Good writing depends upon a reader being able to follow the movement of a writer’s thought. Writers help readers understand the movement of their ideas by providing connections between ideas which are often called transitions. These can be signal words or phrases (or even sentences or paragraphs) which indicate to a reader how ideas are related to one another. A sentence that continues an idea previously stated will likely contain transition that expresses "addition," for example. A sentence that contradicts, opposes, or offers an alternate viewpoint to an idea expressed earlier may contain a transition that "contrasts." Below is a sampling of the many transitional devices available to a writer. To express:

Example: Charles ardently loved watching football on television. He also found televised basketball riveting.

Cause and Effect:
then, subsequently, therefore, thus, hence, accordingly, incidentally, due to, as a result, so, in effect

Example: Charles watched every televised football game he could. As a result, five girlfriends in the space of three years dumped him

Comparison:
but, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, yet, in contrast, on the contrary, at the same time, despite, to counter

Example: The game of football, as Charles saw it, involved brute strength and primal power. Basketball, in contrast, was a kind of ballet with a ball.

Example and Illustration:
for example, for instance, that is (or i.e.), to illustrate, specifically, in particular, such as

Example: Even slam-dunking a basketball, for example, has more finesse than slamming into a wide receiver.

Concession:
though, although, even though, of course, lest, after all, granted that, unfortunately, at the same time

Example: Although Charles found sports enriched his life in some ways, he found that his television habits left him a lonely man.

Summary or Conclusion:
in brief, in short, in conclusion, finally, in summary, so you see, in closing, thus, hence, consequently

Example: Consequently, Charles decided to amend his habits. He curtailed his television sports habit to one game a week and found that he had adequate time to spend with his dates.

Emphasis or Intensity:
above all, primarily, especially, more important, most of all, undoubtedly, naturally, obviously, without question

Example: Obviously, moderation in all things is the key, even when it comes to football.

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