List of transition words for essays

Transitional words and expressions help connect ideas within and between paragraphs. They do this by showing relationships, such as addition or contrast or result.

Here are some transition words and phrases you may wish to use in your essay. Keep in mind that they can be used at the beginning of a sentence or within a sentence.

If you are adding information or showing similarity between ideas:
additionally in addition as well as	besides also another	so too likewise furthermore	first of all/secondly/thirdly to begin with finally
If you are showing that one idea is different from another:
however yet but	even though despite although	in contrast still in spite of	on the one hand/on the other hand some people say/other people say regardless
If you are showing that something is an example of what you just stated:
for example for instance	to illustrate namely	this can be seen specifically
If you want to show cause and effect:
as a result it follows that	consequently therefore	so eventually
If you want to add emphasis:
in fact	of course	truly	even	indeed

To Add or Continue: additionally, again, and then, also, and, besides, clearly then, equally important, following this further, consequently, finally, further, furthermore, in addition, in the light of the... it is easy to see that, in the same way lastly, next, what's more, moreover, nor, first (second, etc.), too.

To Compare: after all, although, balanced against, by comparison, but, although this may be true but, compared to, conversely, on the contrary, however, on the other hand, nevertheless, vis a vis, meanwhile, in contrast, up against, where, whereas, yet.

To Continue a Line of Reasoning: and, because, beside, furthermore, moreover, pursuing this further.

To Emphasize: absolutely, always, emphatically, eternally, definitely, extremely, forever, in fact, indeed, in any case, never, obviously, naturally, perennially, positively, undeniably, surprisingly, unquestionably, without a doubt, without reservation.

To Give an Example: for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration.

To Prove: because, besides, for, for the same reason, furthermore, evidently, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, obviously, since, moreover, that is.

To Show Exception: despite, however, in spite of, nevertheless, of course, once in a while, sometimes, still, yet.

To Show Sequence: A, B, C, and so forth, first, second, third, and so forth, after, afterward, and then, at this point, at this time, before this, concurrently, finally, following this, consequently, hence, next, now, previously, simultaneously, soon, subsequently, then, therefore, thus.

To Show Time: after a few hours, and then, formerly, finally, first (second, etc.), immediately, later, next, previously, soon, then, thereafter.

To Summarize or Conclude: accordingly, as a result, as I have shown, as I have said, consequently, hence, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, summing up, therefore, to conclude, thus.

To Repeat: as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted, in brief.