Being Cohesive: What Are Transitions? 

In this section, you're going to look at the next feature of cohesive paragraphs: transitions.

Do you know what transitions do?

In business writing, transitions

l        link sentences together and

l        show the relationships between sentences.

l        

What does this mean?

Read the following paragraph, which has NO transitions. What do you think of this paragraph?

The customer had proper identification. Her records showed that her account was overdrawn. She didn't have a pre-arranged overdraft facility. The counter service officer couldn't make the withdrawal for her.

This is NOT an effective paragraph.

The ideas don't flow smoothly. The writer "jumps" from one idea to another. The ideas are not linked together. It's difficult to guess what's coming next.

Being Cohesive: Different Types Of Transitions 

Look at the paragraph again. This time, you will see that three types of transitions are used.

The customer had proper identification. However, her records showed that her account was overdrawn. In addition, she didn't have a pre-arranged overdraft facility. Therefore, the counter service officer couldn't make the withdrawal for her.

The use of However at the beginning of the second sentence signals a change in direction. It suggests a comparison / contrast is about to follow. If a customer has the proper identification, you would expect everything to be okay. But, in this case, everything is not okay and the word However tells you this. 

In addition tells you of the other problem the writer wants to mention (ie, no overdraft facility). It highlights the fact that there are two problems: the customer's account is overdrawn and the customer has no overdraft facility. The transition also shows you that these two problems are of equal importance. 

Therefore draws your attention to the cause and effect relationship between the ideas contained in this paragraph. The two problems mentioned above were the cause. The final effect was that the counter service officer was unable to make the withdrawal for the customer. 

Can you see how transitions make a paragraph cohesive? Without them your reader may get confused or misunderstand what you're trying to say.

Being Cohesive: 5 Types of Transitions

In the table below, five types of transitions are listed with some examples.

When you want to

you can use

Transition category

Give specific examples

For example, Such as, To illustrate, Namely

Example

Show the sequence of actions or events, giving instructions

First, Then, Finally, Earlier

Sequence

Introduce additional information of equal importance

In addition, Also, Moreover, Furthermore, Similarly, Likewise

Equal weight

Show similarities or differences

However, Yet, On the other hand, But

Comparison/Contrast

Show results of actions

Therefore, As a result, So, Consequently

Cause-effect

In the previous screen, you saw how to use three types of transitions:

1) comparison / contrast

2) equal weight

3) cause-effect

Look at the following sentence to see how the other two categories of transitions are used.

Then you can write an opening sentence, such as, "Thank you for your letter of 14 February 2000," ...

Notice how Then is giving an instruction for the next action in a sequence of events.

Such as tells you that an example of an opening sentence (mentioned in the first phrase) is about to follow.

Learning Point 4

There are five basic types of transitions:

Example

Sequence

Contrast / compare

Equal importance

Cause / effect.

Transitions make a paragraph cohesive by 

l        linking the sentences together smoothly

l        showing the relationship between sentences

l        helping us move quickly between ideas.

They show the reader where we've been and where we're going with our writing.

Being Cohesive: Transitions 

In this exercise, choose the set of three transitions that you think is the most suitable for the paragraph.

For example, if you think the correct transitions for paragraph 1 are

In addition, Consequently and Later, then choose option A

1. Nancy is very busy. She wants to go home but she has to telephone a long list of new customers to confirm their orders. ________, she has to write many e-mails. ________, she will have to stay late at the office. _______ , when she's finished, she will go home.

A. In addition, Consequently, Later

B. If, Therefore, Besides

C. Then, Finally, Again

D. Then, For instance, Later

2. There will be an important company meeting this weekend. All the Directors will be there. _____ , all the Senior Managers will be there. We will discuss new business developments on Saturday. ____ , on Sunday, we will look at new business strategies. _____ , the Chairman will address everyone and give a speech in the evening before dinner.

A. Later, Finally, Consequently

B. In addition, Then, Finally

C. Later, So, Consequently

D. However, Before, For example

3. Life is full of difficult questions. ______ , what would you do if you suddenly had an accident? _______ , what if the accident prevented you from working? Maybe everything would be fine without HSBC insurance. _______ , for just a few dollars each month, you could provide your family with complete peace of mind.

A. Also, In fact, On the other hand

B. Nevertheless, However, To illustrate

C. For example, Moreover, On the other hand

D. First, Then, For example

In each of the sentences below, the transitions are missing, unnecessary or incorrect. Correct each sentence. After you've corrected a sentence, click "A" to see the answer.

1. We sell insurance. We sell investment products. 

We sell insurance. We also sell investment products. (missing transition)

2. Our advertising budget has increased over the last quarter. Sales have not increased. 

Our advertising budget has increased over the last quarter. However, sales have not increased. - (missing transition)

3. Although, I wanted to go to the seminar, but I didn't have the time. 

Although, I wanted to go to the seminar, but I didn't have the time.

Although I wanted to go to the seminar, but I didn't have the time.

Remove either "although" or "but" (unnecessary transition) 

4. Since Mr Jones was on sick leave, so the meeting was cancelled. 

Since Mr Jones was on sick leave, so the meeting was cancelled.

Since Mr Jones was on sick leave, so the meeting was cancelled.

Remove either "since" or "so" (unnecessary transition) 

5. Due to Mr Lewis arrived late, the meeting did not start on time. 

Since Mr Lewis arrived late, the meeting did not start on time.

Replace "due to" with "since" - (incorrect transition) 

So, now you know how to use transitions.

When you use topic sentences, supporting sentences and transitions correctly, you will write cohesive paragraphs. You can use this knowledge whenever you need to revise your documents.

Learning Point Summary

Remember:

When you revise your paragraphs to make them cohesive, you need

l        only one idea in each paragraph

l        a topic sentence that summarises the main idea

l        supporting sentences that support the main idea

l        transitions that link the sentences together

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