Transitional Elements

        The use of transitional words and phrases helps the readers better understand that which they are reading. These are words and phrases which bind together the meanings of sentences, making a whole out of the sum of the parts. Some good examples follow:

• Which is the better paragraph

        "A noun is the name of a person, place, or thing. When the trout are not rising, it is advisable to fish with a wet fly. Cycling is good exercise, but jogging is better. He is unscrupulous."

OR:

        "EVEN THOUGH a noun is the name of a person, place, or thing, when the trout are not rising, it is advisable to fish with a wet fly. FURTHERMORE, cycling is good exercise, but jogging is better. BECAUSE OF ALL THIS, he is unscrupulous."

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        Most readers would choose the second paragraph, primarily because it sounds more complete than the first. The only differences between the two, however, are the transitional words and phrases that help to bind together the meaning of the sentences. An essay is nothing more than a series of related paragraphs, and a paragraph is a series of related sentences. To help this relationship along, good writers use transitional words and phrases in their writings.

        Transitional words and phrases include three devices for joining sentences. They are coordinating conjunctions (and, but, yet. or, for, etc.), subordinating conjunctions (because, although, whenever, etc.), and transitional adverbs (however, moreover, thus, etc.). Here is another set of paragraphs that illustrate the idea of transition.

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• Which is the better paragraph?

        "I have several good reasons for not going to work today. I was stung several times in the foot by bees while walking in my yard last night. I cannot get my shoe on. My son is staying home from school. He has a bad cold. The computer is being repaired at work. I won't be able to get much done anyhow."

OR:

        "I have several good reasons for not going to work today. First, I was stung several times in the foot by bees while walking in my yard last night. As a result, I cannot get my shoe on. Also, my son is staying home from school because he has a bad cold. Finally, the computer is being repaired at work, so I won't be able to get much done anyhow."

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        As can be easily seen by the examples above, using transitional words and phrases to tie the essay's ideas together makes for a more easily understandable written work. Without the transitional elements, each sentence almost sounds as though it is an island unto itself, as though it is unrelated to the other sentences in the paragraph. Good writers use transition!

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