The Three Transition Types

How to write strong transitions in writing

1. The Three Transition Types
Between Sentences, Transition Words,
and Between Paragraphs: this equals…..
Smooth Writing!

2. What is a Transition?
•In writing, a transition is a word, group of
words or sentence that leads your reader
from one subject to another.
•Think of transitions as the links that hold
together a chain – without the links, nothing
would hold the chair together and the pieces
would fall apart!

3. Transitions Between Sentences
•There are times when our sentences are only
partly related and so its helpful to “seal the
deal” by truly connecting the ideas.
•Example of a place that needs a transition:
–My mom is constantly yelling at me to clean up
my room. I was not prepared to live on my own.

4. Make a Transition!
•Problem: My mom is constantly yelling at me to
clean up my room. I was not prepared to live on my
own.
•Potential solution: My mom is constantly yelling at me to
clean up my room. She said this was an example as to
why I was not prepared to live on my own.
Or
•Another solution: My mom is constantly yelling at me to
clean up my room. Indeed she was right, and I was not
prepared to live on my own.

5. Another Example:
Where is the Problem?
•I had my first date with John last night. We
went to dinner, and a movie, and I did not get
home until after one in the morning. When I
was eight years old, my mom told me that I
had to be home by 6 pm at night. John and I
went to see the movie “Gladiator,” which was
a very good movie.

6. Possible Solution
•I had my first date with John last night. We went
to dinner, and a movie, and I did not get home
until after one in the morning. I felt so grown up
staying out so late at night, with no one to tell
me that I had to go home. I remember when I
was eight years old, my mom told me that I had
to be home by six at night. However, I was no
longer eight years old, but twenty and on a date
with my boyfriend. That night, John and I went
to see the movie “Gladiator,” which was a very
good movie.

7. Transition Words
•Sometimes we only need a word to offer a
good transition. “For example,” is an
example!
•Common transition words (but do not over do
them!) are on the next few pages:

8. Transitions to help emphasize a point
•Again, the main issue is, to emphasize, indeed,
truly, to repeat, surprising, in fact, frequently,
for this reason, the point often overlooked . . .
.

9. Transitions to Show Location:
•Above, across, against, along, down, beyond,
between, outside, over, beside, into, near,
throughout, among, amid . . .

10. Transitions to Compare Items:
•Accordingly, also, comparable to, just as,
often, likewise, similarly, like, in the same
way, in the same manner, in conjunction
with . . .

11. Transitions to Contrast Items
•Although, as opposed to, but, however,
conversely, counter to, even so, even though,
on the other hand, otherwise, still and yet….

12. Transitions to Show Time:
•About, after, afterward, as soon as, at, at the
same time, before, during, finally, first,
immediately, in the meantime, later, last,
meanwhile, next, next week, next time, next
year, prior to, yesterday, today . . . .

13. Transactions to Clarify
•For example, for instance, in other words, put
another way, that is, simply stated, to clarify,
to illustrate . . .

14. Transitions to Conclude or Summarize
•Accordingly, all in all, as a result, consequently,
lastly, thus, in the last analysis, therefore, in
short, finally, due to, in closing . . . .
•This is an awesome page on the many different
kinds of transition words you can use:
http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing
/sixtrait/organization/transitions.html

15. Transitions Between Paragraphs
•Transitions are also needed to link your
paragraph topics. They help ease your reader
into the next topic.

16. Example of problem paragraphs – what is wrong?
•I had my first date with John last night. We went to
dinner, and a movie, and I did not get home until
after one in the morning. I felt so grown up staying
out so late at night, with no one to tell me that I had
to go home. I remember when I was eight years old,
my mom told me that I had to be home by six at
night. However, I was no longer eight years old, but
twenty and on a date with my boyfriend.
•In 2005, I was dating Billy. He was a nice guy but
also a bit clueless. We never went out anywhere
because Billy only liked to stay home, watch TV and
play video games!

17. Possible Fix:
•I had my first date with John last night. We went to
dinner, and a movie, and I did not get home until after
one in the morning. I felt so grown up staying out so
late at night, with no one to tell me that I had to go
home. I remember when I was eight years old, my
mom told me that I had to be home by six at night.
However, I was no longer eight years old, but twenty
and on a date with my boyfriend.
•Although John and I did not work out, at least he took
me out to do things. In 2005, I was dating Billy. He
was a nice guy but also a bit clueless. We never went
out anywhere because Billy only liked to stay home,
watch TV and play video games!

18. Final note on transactions between
paragraphs
•Your transition can occur in either paragraph,
as long as it makes sense! So, lets look at a
final solution for that last example

19. Transition in the 1
st
Paragraph
•I had my first date with John last night. We went to
dinner, and a movie, and I did not get home until after
one in the morning. I felt so grown up staying out so
late at night, with no one to tell me that I had to go
home. I remember when I was eight years old, my
mom told me that I had to be home by six at night.
However, I was no longer eight years old, but twenty
and on a date with my boyfriend. I was sad when
John and I broke up, because we always did fun
things together; not like my next boyfriend, Billy.
•In 2005, I was dating Billy Pastor. He was a nice guy,
but also a bit clueless. We never went out anywhere
because Billy only liked to stay home, watch TV and
play video games!