Transitions: Moreover, Furthermore, In addition, Therefore, Consequently, etc

List of Transition Words

While you do not want your paper or other written piece to sound like a long string of transition words, consider adding some of these suggestions from our list of transition words when appropriate in order to spice up your work and to make the sections flow more smoothly from one to another.

What follows is a list of transition words which you might want to use in your writing from time to time. Note that some of them are phrases and not singular words.

• Therefore
• However
• Moreover
• Lastly
• Next
• Also
• Furthermore
• In addition to
• Similarly
• Likewise
• Accordingly
• Hence
• Consequently
• As a result
• Thereby
• Otherwise
• Subsequently
• Thus
• So then
• Wherefore
• Generally
• Usually
• For the most part
• As a rule
• Ordinarily
• Regularly
• In particular
• For instance
• Particularly
• Especially
• Such as
• Including
• Namely
• For example
• As an example
• In this case
• Above all
• Singularly
• Likewise
• Coupled with
• Compared to
• In comparison to
• Together with
• Besides
• In brief
• In short
• In conclusion
• In the meantime
• Soon
• Later
• In the meanwhile
• Afterward
• Earlier
• In summary
• To summarize
• Finally
• Before
• After
• By the way
• Incidentally
• As a result of
• Accidentally
• Here
• There
• Over there
• Opposite
• Under
• Beyond
• In the distance
• To the left
• To the right

Purpose of Transition Words

Transition words help a written piece to flow more smoothly. Within these types of words, your writing will become choppy. However, sometimes, when a writer is advised to use a new type of device in his or her writing, that person will tend to start sprinkling it in everywhere. Transition words should really fall very naturally throughout a composition.

Moreover

You can use “moreover” to replace “and in addition.” It normally begins the second independent clause in a sentence, following a semicolon.Moreover is a transition, so you use it to make something follow another.

Here’s an example with correct punctuation:

-The hairdresser had dyed his hair the wrong color; moreover, the hair turned green when she tried to correct the error.

Futhermore

You use furthermore to add more information to what was already said or written.Futhermore is transitions  part of the Academic Word List and almost always used at the beginning of a sentence.

Example:

We believe that the project is possible. Furthermore, we believe that we can do it within a few months.

In addition

In addition, additionally or also, joins two sentences (independent clauses.)  The word introduces additional information.  These words are often called transition words or conjunctive adverbs.  (Also tends to be less formal than in addition or additionally).

Examples:

-Anne and Alex act and sing.  In addition, they dance.

-She must dance gracefully.  In addition, she must dance precisely.

Therefore

Therefore - (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result; it’s a conjunctive adverb (the term is not important!).

Examples:

-those people have their umbrellas up: therefore, it must be raining

-they heard the warning on the radio and therefore took another route

Consequently

“Consequently” is very similar to “so” and “therefore.” Like “therefore” it’s a conjunctive adverb (the term is not important!). It usually appears in the middle of sentence, but it may also be used at the beginning of sentence. If you know what the word “consequence” means, you shouldn’t have any trouble with this.

Examples:

-Hector decided not to use a map; consequently, he got lost and never found his way out of the forest. There he died.