Transition words and phrases clarify and smooth the movement from idea to idea in your writing. They are words and phrases like ‘because’, ‘secondly’, ‘furthermore’, and ‘for example’. They show your reader the relationship between phrases and sentences. Think of transitions as the links that help your writing flow. Appropriate use of transition phrases makes it easier for your readers to understand the logical flow of your thoughts and ideas.
For example, compare the clarity of the following sentences without the use of a transitional word, and with one:
Without a transitional word:
Carol couldn’t sleep the night before her flight. She woke up late and had to rush.
With a transitional word:
Carol couldn’t sleep the night before her flight. Therefore, she woke up late and had to rush.
If you want to see some lists of transitional words for inspiration, try searching online for “lists of transitional words”!
Note: This piece of Instant Feedback is intended as guidance to help improve your writing. It is not used as part of your Curiosity Score calculation, and if you disagree with the feedback it can safely be dismissed without impacting your score.