Transition Words and Phrases
It is essential to understand how transition words, as a part of speech, can be used to combine ideas in writing. This will help to improve your writing (e.g. essay, comment, summary (scientific) review, (research) paper, letter, abstract, report, thesis, etc.). It is also fundamental to be aware of the sometimes subtle meaning of transition words within the English language.
List of Transition Words
This structured list of commonly used English transition words (approximately 200, so the list can be considered as quasi complete) can be used (by students and teachers alike) to find the right expression. English transition words are essential, since they not only connect ideas, but also can introduce a certain shift, contrast or opposition, emphasis or agreement, purpose, result or conclusion, etc. in the line of argument.
The transition words and phrases (also called devices) have been assigned only once to somewhat artificial categories, although some words belong to more than one category.
There is some overlapping with preposition and postposition, but for the purpose of clarity and completeness I did not differentiate.
Agreement / Addition / Similarity
The transition words like also, in addition, and, likewise, add information, reinforce ideas, and express agreement with preceding material. in the first place not only ... but also as a matter of fact in like manner in addition coupled with in the same fashion / way first, second, third in the light of not to mention to say nothing of equally important by the same token again to and also then equally identically uniquely like as
too