Cohesion: linking words and phrases

Cohesion: linking words and phrases

1. Addition Transitions

and 
also 
besides 
first, second, third 
in addition 
in the first place, in the second place, in the third place 
furthermore 
moreover 
to begin with, next, finally 

Example
"In the first place, no 'burning' in the sense of combustion, as in the burning of wood, occurs in a volcano; moreover, volcanoes are not necessarily mountains; furthermore, the activity takes place not always at the summit but more commonly on the sides or flanks; and finally, the 'smoke' is not smoke but condensed steam."
(Fred Bullard, Volcanoes in History, in Theory, in Eruption)

2. Cause-Effect Transitions

accordingly 
and so 
as a result 
consequently 
for this reason 
hence 
so 
then 
therefore 
thus 

Example
"The study of human chromosomes is in its infancy, and so it has only recently become possible to study the effect of environmental factors upon them."
(Rachel Carson, Silent Spring)

3. Comparison Transitions

by the same token 
in like manner 
in the same way 
in similar fashion 
likewise 
similarly 

Example 
"The heaping together of paintings by Old Masters in museums is a catastrophe;likewise, a collection of a hundred Great Brains makes one big fathead." 
(Carl Jung, "Civilization in Transition")

4. Contrast Transitions

but 
however 
in contrast 
instead 
nevertheless 
on the contrary 
on the other hand 
still 
yet 

Example
"Every American, to the last man, lays claim to a 'sense' of humor and guards it as his most significant spiritual trait, yet rejects humor as a contaminating element wherever found. America is a nation of comics and comedians; nevertheless, humor has no stature and is accepted only after the death of the perpetrator."
(E. B. White, "The Humor Paradox")

5. Conclusion and Summary Transitions

and so 
after all 
at last 
finally 
in brief 
in closing 
in conclusion 
on the whole 
to conclude 
to summarize 

Example
"We should teach that words are not the things to which they refer. We should teach that words are best understood as convenient tools for handling reality. . . . Finally, we should teach widely that new words can and should be invented if the need arises."
(Karol Janicki, Language Misconceived)

6. Example Transitions

as an example 
for example 
for instance 
specifically 
thus  illustrate 

Example
"With all the ingenuity involved in hiding delicacies on the body, this process automatically excludes certain foods. For example, a turkey sandwich is welcome, but the cumbersome cantaloupe is not."
(Steve Martin, "How to Fold Soup")

7. Insistence Transitions

in fact 
indeed 
no 
yes 
Example
"The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else."
(John Maynard Keynes, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money)

8. Place Transitions

above 
alongside 
beneath 
beyond 
farther along 
in back 
in front 
nearby 
on top of 
to the left 
to the right 
under 
upon 

Example
"Where the wall turns up to the right you can continue by the beck but a better path is to be found by turning with the wall and then going to the left through the bracken."
(Jim Grindle, One Hundred Hill Walks in the Lake District)

9. Restatement Transitions

in other words 
in short 
in simpler terms 
that is 
to put it differently 
to repeat 

Example
"Anthropologist Geoffrey Gorer studied the few peaceful human tribes and discovered one common characteristic: sex roles were not polarized. Differences of dress and occupation were at a minimum. Society, in other words, was not using sexual blackmail as a way of getting women to do cheap labor, or men to be aggressive."
(Gloria Steinem, "What It Would Be Like If Women Win")

10. Time Transitions

afterward 
at the same time 
currently 
earlier 
formerly 
immediately 
in the future 
in the meantime 
in the past 
later 
meanwhile 
previously 
simultaneously 
subsequently 
then 
until now 

Example
At first a toy, then a mode of transportation for the rich, the automobile was designed as man's mechanical servant. Later it became part of the pattern of living.