
The way for writers to allow readers recognize connections between the ideas in their stories, is the use of transition words.
Transition words help you to present the information in your story in an effective manner, like signaling connection between a main idea and supporting ideas. Besides this, transition word also works to show contrasts and comparisons, or to identify concepts that are related.
Transition words can be used within and between paragraphs, but always be careful not to use too many of them, as it can make your story harder to read.
Some sentences in a story can stand alone without any transitions, but other sentences might need transitions to make it clear to your reader how the sentences relate or connect. Paragraph transitions also help to connect ideas in your story, and also to maintain the logical flow.
Simply said, transition words help to fill the gap between your ideas.
(Please note that many of the words in the tables below are more suitable for factual, technical and business writing, than for fictional writing, but it gives you an idea of the different words you can use.)
Kinds of transition words are:
- To compare and/or contrast;
- To show addition;
- To show time and sequence;
- To conclude or summarize;
- To elaborate;
- To show cause and effect,
To compare and/or contrast
after all | however | otherwise |
although | in contrast | simultaneously |
although this is true | in spite of | still |
at the same time | in the meantime | to the contrary |
but | meanwhile | when in fact |
conversely | nevertheless | whereas |
even so | nonetheless | while |
even though | notwithstanding | while this is true |
for all that | on the other hand | yet |
To show addition
actually | besides | lastly |
additionally | equally important | let alone |
again | finally | moreover |
also | further | next |
alternatively | furthermore | nor |
and | in addition | not to mention |
and then | in all honesty | too |
as a matter of fact | indeed | to say nothing of |
as well as | in fact | what’s more |
To show time and sequence
after a few hours | formerly | presently |
afterwards | in the meantime | previously |
and then | in the past | since |
at last | later | soon |
at length | next | then |
finally | now | thereafter |
first, second, third, etc. | of late | while |
To conclude or summarize
all in all | given these points | in summation |
as noted above | in brief | in the end |
eventually | in conclusion | on the whole |
finally | in short | to conclude |
To elaborate
additionally | in addition | likewise |
as an illustration | incidentally | namely |
as well as | including | notably |
being that | indeed | specifically |
equally important | in fact | such as |
for example | in other words | to demonstrate |
for instance | in particular | to illustrate |
To show cause and effect
accordingly | for | in that case |
as a result | forthwith | therefore |
because | hence | thereupon |
consequently | in effect | thus |
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