IELTS: Listening For Tone Attitude
Transitions Signal Words in Listening

Transition words and phrases also called linking or connecting words, are used to link together different ideas in your text. They help the reader to follow your arguments by expressing the relationships between different sentences or parts of a sentence.

Transitions Signal Words in Listening

What are transition signals?

Transition signals, along with repeated words and reference words, are one of the main ways to achieve good cohesion and coherence in your writing. They are therefore a way to help ensure that your ideas and sentences cohere or 'stick together. Transition signals are used to signal relationships between ideas in your writing. For example, the transition signal 'for example is used to give examples, while the word 'while' is used to show a contrast. In addition, there are phrases like 'in addition' for adding new ideas. Likewise, there are words such as 'likewise' to connect similar ideas.

How are transition signals useful?

Transition signals will:

• make it easier for the reader to follow your ideas.

• create powerful links between sentences and paragraphs to improve the flow of information across the whole text. The result is that the writing is smoother.

• help to carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another.

How are transition signals used?

•Transition signals are usually placed at the start of sentences; however, they may also appear in the middle or end of sentences.

• A transition signal, or the clause introduced by a transition signal, is usually separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.

•You DO NOT need to use transition signals in every sentence in a paragraph; however, good use of transition words will help to make the relationship between the ideas in your writing clear and logical.

Which transition signals can I use?

Before choosing a particular transition signal to use, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure that it's the right match for the logic in your paper. Transition signals all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations.

Grammar of transition signals

Broadly speaking, transition signals can be divided into three types:

sentence connectors
clause connectors
other connectors

Sentence connectors

are used to connect two sentences together. They are joined by a full-stop (period) or semi-colon, and are followed by a comma. The following are examples of sentence connectors.

Transition signals are very useful. However, they should not be used to begin every sentence.

Transition signals are very useful; however, they should not be used to begin every sentence.

Contrast signals are one type of transition signals. In addition, there are others such as compare signals and addition signals.

Clause connectors

are used to connect two clauses together to form one sentence. They are joined by a comma. The following are examples of clause connectors.

Transition signals are very useful, but they should not be used to begin every sentence.

Although transition signals are very useful, they should not be used to begin every sentence.

Contrast signals are one type of transition signal, and there are others such as compare signals and addition signals.

Other connectors

follow different grammar patterns. Many are followed by noun phrases. Some are verbs and should therefore be used as verbs in a sentence. The following are examples of other connectors.

Despite

their importance in achieving cohesion, transition signals should not be used to begin every sentence.

Good cohesion is the result of using repeated words, reference words, and transition signals.

It is clear that careful use of transition signals will improve the cohesion in your writing.

Contrast signals are one type of transition signal. Another type is comparison signals.

Don’t overuse transition words

While transition words are essential to clear writing, it’s possible to use too many of them. Consider the following example, in which the overuse of linking words slows down the text and makes it feel repetitive.

The first experiment yielded a positive result. However, the second experiment yielded a negative result. Nonetheless, the third experiment yielded a positive result, whereas the fourth experiment yielded another negative result.

The first and third experiments yielded positive results, while the outcomes of the second and fourth experiments were negative.

Note

The key to using transition words effectively is striking the right balance.

Main Types of transition words

There are four main types of transition word: additive, adversative, causal, and sequential.

1-Additive transition words

Additive transition words introduce new information or examples.

2-Adversative transition words

Adversative transition words always signal a contrast of some kind.

4-Sequential transition words

Sequential transition words indicate a sequence, whether it’s the order in which events occurred chronologically or the order you’re presenting them in your text.

3-Causal transition words

Causal transition words are used to describe cause and effect.

More Types of transition signals

Below are examples of different types of transition signals. They are divided by type and sub-divided according to grammar.

To introduce an additional idea

Sentence connectors

also

besides

furthermore

in addition

Clause connectors

and

nor

Other

another (+ noun)

an additional (+ noun)

To compare

Sentence connectors

likewise

similarly

Clause connectors

and

both... and

not only... but also

Other

as... as

like/alike

To contrast

Sentence connectors

however

in contrast

Clause connectors

but

whereas

Other

compared to/with

to be different (from)

To show concession

Concession transitions show an unexpected result. They are similar to but not the same as contrast transitions. E.g. Although the sun was shining, he took an umbrella to work. [The sun shining means taking an umbrella is unexpected.]

To introduce a cause/reason

Sentence connectors

for this reason

Clause connectors

for

because

Other

to result from

to be the result of

To introduce an effect/result

Sentence connectors

consequently

hence

Clause connectors

Other

to result in

to cause

To give an example

Sentence connectors

for example

for instance

To show chronological order

Sentence connectors

first, second, etc.

Clause connectors

after

Other

the next, the last, the final

To show order of importance

Sentence connectors

above all

first and foremost

Other

a more important

To show an alternative

Sentence connectors

alternatively

otherwise

Clause connectors

or,if

To identify or clarify

Sentence connectors

that is

in other words

Other

namely

i.e.

To reinforce

Sentence connectors

in fact

indeed

of course

To conclude

Sentence connectors

all in all

in brief

in conclusion

Other

to summaries

to conclude

It is clear that...

Common mistakes with transition words

Transition words are often used incorrectly.

Confused use of therefore

not to use these words in a way that implies illogical connections.

Starting a sentence with also, and, or so

they are considered too informal when used at the start of a sentence.

Transition words creating sentence fragments

Words like “although” and “because” are called subordinating conjunctions. This means that they introduce clauses which cannot stand on their own

And vs. as well as

Students often use the phrase “as well as” in place of “and,” but its usage is slightly different.

Use of and/or

The combination of transition words “and/or” should generally be avoided in academic writing. It makes your text look messy and is usually unnecessary to your meaning.

Archaic transition words

Words like “hereby,” “therewith, "and most others makes your writing feel old-fashioned and strained and can sometimes obscure your meaning.

Note

For clear writing, it’s essential to understand the meaning of transition words and use them correctly.

Sub Topics

IELTS: Listening For Tone AttitudeTransitions Signal Words in Listening

Transitions Signal Words in Listening

What are transition signals?

How are transition signals useful?

How are transition signals used?

Which transition signals can I use?

Grammar of transition signals

Sentence connectors

Clause connectors

Other connectors

Don’t overuse transition words

Main Types of transition words

1-Additive transition words

2-Adversative transition words

4-Sequential transition words

3-Causal transition words

More Types of transition signals

To introduce an additional idea

To compare

To contrast

To show concession

To introduce a cause/reason

To introduce an effect/result

To give an example

To show chronological order

To show order of importance

To show an alternative

To identify or clarify

To reinforce

To conclude

Common mistakes with transition words

Confused use of therefore

Starting a sentence with also, and, or so

Transition words creating sentence fragments

And vs. as well as

Use of and/or

Archaic transition words

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IELTS: Listening For Tone Attitude
Transitions Signal Words in Listening