People who have studied the way communication, in particular, writing, works have identified these kinds of basic logic that knit ideas together. They are so obvious that I have tucked them discreetly away over here by themselves. Shhhhh.
Return to the main chapter on transitions.
- Additive—One idea can be added to another; information can simply be added to other information within a paragraph. Additive transitional words and phrases include and, moreover, as well as, too, in addition to, furthermore, also, and additionally.
- Narrative, chronological, temporal—One idea can follow, precede, or occur simultaneously with another. Narrative transitional words and phrases include then, next, after, before, since, subsequently, following, later, as soon as, as, when, while, during, until, and once.
- Contrastive, comparative—Two ideas can be compared to each other to show differences or similarities. Contrastive transitional words and phrases include but, on the other hand, unlike, as opposed to, than, although, though, instead, and similarly.
- Alternative—Two ideas can act as alternatives or substitutes for each other. Alternative transitional words and phrases include either, or, nor, on the other hand, however, neither, and otherwise.
- Causal—One idea can be the cause or the result (effect, consequence, etc.) of another. Causal transitional words and phrases include thus, then, unless, subsequently, therefore, because, consequently, as a result, if, in order to/that, for, and so.
- Illustrative—One idea can be an example or an illustration of another. Illustrative transitional words and phrases include for example, for instance, to illustrate, and as an example.
- Repetitive, reiterative—To ensure clarity, an idea can be restated or repeated using other, perhaps more familiar, words. Repetitive transitional words and phrases include in other words, in short, that is, stated simply, and to put it another way.
- Spatial, physical—The things referred to by one statement can have a spatial relationship to another thing referred to by another statement. The logic connecting the two statements can be spatial in nature. Typically, prepositions indicate such logic: for example, under, beside, on top of, next to, behind, and so on.