The best stylists become masters at artfully placing
transition words in pivotal positions—i.e., places where the sentence or paragraph meaning "shifts" slightly. What follows is a handy list of common transition words and their functions. If you open sentences appropriately with these words it will help your writing to flow. One caveat though: Always keep the literal meaning of a transition word in mind as you use it—therefore, do not use "for example" unless you are introducing an example that links to the preceding information; do not use
"nevertheless" unless you are offering a contrasting point. Note how this paragraph has required a minimal use of transition words; they should not be forced in where they do not belong. When you do use them, keep their broader functions (i.e., "causality," "emphasis," etc.) directly in mind. 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.
Categories of Transition Words and Phrases Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships Causation–Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s). accordingly consequently since Chronology–Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur. after later soon Combinations additionally finally last, lastly Contrast–Connecting two things by focusing on their differences. after all despite on the contrary Example–Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea. as an illustration for example to demonstrate Importance–Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential. chiefly foundationally of less importance Location–Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other. above centrally opposite to Similarity–Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike. by the same token in similar fashion likewise Other kinds of transitional words and phrases i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) that is to put it another way Intensification in fact of course undoubtedly Purpose for this purpose so that to this end Which of the following transitional words indicates that what will be said resembles what has just been said?"Likewise" is one among the most commonly used transitional words. It indicates that what will be said resembles what has just been said.
Which of the following is a rule of thumb to write sentences that communicate clearly and correctly?Which of the following is a rule of thumb to write sentences that communicate clearly and correctly? Limit sentence content. You should limit your sentence content. Business audiences tend to prefer simple, efficient sentences over long, complex ones.
Which of the following are the kinds of things that concrete words stand for?Concrete words refer to tangible, qualities or characteristics, things we know through our senses.
Which of the following are functions that paragraphs serve?The function of paragraphs
These include: Breaking the text into manageable units, so that the reader can clearly see the main sections. Organising ideas- each paragraph should have just one main idea within it. Providing a narrative flow through the document, as one idea links to the next.
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