Transitional Devices
Transitional Devices The word "transition" means passing over. Thus transitional guides are connectives (symbols,words, phrases; sometimes whole sentences and paragraphs) that make possible a smooth "passing over" from one idea to the next. You make transitions by referring to what you have said before,establishing cause-and-effect connections, looking ahead to what you will say, referring to the present, marking time and place, qualifying, comparing, contrasting. These and other common transitional devices appear here in categories that necessarily overlap to some extent. Referring back: as we have seen, on the whole, as mentioned above, as stated previously, as I have said, it seems then
Looking ahead. then, later, next, after, afterward, thereafter, finally, now, consequently, to sum up
Establishing causal connections: the result, in conclusion, to conclude, because, for, since, consequently, accordingly, hence, thus, therefore
Time markers: now, then, later, soon, before, next, afterward, finally, meanwhile, thereafter, at the same time
Place markers: here, there, at this point, below, beside, next to, behind, in front, outside, inside
Comparing and establishing degree: and, similarly, in like manner, in the same way, just as, so ... that, also, more than, less than, beyond this
Qualifying conceding, or contrasting: but, nevertheless, on the other hand, however, despite this, still, on the contrary, conversely, if, as if, granted that, unless, whether, anyhow, although, even though, yet
Adding and intensifying: first, second, third; a, b, c, 1, 2, 3, to repeat, in addition, moreover, and, also, still, again, similarly, furthermore, finally, really, indeed
Introducing an illustration: thus, to illustrate, for example, for instance
Repeating a key word: This device keeps the main idea before the reader and carries the thread of meaning throughout a passage.
Using synonyms: Instead of repeating a key word so that it becomes monotonous, you may
Looking ahead. then, later, next, after, afterward, thereafter, finally, now, consequently, to sum up
Establishing causal connections: the result, in conclusion, to conclude, because, for, since, consequently, accordingly, hence, thus, therefore
Time markers: now, then, later, soon, before, next, afterward, finally, meanwhile, thereafter, at the same time
Place markers: here, there, at this point, below, beside, next to, behind, in front, outside, inside
Comparing and establishing degree: and, similarly, in like manner, in the same way, just as, so ... that, also, more than, less than, beyond this
Qualifying conceding, or contrasting: but, nevertheless, on the other hand, however, despite this, still, on the contrary, conversely, if, as if, granted that, unless, whether, anyhow, although, even though, yet
Adding and intensifying: first, second, third; a, b, c, 1, 2, 3, to repeat, in addition, moreover, and, also, still, again, similarly, furthermore, finally, really, indeed
Introducing an illustration: thus, to illustrate, for example, for instance
Repeating a key word: This device keeps the main idea before the reader and carries the thread of meaning throughout a passage.
Using synonyms: Instead of repeating a key word so that it becomes monotonous, you may
References: http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/qwrtcntr/resources/handouts/transitions.htm