SFU Style

Transitions

You can often improve coherence by providing transitional words or phrases to clarify how ideas relate to one another. Many of these transitional devices are simply the conjunctions used to join clauses together in order to create compound or complex sentences. Others are add-ons that direct readers’ attention to the relationship between ideas.

Transitions are powerful aids to understanding because they help readers identify the relationships between ideas. They are so powerful that readers may rely on them to connect ideas even where no such connection exists. Read the following paragraph:

As you read the passage for the first time, did you, at least momentarily, seek logical connections because of the transitions? When we read the items in a list without the conjunctions, the lack of relationship between the ideas is immediately evident:

If transitions can create even a fleeting appearance of connection among this strange collection of sentences, imagine how useful they can be in clarifying connections among logically related points.

Sometimes simply adding for example or in other words at the beginning of a sentence will improve the flow of ideas. Without such signposts, readers may assume that what they are reading is a new point, become confused, and need to reread a passage to make sense of it. Every time readers stop and go back, they lose some of the information held in short-term memory and thus have more difficulty comprehending and remembering what they are reading.

Transitions and Their Uses

The following table provides a partial list of transitions, indicating some of their more common uses. Use these transitional words and phrases wherever you feel the reader will benefit from a signpost indicating how ideas relate. Note, however, that any stylistic device you can use too little of, you can also use too frequently. Sometimes the connections between ideas are clear from the context. Not every sentence needs a transition. But transitions are particularly important when writing for an audience composed of non-specialists so that they can follow the logic and organization of new and sometimes difficult information.

Uses Transitions

To add to a previous point. and, or, nor, furthermore, indeed, also, moreover, in fact, first, second, in addition

To illustrate or expand on a point for instance, for example, for one thing, similarly, likewise

To summarize or emphasize a point. therefore, thus, so, and so, hence, consequently, on the whole, all in all, in other words, in short, in conclusion

To qualify or illustrate a point frequently, occasionally, in general, specifically, in particular, usually

To shift to a different point of view or signal a contradiction. but, however, yet, on the contrary, not at all, surely, no

To make a concession. although, though, whereas

To connect an explanation to a statement. because, as , since, for

To qualify and restrict a more general idea. if, provided, in case, unless, lest, when

Partial List of Prepositions and Conjunctions

The following two tables list the prepositions and conjunctions most commonly used, respectively, to signal how ideas are related.

SPATIAL:

about, above, against, around, at, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, from, in, inside, into, on, off, out, outside, over, through, to, toward, up, upon, with

COMPOUND:

according to, along with, due to, except for, in addition, in front of, in order to, in spite of, on account of, instead of, with regard to

TEMPORAL:

as, after, before, during, since, till, until

OTHER:

except, for, like, of

COORDINATING:

and, but, for, nor , or, so, yet

CORRELATIVE:

both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also

RELATIVE:

that, which

SUBORDINATING:

after, albeit, although, as, as a result of, as far as, as if, as soon as, as well as, because, before, even though, if... (then), inasmuch as, insofar as, once, only, since, so as, so far as, though, unless, when, whenever, where, whereas, whereby, whereof

ADVERBIALS:

also, consequently, finally, firstly, further, furthermore, hence, hereafter, however, indeed, initially, likewise, moreover, nevertheless, previously, secondly, subsequently, thereafter, thereby, therefore, therein, thus, while

Some Pointers

Use transitions to clarify the relationships between ideas.

Use more transitions for audiences with low expertise.

Use fewer transitions for audiences with high expertise.

Be cautious when using "as" or "since."

Recognize that a style heavily dependent upon empty sentence openers and vague "this" subjects is often lacking in transitions.

Start Exercise

Exercise some caution when using since and as to substitute for because. Used inappropriately, since and as can confuse readers, as demonstrated by the following examples:

Hint

1.Original:

Since the electrode was connected, a short circuit occurred on the board.

1.Hinted:

Since the electrode was connected, a short circuit occurred on the board.

1. Revised:

A simple way to resolve this ambiguity is to develop a habit of using because when you are writing about causes or effects:

Hint

2. Original:

The majority of this paper’s recommendations point to the need for engaging in this type of project as they have a larger management component.

2. Hinted:

The majority of this paper’s recommendations point to the need for engaging in this type of project as they have a larger management component.

2. Revised:

As well as clarifying the relationship between ideas by specifying their logical connections, you can also use conjunctions to increase sentence variety (or to lengthen your sentences if you tend to write excessively short ones). In the following examples, note how subordinating conjunctions (because and even though) are used to clarify the relationships between ideas (and to combine short sentences):

Hint

3. Original:

Injuries of this type have become a severe problem for the pharmacy. There is no equipment available on the market for the IV admixture.

3. Hinted:

Injuries of this type have become a severe problem for the pharmacy. There is no equipment available on the market for the IV admixture.

3. Revised:

Explanation

The order of clauses in the revised sentences depends on context: important, new information should come at the end. Therefore, whether the first example is best ordered with the dependent (because) clause at the end or the beginning depends on what information should be emphasized: the lack of equipment or the problem for the pharmacy.

The following example demonstrates that some writers can improve their style dramatically by adding transitional words and phrases:

Hint

4. Original:

There is not much peer-to-peer interaction. This has resulted in strong relationships between the R&D manager and individuals on the team and weak relationships among team members. People in R&D are not used to interacting as peers. The focus has been on domain expertise, which has resulted in pockets of expertise that lead to bottlenecks because expertise is not shared. Individuals start to feel ownership for individual components of the system. This creates technical exchange of information among the group. Because of the technical focus in R&D, it is easy to ignore the concerns and needs of the customer. On many occasions, with customer-focused projects, there has been direct contact between R&D and the customer. In order to maintain a customer focus, it is important for R&D teams to maintain a good relationship with the customer.

4. Hinted:

4. Revised:

Explanation

As the revised version indicates, adding transitions often involves more than adding a few words. In this case, it involves a fairly major revision. The original contains a number of empty openers and vague subjects that are eliminated in the revised version. Once we removed the empty opener (There is) from the first sentence and the vague subject (This) from the second, we combined these sentences, using what was left of the first sentence as the subject of the following one. We also changed not much to a lack and substituted but for and, eliminating the need for the original third sentence. We then reorganized the next three sentences to create a more logical flow from issues relating to individuals to overall effects.

The connections among ideas were also clarified by a series of transitions: although, also, consequently, while, and in other words. Next, we eliminated because in the seventh sentence of the original, adding the phrase can also lead to problems in relationships with customers to link the problem with customers to the phrase weak relationships among team members in the revised first sentence. We then added Note, however, to the next sentence to emphasize the shift from problems to solutions. The if clause in the final sentence reinforces this shift and the addition of and thus, encourage much needed peer interaction adds useful repetition to remind readers of the subject of this paragraph: a lack of peer interaction.

To ensure ideas are clearly connected, keep the strategies offered above in mind: repeat key words and use parallel structures, avoid vague subjects, and use transitions. Using connections to create a smooth, flowing style can greatly improve clarity. A number of other strategies for ensuring clear communication are offered in the following section.