Transition Signals - What They Do

Transition signals are words and phrases that act like bridges between parts of your writing. They link sentences, paragraphs, ideas and entire thoughts together, making sure each section flows smoothly from one to the other.

Think of them as signposts - ones that tell the reader when there is a jump or break in your discussion. It prepares them for changes, preventing abrupt shifts that can both lead the reader astray and make reading your piece as hard as it will be if you refused to use a thorough proofreading software. Simply put, transition signals aid continuity, strengthening the internal cohesion of your work.

Different transition signals do different things.

1. Some are used to indicate sequence or order, such are "before that," "along with it" and "in the meantime."

2. Some are used to introduce an example, such as "for instance," "to illustrate" and "take the case of."

3. Some are used to indicate time, such as "immediately," "prior to" and "at that time."

4. Some are used to logically divide an idea, such as "initially" and "lastly."

5. Some are used to compare and contrast ideas, such as "in contrast," "on the other hand" and "by comparison."

6. Some introduce additional ideas and information, such as "in addition," "furthermore" and "more than that."

7. Some introduce an opposing idea, such as "on the other hand," "in spite of" and "even though."

8. Some are used to give an example, such as "to illustrate," "for example" and "in this case."

9. Some are used to summarize, such as "on the whole," "in summary" and "to sum things up."