Transition word exercise
Always ask yourself what the exact relationship is between the sentences or parts of sentences.
Are you leading to the result of something? Are you making a deduction? Are you introducing
some contradictory evidence or ideas? Your choice of word or phrase obviously depends on this.
And always check in a good dictionary if you're not quite sure about a word's use or its position
in a sentence. Remember that punctuation will affect what you use.
Insert the best alternative
1 Polls show that Tony Blair is the most popular Prime Minister this century. ______________ ,
there are even members of his own party who are uneasy with his approach.
In particular
However
For instance
2 There are some slight variations in temperature, but ________________ 26 to 27C should be
expected.
consequently
otherwise
as a rule
3 The two main Channel Islands, ________________ Jersey and Guernsey, are much closer to
France than to England.
for example
namely
in particular
4 It was announced that nurses' working hours would be increased by 25%. ______________ ,
even fewer trainee nurses
are expected to join the profession.
As a result
So that
Likewise
5 Sales of CDs have experienced a small but steady fall over the past 12 months.
_____________ , vinyl records have seen an increase in their share of the market, up to 1.7%.
Above all
Correspondingly
In contrast
6 The Vice Chancellor explained that in light of the current financial climate and because of
unexpected bad debts, it would be necessary to peg salary levels at their current level for all
grades of staff. ______________ , no-one was getting a pay rise.
Nevertheles
In other words
Similarly
s
7 It is clear, therefore, that the situation in Brazil will improve only slowly. ______________ the
economic problems being experienced in Japan, the outlook is slightly more optimistic.
Furthermor
In comparison
With reference to
e
8 In order to try to reduce car use in the inner cities, the government has announced new
restrictions on company parking spaces and ______________ , a new tax on individual car use.
as well as
in addition
in the same way
9 Essays must be handed in by the deadline, ______________ they will not be marked.
obviously
otherwise
as a result
10 ______________ it has been shown that fractures can occur at even relatively low pressures,
the use of the material should not be completely discounted.
Nevertheless
Because
Even though
Coherence refers to the linking of ideas in a logical sequence or order. Cohesion
refers to the organization of sentences and ideas in your essay working together as a
whole within their paragraphs. They hold together by cohesive devices (transitional
words and expressions). This makes it very easy for the reader to follow your presentation
of information in the essay. They dont get lost or confused. Did you write in clear
paragraphs that are organized around central ideas? Its like listening to a story thats
smooth and easy to follow.
Here are some useful transitional/linking words and phrases to use to show the different
relationships between your ideas and sentences:
ADDITION:
also, again, in addition, additionally, furthermore, further, moreover, as well as,
whats more, besides this/that1,
CONTRAST (show two things are different):
on the other hand, however, despite this, conversely, in contrast, on the contrary,
although, while, though, compared with, in comparison with, rather, whereas, but,
instead of, in spite of, still, nevertheless, regardless, otherwise
COMPARE (show two things are similar/alike):
likewise, similarly, also, in the same way, in comparison to
SEQUENCE:
first, second (etc.), to begin with, initially, at first, then, next, from there, and then,
following this, finally, lastly
EXAMPLES:
for example, for instance, a good example of this is, such as, to illustrate, in
particular, particularly, namely, specifically
CONSEQUENCE:
therefore, as a result, thus, so, consequently, admittedly, so that, depending on
EMPHASIS/CERTAINTY:
indeed, certainly, in fact, of course, undoubtedly, plainly, obviously
CONDITION:
if. . . then, unless, whether, provided that,
SUMMARY:
in summary, in conclusion, overall, in short, in brief, to sum up, in other words, all
in all, to put it differently, to summarize, on the whole,
REASON:
because, since, as, so, due to, owing to, the reason why
CONCESSION (accepting/acknowledging something is true):
granted, naturally, of course