clear communication: transition words

(A similar topic is discussed in French in the article Communication claire : mots de liaison.)

Note: The words with an asterisk (*) in the list below may be hard for some readers to understand.

Addition, continuation

• additionally*
• afterward(s)
• again
• along with
• also
• and
• another
• as previously stated*
• as stated earlier
• as well
• at last
• at length
• at the same time
• besides
• embracing
• encompassing*
• equally important
• eventually
• extending
• finally
• first
• for example
• for instance
• furthermore*
• in addition
• in closing
• including
• in conclusion*
• in fact
• initially
• lastly
• later
• likewise
• meanwhile
• moreover*
• next
• other
• overall
• presently*
• second
• similarly
• since
• soon
• subsequently*
• supplementing*
• then
• therefore
• thus*
• to begin with
• too
• while

Cause and effect

• accordingly*
• and so
• as a result
• because
• consequently*
• due to this
• for
• hence*
• if…then
• in view of
• owing to
• seeing that
• since
• so
• thanks to
• then
• therefore
• thus*
• under the circumstances

Comparison, similarity

• again
• also
• and
• as
• as a matter of fact
• as well
• besides
• for example
• for instance
• furthermore*
• in addition
• indeed*
• in other words
• in particular
• in the same way
• like
• likewise
• namely
• particularly
• similarly
• specifically
• that is
• that is to say
• while

Concession

• admittedly
• albeit*
• although
• and yet
• apart from
• aside from
• at any rate
• at least
• but even so
• despite (this)
• even though
• except for
• granted that
• however
• in any case
• in spite of
• nevertheless*
• nonetheless*
• notwithstanding*
• of course
• other than
• regardless
• still
• though
• while it may be true
• yet

Conclusion, summary

• accordingly*
• all in all
• as a final point
• as a result
• as noted
• because
• briefly
• consequently*
• eventually
• finally
• first
• given these points
• immediately
• in brief
• in conclusion*
• in short
• in summary
• in the end
• last
• lastly
• later
• meanwhile
• next
• on the whole
• presently*
• previously*
• since
• soon
• subsequently*
• then
• therefore
• thus*
• to put it briefly
• to summarize
• to sum up
• while

Condition

• as long as
• even if
• even though
• given that
• granted that
• granting that
• if
• in case
• in the event that*
• only if
• on the condition that
• provided that*
• providing that*
• so long as
• unless

Consequence, result

• accordingly*
• as a consequence*
• as a result
• because
• consequently*
• due to
• for this reason
• hence*
• if not
• in other words
• in that case
• otherwise
• owing to
• since
• so
• so that
• that being the case
• that is
• that is to say
• then
• therefore
• through
• thus*
• under the circumstances
• with the result that

Contrast

• although
• but
• contrarily*
• conversely*
• despite (this)
• even though
• however
• in contrast
• in spite of
• instead
• moreover*
• nevertheless*
• notwithstanding*
• on the contrary
• on the other hand
• or
• otherwise
• rather
• still
• unlike
• whereas*
• while this may be true
• yet

Emphasis

• above all
• again
• also
• besides
• certainly
• chiefly*
• equally important
• even more
• for this reason
• furthermore*
• in addition
• indeed*
• in fact
• in truth
• more important
• of course
• really
• surely
• to repeat
• truly

Illustration

• as a case in point
• as an illustration
• by way of example*
• by way of illustration*
• for example
• for instance
• in other words
• in particular
• namely
• specifically
• such as
• that is
• that is to say
• thus*
• to illustrate

Personal opinion

• as far as I am concerned
• as for me
• as I see it
• from my point of view
• from where I stand
• I believe
• I consider
• I feel
• in my opinion
• in my view
• I question whether
• I think
• it is my belief
• it seems to me that
• let me say
• personally
• that/this is my viewpoint

Sequence

• after
• afterward(s)
• at first
• at last
• at length
• at the same time
• before
• earlier
• eventually
• finally
• following
• initially
• later
• meanwhile
• next
• now
• once
• originally
• presently*
• shortly
• soon
• subsequent*
• then
• while

Time

• about
• after
• afterward(s)
• another
• as soon as
• at
• at last
• at length
• at the same time
• before
• concurrently*
• during
• eventually
• finally
• first
• formerly
• generally
• immediately
• in the interim*
• in the meantime
• last
• later
• meanwhile
• never
• next
• next week
• now
• once
• ordinarily
• presently*
• previously*
• rarely
• second
• shortly
• simultaneously*
• soon
• subsequently*
• then
• third
• to begin with
• today
• tomorrow
• until
• usually
• when suddenly
• while
• yesterday