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"
- conjunctive adverbs
- the key to "transition words" is to think of them as
- combining (conjunctive) ideas (sentence predicates) for
- chronology
- contradiction
- example
- explanation
- extension
- negation
- sequence
- combining (conjunctive) ideas (sentence predicates) for
- 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)
- does it support (POSITIVE)
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. |
admittedly | well, maybe, but... |
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
(not as in "nevertheless") |
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 |