2017515 TransitionWordsandPhrases

SomeCommonEnglishTransitionWordsandPhrases
AddingInformation Examples

and Wehaveseenthemovietwice,andnowwewanttoseeitagain.
notonly...butalso Notonlydidmybrotherbreakhisleg,buthealsobruisedhisrib.
also MyfriendspeaksKoreanandEnglish.ShealsospeaksChinese.
moreover(moreformal) Cheatingisdishonest.Moreover,ithindersstudentsfromlearning.
furthermore(moreformal) Studentsshouldbeontime.Furthermore,theymustbeprepared.
inaddition(moreformal) Youmustcompletethisessayby5p.m.Inaddition,youmustdothe
exercisesonpage47.
GivingExamples Examples

forexample Ihavebeentomanycountries.Forexample,IhavebeentoRussia,
forinstance Canada,Mexico,andSpain.
specifically Heofteneatsstrangefoods.Forinstance,heonceatecowbrains.
inparticular Iliketotravel.Specifically,Ienjoyplaceswitholdcathedrals.
Thefirst(second,another, Ilovefruit.Inparticular,Ilikebananas,pineapple,andberries.
etc.)example/reasonis... Myfriendhatesskiingforseveralreasons.Thefirstreasonisthat
shedislikesbeingcold.Anotherreasonisthatsheoftenfalls.
ShowingaContrast Examples

but BillearnedanAonhisessay,butSusangotaB.
however Wewantedtoleaveat8:00.However,Mikearrivedtoolate.
ontheotherhand Shehateshousecleaning.Ontheotherhand,shedoesn'tmind
otherwise cooking.
instead Studentsshouldattendclass.Otherwise,theymaylosetheirstatus.
incontrast(moreformal) Iamnotgoingouttonight.Instead,Iwillstayhomeandwatcha
video.
Womenusuallyenjoyshopping.Incontrast,menoftendislikeit.
ShowingaConcession Examples

yet Heknowsthatheshoulddohishomework,yetheneverdoesit.
nevertheless(moreformal) Ineedtowearreadingglasses.Nevertheless,IhatehowIlookin
evenso them.
however Iknowyoudon'tliketostudy.Evenso,youmustpassyourexam.
although Therearemanybenefitstoexercising.However,youmusttakesome
eventhough precautionstoavoidinjury.
despitethefactthat... Eventhoughthebookisdifficulttoread,itisveryinteresting.
despite Althoughthebookisdifficulttoread,itisveryinteresting.
DespitethefactthatKateisgoodattennis,shelostthematch.
DespiteKate'sskillattennis,shelostthematch.
ShowingaSimilarity Examples

likewise(moreformal) Mathwashardformeinhighschool.Likewise,itishardincollege.
similarly(moreformal) Houseplantsrequiremuchcareandattention.Similarly,outdoorplants
inthesameway mustbecaredforproperly.
Rockclimbingtakesmuchpracticeandskill.Inthesameway,
learningtowritewellrequiresagreatdealofpractice.
ShowingaResult Examples

so Janetpassedherexam,sosheisveryhappy.
asaresult Timwaslate.Asaresult,wecouldnotgototheconcert.
therefore Jamesisnotfeelingwell.Therefore,hewillnotbeheretoday.
thus(moreformal) Thecommitteevotedagainsttheproposal.Thus,wemustconsider
asaconsequence anotheridea.
consequently(moreformal) Iforgotthatthecakewasintheoven.Asaconsequence,itburned.
Tinalostherkeys.Consequently,shecouldnotdrivehome.
EstablishingTimeRelation Examples
orSequence
First,Ithinkthatsheisstudyinghard.
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2017515 TransitionWordsandPhrases

Second,Ibelievethatsheisabrightstudent.
first Finally,Iknowthatshehasgreatpotential.
second Inconclusion,Ifeelthatshedeservestowinthescholarship.
finally Insummary,weshouldofferhersomefinancialhelp.
inconclusion Jeffwasworkinghardtocleanthehouse.Meanwhile,hisbrotherwas
insummary watchingtelevision.
meanwhile
ShowingaCondition Examples

or Imuststudyhard,orIwillfailmyexam.
whether...or Whetheryouarecomingornot,IamstillgoingtoAmy'sparty.
if...(then) Ifyouwanttogetgoodgrades,thenyoumustdoyourhomework.
ExplainingorEmphasizing Examples

infact Thebookstoresellscards.Infact,theyhavethebestcardsaround.
actually JamesisactuallythefirstpersonIhaveknownwhohasbeento
inotherwords Africa.
namely(moreformal) Hewaslatetoclassagain.Inotherwords,hedidn'twakeupon
time.
Theplanneededonlytwothingstosucceednamely,timeand
money.
GivinganAlternative Examples

or Wecangotothebeach,orwecangotothemountains.
either...or Youcaneitherridethebusorwalktomyapartment.
neither...nor(more Ilikeneitherthatpersonnorhisbrother.
formal)

PunctuationRules

1.CoordinatingConjunctions(and,but,or,yet,so):
Putacommabeforetheseconjunctions.(Don'tusethematthebeginningofasentenceinmore
formalwriting.)
example:Themoviehasalreadystarted,butmyfriendhasnotarrivedyet.

2.CorrelativeConjunctions(Thesehavetwoparts:either...or):
Putacommabeforethesecondpartifitconnects2clauses(completesentences).
example:Ericisnotonlyanoutstandingteacher,butheisalsoagourmetcook.

Youdon'tneedacommaifitonlyconnectswordsorphrases.
example:Ericisnotonlyanoutstandingteacherbutalsoagourmetcook.

3.TransitionalWordsandPhrases:
Putacommaaftertheseiftheyareatthebeginningofasentence.
example:Iliketotravel.Specifically,Ienjoyplaceswitholdcathedrals.

Useasemicolontoconnectthetwosentences.
example:Iliketotravelspecifically,Ienjoyplaceswitholdcathedrals.

Useacommabeforeandafterthetransitionalword/phraseinthemiddleofaclause.
example:Iliketotravel,and,specifically,Ienjoyplaceswitholdcathedrals.

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