Transition words translations

Transition Words

• this entry supports the SAT Digital Reading and Writing Test quick start guide
  • as well as the old paper test SAT Writing section
• "transition words" are sometimes referred to as "linking words"
  • linking words connect thoughts or sentences.
• their grammatical forms are
  • conjunctive adverbs
    • such as however, nevertheless, anyway, etc.
  • adverbial prepositional phrases
    • such as "at any rate," "in the meantime"
• the key to "transition words" is to think of them as
  • combining (conjunctive) ideas (sentence predicates) for
    • chronology
    • contradiction
    • example
    • explanation
    • extension
    • negation
    • sequence
• transition words are a writing technique to move ideas along

General Characteristic of Transition Words

• consider:
  • does it support (POSITIVE)
    • including if it indicates a sequence or chronology
  • does it contradict (NEGATIVE)
  • does it move on from or change the topic (NEUTRAL)

POSITIVE	NEGATIVE	NEUTRAL
expands	contrasts	adds side-information
explains	contradicts	defers to another idea
restates	states an opposite
adds information	offers alternative
gives example	Says "yes... but"
compares
draws a conclusion from
chronological or creates a sequence

Transition Word Translations & Meanings

Positive Transition Word Translations

TRANSITION WORD	TRANSLATION(s) / SYNONYMS
accordingly	as a result, consequently, hence, therefore, thus; may also mean "correspondingly" or "for this reason"
additionally / in addition / in addition to / additionally	also, as well, furthermore, moreover
afterward	next, subsequently, then
also	additionally, as well, furthermore, moreover; may also mean "equally"
as a result	accordingly, consequently, correspondingly, hence, therefore;
as a rule	generally, normally, ordinarily, usually
as such	"if so, then"; by definition, essentially
at any rate	"well, any way..."
better	"even better", "what's even better"
by the same token	in the same way, for the same reasons
consequently	accordingly, as a result, correspondingly, hence, therefore
finally	eventually, at the end, in conclusion
for	"having a purpose", a reason (note: "for" is a preposition, so it is more likely to be used as "for this reason")
for example	for instance, like, such as
for instance	as an example, for example, such as
for these reasons	because, because of, due to, since
fortunately	"good thing that"; happily, luckily, thankfully
furthermore	additionally, also, as well, moreover
hence	accordingly, consequently, for this reason, that being the case, therefore, thus
in broad terms	generally, in a larger sense, loosely speaking, overall
in conclusion	to sum up, finally
in effect	effectively, essentially, for all practical purposes, practically
in fact	"as a matter of fact", "that is to say"
in other words	"explained differently", "in simple terms"
in particular
in short	"to summarize", overall
increasingly	it is happening more; more of
indeed	"as a matter of fact", actually
like	for instance, likewise, similar to
likewise	"by the same token," like, similarly, the same as
moreover	additionally, as well, furthermore
nextly, secondly, thirdly, etc.	= additional points or examples
similarly	comparably, correspondingly, likewise
specifically	particularly, precisely
subsequently	after, next, then, thereafter, thereupon
that is	by explanation, that is to say, in other words
then	after, next, thereafter, thereupon, subsequently
thereafter	subsequently, ever since, "as a result of"
therefore	accordingly, as a result, consequently, hence, thus
to these ends / to that end	"for that reason", "in order to [accomplish that]
to wit	more precisely, in other words
thus	accordingly, as a result, consequently, hence, therefore
what is	additionally, furthermore
what's more	technically a noun clause, but used to indicate additional information

Negative Transition Word Translations

TRANSITION WORD	TRANSLATION(s) / SYNONYMS
actually	but, contrarily, etc.
alternatively	on the other hand, conversely, in contrast
although	despite the fact, even though, however, not withstanding, while; could also represent an objection or caveat
at any rate	anyhow, anyway, in any event, nevertheless
at the same time	even so, meanwhile
besides	apart from, aside from, not including, on top of that; may also mean "except for"
by contrast	compared to, next to
conversely	alternatively, on the other hand
despite / despite this	even so, "ignoring that," in spite of, regardless of, though, "without being affected by"; also may mean "in contrast to"
however	although, but, even so, though, still, yet
in any case	whatever happens, anyway
in contrast	by comparison, conversely, the opposite
instead	alternatively, rather, in place of
meanwhile	for the time being, for now
nevertheless	"still" or "yes, but"; at any rate, anyhow, anyway, even though, in any event, nonetheless, regardless, yet,
nonetheless	"yes, but"; in spite of, nevertheless, regardless, yet
on one hand / on the other hand	= suggests a contrast
otherwise	"apart from that," instead, "if not then...",
rather
regardless	anyway, all the same, despite just the same, nevertheless, still
still	even so, all the same, nevertheless, regardless, "yes, but"
that being said	nevertheless, "well, but..."
though	anyhow, despite, even though, "for all that"
whatever	"at all" (as in "whatever good it does")
whether	= sets up a comparison or contrast ("whether or not i go...")
while	whereas (a contrast)
worse	"what is worse...", "even worse"
yet	although, even so, however, just the same, in spite of, nevertheless, nonetheless, still

Neutral Transition Word Translations

TRANSITION WORD	TRANSLATION(s) / SYNONYMS
anyway	whatever, let's move on... ("anyway" may be a negative or neutral change in subject)
granted	assuming that, even if... (can be negative, positive or neutral )
incendentally	in another matter, on the side (= unrelated but at the same time)
meanwhile	as in "something else is happening..."
no matter	as in "doesn't matter"
whatever	as in "nevermind that," "anyway" ... defers the idea

Chronological Transition Word Translations

TRANSITION WORD	TRANSLATION(s) / SYNONYMS
after / afterwards
before / beforehand
earlier
finally
first / firstly
lastly
later
next
second / secondly
subsequently
then

Alternative Categorizations of Transition Words

Other ways of thinking about transition words include:

CATEGORY	EXAMPLES
Chronology or sequence	finally, meanwhile, next, suddenly
Location or relation	alongside, beyond, further
Example or illustration	for example, for this reason, in other words, in this case, in particular (some are similar to causal transition words)
Agreement, affirmation, emphasis	and, also, clearly, equally importantly, especially, furthermore, importantly, in fact, indeed, moreover, undoubtedly
Comparison: positive (similarity)	as well, likewise, similarly,
Comparison: negative (contrast, contradiction)	despite, even though, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, while, yet
Cause, purpose, intention	because of, in order to, since
Effect or result	accordingly, as a result, consequently, due to, for the purpose of, hence, in order to, owing to, since, so, therefore
Conclusion	all things considered, finally, in conclusion, in general, overall, to summarize, ultimately