February 4, 2019

Transitions for Better Cohesion

by Nicholas Walker, under IELTS and TOEFL, Writing skills

Cohesion is what helps your reader understand the connection between your ideas. Transitions and conjunctions are the words and phrases that build cohesion.

Here is a list of cohesion-building words.

I have designed the Virtual Writing Tutor’s Cohesion Checker to measure the cohesion in your text by looking for transitions and conjunctions. When the system detects cohesion in your text, it displays a bar graph showing you what categories of transition words and conjunctions you have used.

An example of the feedback from the cohesion checker

If you don’t use cohesion words in your text, you have a problem. Your writing will seem choppy and disconnected to your reader. On the other extreme, it is also possible to use too many cohesion words, which your reader will find awkward and distracting.

Cohesion Words

Coordinating Conjunctions

and
but
for
nor

or
so
yet

Subordinating Conjunctions

as
as if
as though
because
before
even
even if
if
in order that
rather than

since
so that
than
that
though
unless
until
when
whenever
while

Transitions Indicating a Time Order

after a long time
after a short while
afterward
at present
at the same time
at this moment
concurrently
currently
earlier
former
formerly
henceforth
hereafter
heretofore
in retrospect
in the future

in the past
not long after
not long ago
of late
preceding
presently
previously
prior to
recently
right after
right away
simultaneously
soon after
thereafter
until now
yesterday

Transitions Indicating a Contrast

different from
even though
in contrast
in opposition to
nonetheless
on the contrary
on the other hand
opposing
otherwise
regardless
the antithesis of
the reverse of
to differ from
to differentiate
to oppose
up against
whereas

a clear difference
a distinct difference
a striking difference
a strong distinction
against
although
an opposing view
and yet
another distinction
balanced against
by contrast
contrarily
contrary to
conversely
counter to
despite

Transitions Indicating a Comparison

along the same lines
analogous to
as compared with
as well as
by comparison
comparable
comparatively
compared to
consistent with
correlate
correspondingly
equal
equivalent
identical
in a similar fashion
in comparison
in like manner
in the same manner

in the same way
like
likewise
matching
meanwhile
of little difference
parallel to
relative to
relatively
resemble
resembling
similarly
synonymous
to the same extent
too
uniformly
where

Transitions Indicating Causes and Effects

accordingly
as a consequence
as a result
because of this
by reason of
caused by
consequently
due to
for this purpose
for this reason
hence

in effect
in view of
on account of
otherwise
owing to
the end result
the outcome
the ramifications
thereafter
therefore
thus
to this end

Transitions Indicating a Sequence

at first
at last
at the beginning
at the end
at the onset
commencing with
concluded with
concluding with
embark
final
finally
first
following that
from this point
immediately
in the end
in the first
in the last
in the second

in the third
in turn
initially
last
later on
next
occasion
once
place
second /secondly
so far
starting with
subsequently
the final point
the following week
the latter
the second stage
third
to begin with

Transitions for Introducing Additional Information

again
also
and then
besides
following this
further

furthermore
in addition
lastly
now
so too
what’s more

Transitions for Introducing Examples

a case in point
an analogy
another way
as an example
as an illustration
consider
consider as an illustration
for example
for instance
for one thing
in another case
in one example
in order to clarify
in particular
in the following manner
in this case
in this situation
in this specific instance

more exactly
namely
on this occasion
specifically
such as
suppose that
take the case of
that is
to be exact
to bring to light
to clarify
to demonstrate
to exemplify
to explain
to illuminate
to illustrate
to put another way
to show

Transitions for Emphasis and Intensification

above all
actually
after all
as a matter of fact
certainly
decidedly
definitely
equally important
especially
furthermore
in fact
increasingly important
indeed
more emphatically
more important
moreover
most important of all

most of all
of great concern
of major concern
primarily
significantly
surely
the crux of the matter
the main issue
the main problem
the major reason
there is no question that
to emphasize
to recapitulate
very likely
without a doubt
without doubt
without question

Transitions Indicating an Exception

however
in spite of
nevertheless

once in a while
sometimes
still

Transitions for Summarizing and Concluding

as has been noted
as I have said
as I have shown
hence
in brief
in conclusion
in short
in sum

it follows
on the whole
summing up
the upshot of all this is that
to conclude
to sum up
to summarize

Transitions Indicating a Concession

admittedly
concede that
granted
it is true that

while it is true that
naturally
of course
to be sure

Transitions for Elaborating

by extension
in other words
to elaborate
to put it another way

to put it bluntly
to put it succinctly
ultimately

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