LIST OF TRANSITIONAL WORDS FOR WRITING ESSAYS

(provided by AP US History scholar John A. Braithwaite) The following is a list of transition words to help students write more fluently and meaningful essays. I. Indicating similarity or addition: again equally also equally important and for another for example as for instance as if further(more) as much as in addition as though in addition to besides in a like manner Indicating dissimilarity, although and yet another as if away from besides but by comparison conversely differing from even if or contradiction even though however in comparison in comparison to in place of in spite of instead less important neither nevertheless notwithstanding in fact in general in the same fashion likewise moreover of course similarly too

II.

on the contrary on the other hand otherwise still than unfortunately unless whereas while yet

III.

Indicating cause, purpose, consequence, or result as for this reason provided that accordingly fortunately since as a result hence so because in any case then consequently in fact therefore for it began with thus finally of course unfortunately Indicating spatial order or reference above behind across below across from beneath adjacent beside here in a corner in back of in front of

IV.

IV.

Indicating spatial order or reference (continued) against between alongside beyond among down around eventually at facing before farther outside to the side of over toward throughout under through underneath Indicating chronology or sequence: after first, second, etc. afterward formerly as soon as hereafter at first in the beginning at last in the meantime at length in the second place at present in the first place at the same time later before meanwhile during moments later earlier next finally now first of all once Indicating priority or importance above all further also furthermore besides in addition to equally important in the first place first, second, etc. more(most) important for one reason moreover Indicating example or summary as a result in brief as I have said in conclusion first, second, etc in fact for example in other words for instance in short in any case in the first place in the second place

inside in the middle near next to on opposite up upon within without presently provided that secondly since then thereafter soon to begin with until when while yet

V.

VI.

next of greater of less importance provided that to begin with

VII.

on the whole once second specifically to sum up in any event