Previously; Afterwards; Eventually; Next; After (this)		“ subjects were taken to their rooms.”“ they were asked about their experiences.”
Summarizing/ Repeating Information	(Once) again; Summarizing (this)	To repeat; As (was) stated before; As (was) mentioned earlier/above	“ this data, it becomes evident that there is a pattern.”“ pollution has become an increasing problem.”
Digression/Resumption	Incidentally; Coincidentally; Anyway	By the way; to resume; Returning to the subject; At any rate	“ the methods used in the two studies were similar.”“ this section will analyze the results.”
Concluding/ Summarizing	Thus; Hence; Ultimately; Finally; Therefore; Altogether; Overall; Consequently	To conclude; As a final point; In conclusion; Given these points; In summary; To sum up	“ these results will be valuable to the study of X.”“ there are three things to keep in mind—A, B, and C.”

How to Choose Transitions in Academic Writing

Transitions are commonplace elements in writing, but they are also powerful tools that can be abused or misapplied if one isn’t careful. Here are some ways to ensure you are using transitions effectively.

Check for overused, awkward, or absent transitions during the paper editing process. Don’t spend too much time trying to find the “perfect” transition while writing the paper.
When you find a suitable place where a transition could connect ideas, establish relationships, and make it easier for the reader to understand your point, use the list to find a suitable transition term or phrase.
Similarly, if you have repeated some terms again and again, find a substitute transition from the list and use that instead. This will help vary your writing and enhance the communication of ideas.
Read the beginning of each paragraph. Did you include a transition? If not, look at the information in that paragraph and the preceding paragraph and ask yourself: “How does this information connect?” Then locate the best transition from the list.
Check the structure of your paper—are your ideas clearly laid out in order? You should be able to locate sequence terms such as “first,” “second,” “following this,” “another,” “in addition,” “finally,” “in conclusion,” etc. These terms will help outline your paper for the reader.

For more helpful information on academic writing and the journal publication process, visit Wordvice’s Academic Resources Page. And be sure to check out Wordvice’s professional English editing services if you are looking for paper editing and proofreading after composing your academic document.

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120+ Connective Words for Writing Research Paper

Connective words to link sentences to Write Research Paper

Writing a research paper involves more than just presenting your findings; it requires a cohesive structure that guides the reader through your ideas flawlessly. One essential tool for achieving this coherence is the strategic use of connective words. These words and phrases act as a bridge, linking different sections of your research paper and creating a smooth flow of your thoughts and ideas. So, in this article, you will learn the importance of connective words in writing your research paper, the types of connective words, and some effective ways to use them to enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

The most difficult thing in writing a research paper is to maintain the flow of the work with easy understanding to readers. One of the important reasons for this difficulty is the lack of sentence Connective Words or misplaced connecting keywords. In this article, we will find out the 120+ connective writing keywords for a research paper .

Unleash the power of Connective Words in English! In this article, iLovePhD equips you with a treasure trove of connectors to guide your reader smoothly through your writing. From showing cause and effect to adding details and marking time, you’ll find the perfect words to craft a clear and captivating flow.

What is cohesion in writing?

Cohesion in writing refers to the way we use vocabulary and grammatical structures to make connection between the ideas within a text.
It provides flow and sequence to your work and helps you to make your writing clear for the reader.
Cohesive devices are words and expressions that show relationship between parts of text and ideas, such as cause and effect, time, addition, comparison, and contrast.

Significance of Connective Words:

Connective words play a key role in guiding researchers through the logical progression of their arguments and ideas.
They help to establish relationship between sentences, paragraphs, and sections, ensuring that your paper unfolds in a coherent and organized manner.
Without effective connectives, readers may struggle to follow your train of thoughts, leading to confusion and disengagement.

Connective words can be broadly classified into seven types, each serves a specific purpose.

1 . Affirmative Connectives

These connectives are used to emphasize your claims and provide further clarification to your arguments by offering concrete evidence.

The phrases that can be used to present “Affirmative Connectives” are

This clearly shows…
Experimental results reveal that…
The analysis confirms that…
Studies have demonstrated that…
The results indicate that…
There is substantial evidence that…
The argument implies that…
The author suggests that… and
The findings support the hypothesis that…

You can very-well use the above said phrases to express your affirmative statements.

And some of the examples of affirmative connective words are

For example
For instance
In particular
To be specific
As evidenced by
As demonstrated by, and
To illustrate

These words will help you to introduce and integrate evidence into the narrative of your research paper.

2. Sequential Connectives :

These words indicate chronological or sequential order, helping to structure your paper’s narrative. Here is the list of connective words used to present sequential order. They are

To begin with
Before and After
Subsequently and

These connectives help to organize your information in a clear and logical sequence, guiding the reader through the steps or stages of your argument and analysis.

The phrases used to highlight the “key points” in your writing are

It is important to note that…
A key finding of this study is…
This study highlights…
The primary takeaway is…
The principal argument is…
The main point to consider is…

These phrases help to draw attention to the most important elements or findings in your research paper.

3. Causal Connectives :

These connective words are used to highlight cause-and-effect relationship between ideas. Examples include

Because of this
As a result
Consequently
Leads to, and
Resulting in

These words will help to clearly articulate the relationship between the causes and their effects, making the logical connections in your argument clear.

The connective words used to present “additional information” are

Additionally
Furthermore
In addition
Similarly, and
Not only…but also…

These connectives can be used to present additional information in your research paper.

The connective words used to express “condition” are

Provided that
Assuming that
In the event
So that, and

These connectives help to establish conditions or stipulations in your writing, clarifying the circumstances under which certain statements or conclusions apply.

The connective words used to present “space and time” are

Simultaneously
Subsequently
At the same time
In the meantime, and

These connective words are used to organize information in relation to spatial and temporal contexts, providing a clear sense of sequence in your writing.

4. Cautious Connectives :

Avoid using terms like obviously, certainly and definitely; unless you are citing literatures. Instead of using the terms like ‘surely’ or ‘everyone knows’, you can use the following phrases like

It is important to consider the potential biases in…
This strongly suggests that…
The findings are strongly supported by…
This approach demonstrates…
It is recommended to proceed with…
It is prudent to be…

Some of the examples of cautious connective words are

Nevertheless
Despite this
On the other hand
Could be seen as; and

These phrases and words can be used to convey a sense of careful consideration and awareness of potential limitations or uncertainties in your research paper.

5. Comparative Connectives :

These words are used to draw comparison between different elements in your paper, highlighting similarities or differences.

Examples of this type are

In comparison,
In the same way,
Correspondingly,
On the contrary,
Conversely,
Even though,
Alternatively,
In contrast, and

These connective words will help to signal comparison between different aspects, findings, or perspectives within your research paper.

6. Doubtful Connectives

These connectives are used to express doubtfulness of a theory or an argument or a claim. Some of the examples of phrases to express the uncertainty are

This theory is debatable because…
The mechanism remains to be clarified
The findings raise questions about…
It remains unclear…
This argument is sceptical because…
This could indicate the uncertainty…
Further research is needed to determine…

These phrases will help you to indicate areas where more investigation is needed or where the current understanding is still tentative.

7. Conclusive Connectives

These words are used to indicate a conclusion or summarize key points, wrapping up your arguments and guiding readers toward the paper’s final thoughts.

Examples of conclusive connective words are

In conclusion
To summarize
Ultimately, and
To conclude with

These words will help the reader to know that you are summarizing the main points and reaching a conclusion in your research paper.

Strategies for using Connective Words Effectively:

So far, we have explored the different types of connective words and phrases, now, let’s look into the five strategies for incorporating them effectively in the research paper.

Plan Your Structure : Before you start writing, outline the main sections and sub-sections of your paper. Then, identify the key points and the relationship between them, and plan where connective words will be needed to guide readers through your arguments.
Avoid repetition : It is essential to use connective words consistently for clarity. Avoid overusing the same words or phrases. Instead, vary your choice of connectives to maintain the reader’s interest and prevent your writing from becoming monotonous.
Be Specific : Choose connective words that accurately reflect the relationship between ideas. Consider the meaning of each connective word and select the most appropriate one for conveying your intended meaning.
Make Smooth Transition : Ensure that connective words are seamlessly integrated into your sentences and paragraphs. Use them to create smooth transitions between ideas, and avoid abrupt shifts or disjointed transitions.
Edit and Revise : As you review your paper , pay more attention to the effectiveness of your connective words. You can strengthen the connection between ideas, clarify relationships, and improve the overall coherence of your writing.

Conclusion:

Connective words serve as the threads that bind disparate ideas into a unified and well-organized research paper. Ensure that the words and phrases you choose are suitable and appropriate for your writing, and most importantly the information that you presented in your research paper should be understood by the readers in the same meaning as you conveyed. It should not be like; you implied something and the readers inferred something. Appropriate use of connective words and phrases will elevate the quality of your research paper and will leave a good impression on readers.

Happy researching!

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Transitional Words and Phrases

One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement , Paragraphing , and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.

While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.

In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.

Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic. Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.

Categories of Transition Words and Phrases

Causation Chronology Combinations Contrast Example

Importance Location Similarity Clarification Concession

Conclusion Intensification Purpose Summary

Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships

Causation– Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s).

accordingly as a result and so because

consequently for that reason hence on account of

since therefore thus

Chronology– Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.

after afterwards always at length during earlier following immediately in the meantime

later never next now once simultaneously so far sometimes

soon subsequently then this time until now when whenever while

Combinations Lists– Connecting numerous events. Part/Whole– Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.

additionally again also and, or, not as a result besides even more

finally first, firstly further furthermore in addition in the first place in the second place

last, lastly moreover next second, secondly, etc. too

Contrast– Connecting two things by focusing on their differences.

after all although and yet at the same time but

despite however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless notwithstanding

on the contrary on the other hand otherwise though yet

Example– Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.

as an illustration e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)

for example for instance specifically that is

to demonstrate to illustrate

Importance– Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.

chiefly critically

foundationally most importantly

of less importance primarily

Location– Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other.

above adjacent to below beyond

centrally here nearby neighboring on

opposite to peripherally there wherever

Similarity– Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.

by the same token in like manner

in similar fashion here in the same way

likewise wherever

Other kinds of transitional words and phrases Clarification

i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) in other words

that is that is to say to clarify to explain

to put it another way to rephrase it

granted it is true

naturally of course

finally lastly

in conclusion in the end

to conclude

Intensification

in fact indeed no

of course surely to repeat

undoubtedly without doubt yes

for this purpose in order that

so that to that end

to this end

in brief in sum

in summary in short

to sum up to summarize

Improving Your Writing Style

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Clear, Concise Sentences

Use the active voice

Put the action in the verb

Tidy up wordy phrases

Reduce wordy verbs

Reduce prepositional phrases

Reduce expletive constructions

Avoid using vague nouns

Avoid unneccessarily inflated words

Avoid noun strings

Connecting Ideas Through Transitions

Using Transitional Words and Phrases

75 linking words for academic writing (+examples)

Linking words play an important role in academic writing: They connect different paragraphs, sections or ideas in a text. Therefore, they considerably improve the readability and argumentation of academic texts such as a thesis, dissertation, essay or journal publication. This list of 75 linking words includes examples of how they can be used in academic writing.

Linking words expressing order and sequence in academic writing

Example: First, I review the existing literature on cross-border collaboration. Second, I explain the methodology …

Example: The event increased public awareness of this issue. Afterwards, politicians debated it more openly.

Example: Before scientists discovered the role of neurons in information processing, they assumed that…

Linking words expressing additions in academic writing

Example: Additionally, the interviewee lamented a lack of attention to his work.

Example: The financial compensation was also appreciated by the study participants.

You may also like: How to paraphrase a quote: 4 simple strategies

Linking words expressing cause and effect in academic writing

Example: As the number of studies increases, better conclusions can be drawn.

Example: The literature highlights the importance of age and physical fitness. Consequently, these factors will be investigated further.

Linking words expressing contrasts and comparisons in academic writing

Example: Many scholars have explored this issue. Yet, to date, no inclusive framework exists to explain…

Example: People often stated that they are aware of the rules whereas they behaved as if they did not.

31. Equally

Example: E qually important, however, is the role of personal beliefs in decision-making processes.

33. On the other hand

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Linking words expressing emphasis in academic writing

36. Especially

37. Above all

Example: Indeed, motivation turned out to be a defining factor of academic success.

38. Clearly

Example: Clearly, these scholars were not aware of recent advances in medical sciences.

39. Definitely

Example: This was definitely the most important event of the year.

40. Importantly

Example: More importantly, the findings underscore the importance of conflict resolution.

41. Undoubtedly

Example: Undoubtedly, all stakeholders had good intentions.

42. Obviously

Linking words expressing illustrations in academic writing

Example: Many interviewees were nervous. For example, when asked to describe the event, some of them started to stutter.

Linking words expressing summaries and conclusions in academic writing

Example: In conclusion, the reviewed literature highlights a clear research gap.

Example: In short, scholars call for more research on climate change mitigation.

Linking words expressing conditionality in academic writing

Example: As long as the conditions do not change, the results should remain stable.

Example: Even if more experiments are conducted, human behaviour remains hard to predict.

Linking words expressing generalisations in academic writing

Linking words expressing concessions in academic writing.

Example: Regardless of their genetic makeup, mice showcased the same symptoms.

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Linking/transition words: Things you need to know...

All assignments are written in formal language. You need to ensure that you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding alongside your ability to answer the question/solve the problem.

Below are some ideas to help you to develop your structure and flow.

Linking / transition words and phrases join ideas, sentences and paragraphs together. They should be used within sentences and to move from one idea to another (between sentences).

These words and phrases indicate the direction, order and flow of ideas. Significantly, they strengthen the quality and structure of your work.

Redundant Words - less is more. P articularly when trying to reduce the word count, it is important to look for phrases which can be replaced with a single word.

Linking/Transition Words

Transitions link one main idea to another separated by a semi-colon or full-stop. When the transition word is at the beginning of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma:

Among other functions, they can signal cause and effect or sequencing (see examples in the table below).

Additional comments or ideas	additionally; also; moreover; furthermore; again; further; then; besides; too; similarly; correspondingly; indeed; regarding.
Alternatives	whereas; conversely; in comparison; by contrast; another view is…; alternatively; although; otherwise; instead.
Analysing results	therefore; accordingly; as a result of; the result is/results are; the consequence is; resulting from; consequently; it can be seen; evidence illustrates that; because of this; thus; hence; for this reason; owing to x; this suggests that; it follows that; otherwise; in that case; that implies; Author (year) suggests that;
Cause / Reason	as a result of; because ( )
Compare	compared with; in the same way; likewise
Contrast	by contrast; although; compared with; conversely; despite; however, nevertheless; yet
Effect / Result	As a result; therefore; thus
Emphasising earlier statements	however; nonetheless; furthermore; in the final analysis; despite x; notwithstanding x; in spite of x; while x may be true, nonetheless although; though; after all; at the same time; even if x is true; count
Introducing examples	for example; for instance; namely; such as; as follows; as exemplified by; such as; including; especially; particularly; in particular; notably; mainly;
Re-phrasing	in other terms; rather; or; better; in view of this; in contrast
Sequencing	first (ly); second (ly); third (ly); another; additionally; finally moreover; also; subsequently; eventually; next; then
Summary or Conclusion	in conclusion; therefore; to conclude; on the whole; hence; thus to summarise; altogether; overall; …following the research of…after analysis

Linking words: conjunctions

Linking words within a sentence are referred to as coordinating conjunctions. Do not worry about the term: think about the function.



for	connects a reason to a result
and	connects equal and similar ideas
nor	connects two negative ideas
but	connects equal but different ideas
or	connects two equal choices
yet	connects equal and contrasting ideas
so	connects a result to a reason

Conciseness / redundant words

Microsoft Word now has an additional feature within the Edito r - it is called conciseness or wordiness.

If you cannot see the Editor menu a quick tip is to hold down the function (fn key at the bottom left of the keyboard) + F7 (top line of keys).
From the Refinements section - select Conciseness - if there are any suggestions a number will appear in the box alongside this option
A dotted line will appear under any groups of groups
Either select the identified text by clicking with your right mouse button OR click on the down down next to the Conciseness menu.
MS Word will display any alternative words which you can either select and they will be replaced in your text or reject if you want to keep the original phrases.

Examples: try to replace phrases with a single words which mean the same.


Instead of ...	Use ...
employed the use of	used
basic fundamentals	fundamentals
alternative choices	alternatives
in as few words as possible	concisely
look into	investigate
put on	gained
turned down	rejected
got better	improved
hit and miss	erratic
in spite of	although

Need to know more...

Related pages
External links
Academic writing Illustrates the main features of academic writing so that you are aware of what it is and what it involves
Critical Thinking Academic work involves thinking, not just accepting what you read or are told.
Terms and Definitions Important words appear in your assignments and examinations. The aim of this factsheet is to help you to fully understand what they mean.

Additional resources to help you to improve your confidence and grades:-

Writing Effectively demonstrates the importance of: clarity, structure, relevance, argument and precision.
Writing Mechanics gives further examples and resources on areas including: sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Linking/Transition words - Scribbr https://www.scribbr.co.uk/syntax/transition-words-examples/ [Accessed 10 February 2023]

There are many books concerning academic writing, look around Dewey number 808

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Transition sentences | Tips & examples for clear writing

Transition Sentences | Tips & Examples for Clear Writing

Published on June 9, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Clear transitions are crucial to clear writing: They show the reader how different parts of your essay, paper, or thesis are connected. Transition sentences can be used to structure your text and link together paragraphs or sections.

… In this case, the researchers concluded that the method was unreliable.

However , evidence from a more recent study points to a different conclusion . …

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Transitioning between paragraphs, transitioning to a new section, transitions within a paragraph, other interesting articles.

When you start a new paragraph , the first sentence should clearly express:

What this paragraph will discuss
How it relates to the previous paragraph

The examples below show some examples of transition sentences between paragraphs and what they express.

Transition sentence	This paragraph…
evidence in support of is provided by Smith (2019).	… the previous one, providing more support for .
, Patel’s arguments are on the matter.	… the previous one by presenting related to the previous discussion.
the relationship between these factors, to draw conclusions about the broader process.	…treats the preceding point as on which to more general arguments.

Placement of transition sentences

The beginning of a new paragraph is generally the right place for a transition sentence. Each paragraph should focus on one topic, so avoid spending time at the end of a paragraph explaining the theme of the next one.

The first dissenter to consider is …

However, several scholars dissent from this consensus. The first one to consider is …

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While transitions between paragraphs are generally a single sentence, when you start a new section in a longer text, you may need an entire transition paragraph. Transitioning to a new section involves summarizing the content of the previous section and expressing how the new one will build upon or depart from it.

For example, the following sentences might be an effective transition for a new section in a literary analysis essay.

Having established that the subjective experience of time is one of Mann’s key concerns in The Magic Mountain , it is now possible to explore how this theme facilitates the novel’s connection with World War I. The war itself is not narrated in the book, but rather hinted at as something awaiting Castorp beyond the final pages. In this way, Mann links his protagonist’s subjective experience of time to more than just his illness; it is also used to explore the period leading up to the outbreak of war.

As in academic writing generally, aim to be as concise as you can while maintaining clarity: If you can transition to a new section clearly with a single sentence, do so, but use more when necessary.

It’s also important to use effective transitions within each paragraph you write, leading the reader through your arguments efficiently and avoiding ambiguity.

The known-new contract

The order of information within each of your sentences is important to the cohesion of your text. The known-new contract , a useful writing concept, states that a new sentence should generally begin with some reference to information from the previous sentence, and then go on to connect it to new information.

In the following example, the second sentence doesn’t follow very clearly from the first. The connection only becomes clear when we reach the end.

By reordering the information in the second sentence so that it begins with a reference to the first, we can help the reader follow our argument more smoothly.

Note that the known-new contract is just a general guideline. Not every sentence needs to be structured this way, but it’s a useful technique if you’re struggling to make your sentences cohere.

Transition words and phrases

Using appropriate transition words helps show your reader connections within and between sentences. Transition words and phrases come in four main types:

Additive transitions, which introduce new information or examples
Adversative transitions, which signal a contrast or departure from the previous text
Causal transitions, which are used to describe cause and effect
Sequential transitions, which indicate a sequence

The table below gives a few examples for each type:

Type	Example sentence	Transition words and phrases
Additive	We found that the mixture was effective. , it appeared to have additional effects we had not predicted.	furthermore, moreover, for example, in regard to x, similarly, in other words
Adversative	The novel does deal with the theme of family. , its central theme is more broadly political …	however, although, nevertheless, regardless, above all, (or) at least
Causal	Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany.	because, therefore, consequently, if, provided that, so that, to
Sequential	This has historically had several consequences: , the conflict is not given the weight of other conflicts in historical narratives. , its causes are inadequately understood. , …	first, second, third, initially, subsequently, finally, lastly, to return/returning to x, as previously mentioned, in conclusion

Grouping similar information

While transition words and phrases are essential, and every essay will contain at least some of them, it’s also important to avoid overusing them. One way to do this is by grouping similar information together so that fewer transitions are needed.

For example, the following text uses three transition words and jumps back and forth between ideas. This makes it repetitive and difficult to follow.

Rewriting it to group similar information allows us to use just one transition, making the text more concise and readable.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Ad hominem fallacy
Post hoc fallacy
Appeal to authority fallacy
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Sunk cost fallacy

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Connecting ideas

How to connect ideas at the sentence and paragraph level in academic writing.

What is cohesion?

Cohesion refers to the way we use vocabulary and grammatical structures to make connections between the ideas within a text. It provides flow and sequence to your work and helps make your paragraphs clear for the reader.

Cohesive devices are words and expressions that show relationships between parts of text and ideas, such as cause and effect, time, addition, or comparison and contrast.

Watch the video to learn how to make your ideas link together and your narrative flow.

How can I create cohesion?

Let’s look at types of cohesive devices.

Linking words

Academic writing usually deals with complex ideas. To enable the reader to follow your thoughts, they need to be clearly and smoothly linked. To join ideas and sentences, we use a number of connecting words and phrases. For example:

Additionally, and, also, apart from this, as well (as), in addition, moreover, further, furthermore.

If, in that case, provided that, unless.

Correspondingly, equally, for the same reason, in a similar manner, in comparison, in the same way, on the one hand, similarly.

Alternatively, although, but, conversely, despite, even so, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead, on the contrary, contrary to, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on the other hand, rather, still, though, yet, whereas, while.

Again, in fact, interestingly, indeed, it should be noted (that), more important(ly), most importantly, to repeat, (un)fortunately, unquestionably.

A further instance of this is..., an example of this is…, for example, for instance, such as, thus, as follows.

In other words, more simply, namely, simply put, to put it differently / another way, such as, that is.

A / the consequence of, because, due to, for, the effect of …, since, the result of …

Accordingly, as a result/consequence, consequently, for this reason, hence, so, therefore, thus.

Admittedly, although, clearly though, even though, however, indeed, obviously.

As a rule, for the most part, generally, in general, in most cases, normally, on the whole, usually.

First, second, third (etc), next, before, earlier, finally, following, given the above, later, meanwhile, subsequently, then, to conclude, while.

A note about presentation and style

Check a usage guide for exact rules for punctuation. Many introductory phrases have a comma after them. For example, 'therefore,' and 'in addition,'.

Referring backwards

To avoid repeating words and phrases many times, we use cohesive devices to make references to other parts of a text, such as:

Pronouns: it, he, she, his, her, they, their
Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
Articles: a, the
Adverbs: previously, subsequently

The Australian prime minister has called an early election. The date was selected to coincide with the start of the Olympic Games. This decision was based on the views of his ministerial advisors, who predicted that voter confidence in the government’s policies would be strong at this time . As previously mentioned , decisions on the timing of elections are based on predictions of voter confidence in the existing government.

In the example above:

The date - refers back to the election date
This decision - refers to the prime minister calling an early election
His - refers to the Australian prime minister
this time - refers to the start of the Olympic Games
As previously mentioned - refers to all of the earlier information about the selection of election dates

Looking forward

We often use words and phrases to highlight new information for the reader. This helps make a smooth transition from one point to another. Such phrases include: the following, as follows, below, next, subsequently .

The following dates have been proposed for the forthcoming election: September 8, September 15 and 3 October.

The next issue to be discussed is the influence of the media on voter confidence in the government.

Connecting paragraphs

Apart from using the linking words / phrases above, showing the link between paragraphs could involve writing ‘hand-holding’ sentences. These are sentences that link back to the ideas of the previous paragraph. For instance, when outlining the positive and negative issues about a topic you could use the following:

Example (from beginning of previous paragraph):

One of the main advantages of X is…

When you are ready to move your discussion to the negative issues, you could write one of the following as a paragraph opener:

Having considered the positive effects of X, negative issues may now need to be taken into account…
Despite the positive effects outlined above, negative issues also need to be considered...

It is always important to make paragraphs part of a coherent whole text; they must not remain isolated units.

Checking for paragraph links in your own work

When you are editing your next written assignment, ask yourself the following questions as you read through your work (Gillett, Hammond, & Martala, 2009):

Does the start of my paragraph give my reader enough information about what the paragraph will be about?
Does my paragraph add to or elaborate on a point made previously and, if so, have I made this explicit with an appropriate linking word / phrase?
Does my paragraph introduce a completely new point or a different viewpoint to before and, if so, have I explicitly shown this with a suitable connective?
Have I used similar connectives repeatedly? If yes, try to vary them using the above list.

Strategies to improve cohesion

Select a piece of writing, preferably from a textbook or journal article, from your area of study.
Choose a paragraph and underline or highlight all the different forms of cohesion used, such as using linking words, referring backwards, looking forwards or adding synonyms.
Which forms are the most common?
Choose a couple that you think are effective and practice using them in your own writing.
Try to use a variety of ways to show the relationship between your ideas.

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Effective Transitions in Research Manuscripts

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A transition is a word or phrase that connects consecutive sentences or paragraphs
Transitions can strengthen your argument by joining ideas and clarifying parts of your manuscript

Updated on June 25, 2013

A transition is a word or phrase that connects consecutive sentences or paragraphs. Effective transitions can clarify the logical flow of your ideas and thus strengthen your argument or explanation. Here, two main transitional tools are discussed: demonstrative pronouns and introductory terms.

Demonstrative pronouns

The demonstrative pronouns this , that , these , and those can be used to emphasize the relationship between adjacent sentences. For example, “Western blotting is a widely used method. This [technique] is favored by protein biochemists.” The use of This or This technique rather than The technique helps to connect the two sentences, indicating that Western blotting is still being discussed in the second sentence. Note that the inclusion of a noun ( technique ) after the pronoun ( this ) decreases ambiguity .

Introductory words or phrases

These transitions are placed at the beginning of the second sentence and are often followed by a comma to improve readability. Introductory words and phrases are distinct from coordinating conjunctions ( and , but , for , nor , or , so , yet ), which are used to bridge two independent clauses within a single sentence rather than two separate sentences. These conjunctions should not be placed at the beginning of a sentence in formal writing. Below are several examples of transitional words and phrases that are frequently used in academic writing, including potential replacements for common informal terms:

To learn more about the special usage of the italicized terms in the table, please see our post on introductory phrases .

Keep in mind that transitions that are similar in meaning are not necessarily interchangeable (such as in conclusion and thus ). A few other transitional words may be particularly helpful when writing lists or describing sequential processes, such as in the methods section of a research paper: next , then , meanwhile , first , second , third , and finally .

In sum, transitions are small additions that can substantially improve the flow of your ideas. However, if your manuscript is not well organized, transitions will not be sufficient to ensure your reader's understanding, so be sure to outline the progression of your ideas before writing.

We hope that this editing tip will help you to integrate effective transitions into your writing. Keep in mind - AJE's English Editing Service specializes in word choice and grammar. Utilize our service for professional help. As always, please email us at [email protected] with any questions.

Michaela Panter, Writing Support Consultant at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, PhD, Immunobiology, Yale University

Michaela Panter, PhD

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yellow brick reads

A list of good transition words to use in a research paper.

When writing a paper, you want to flow from idea to idea and from paragraph to paragraph seamlessly. The words and phrases that allow all of this are called transitions and transitional phrases. You will need to know what the words mean, when to use them, and where to place them for the links to be effective in your composition. They are broken down into different categories:

In addition
Next finally
First second
Third fourth
In conclusion

Place Words

Adjacent to
Then this time
Immediately

Similar Words

In the same manner
In the same way

Opposite Words

On the other hand
In contrast
At the same time
Nevertheless

Cause/Effect Words

As a result

These are not all the transitions or transitional words in existence. These strong words serve as a link and this link results in a smooth paper. They are a breadcrumb trail indicating to your reader or your audience as to where the paper is headed next. There are other categories and some people label them by different names. Some other transition and transitional phrase are summary, conceding, intensifying, qualifying, purpose, clarifying, or illustrating. Try not to be too predictable in the words you sue and try to not to use the same ones repeatedly.

Before you insert one in your paper, you need to make sure that you have selected the correct one and you need to know what it is used. The choice needs to make sense, or instead of creating a smooth link, it causes a bump in the writing and the reading for the audience.

When your instructor next assigns you a composition, feel free to go ahead and use this list as a guide. You can put the links in as you write or you can go back after the paper is finished and then add them. Which method you use is entirely your choice. Just make sure that you have them in your piece and that you have selected the correct ones and you have placed them correctly.

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After writing and rewriting your content and polishing your final draft, your work is not quite finished just yet. This is where you add any final touches you had yet to complete that your paper may require. These elements may include a title page, works cited page, and setting margins and page spacing. Your content may need to follow a specific order and this is the best time to ensure your work displays it. For instance, your format may include an abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion in this order. Some students may find it easier to incorporate these requirements into their paper as they are writing it instead of waiting until the end.

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