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Learning Objectives
- Identify a set list of transition words.
- Use a variety of the identified transition words to connect sentences and paragraphs.
What are transition words?
Transition words (also called connectors) are words that we use to connect different sentences. They can express that you a starting a paragraph, switching to a new idea, or concluding a paragraph.
Here are some common transition words to start out with:
| Starting | Adding | Concluding |
| first | second | to conclude |
| firstly | secondly | in conclusion |
| to begin | in addition | thus |
| to start | additionally | clearly |
| furthermore |
Test your knowledge!
Did you try to click other transition words?
You were not necessarily incorrect! There are other transition words in the essay above, like “for example.” But we will talk about other transition words in a later chapter.
What did you notice?
Look again at the essay above. Which transition starts Topic Sentence 1?
Topic Sentence 1 starts with “first.” This is because it is the first big topic in the essay.
Which transition words start the first supporting sentence of each paragraph?
These sentences start with “to start” and “to begin.” This is because they are the first specific ideas in each paragraph.
Which transition starts Topic Sentence 2?
It starts with “second” because it is the second big topic in the essay.
Which transition starts the second supporting sentence of each paragraph?
They start with “additionally” and “furthermore” because they are the second (or added) specific idea in each paragraph.
Use variety!
Using a variety of vocabulary means that you are using many different words instead of frequently repeating the same words. This also applies to transition words. You should use a variety of transition words in your essays instead of repeating the same ones. This makes your essay more interesting to read. If you look at the example essay above again, you will notice that none of the transition words is used more than once.