Transition phrases

Transition phrases are a group of words that connect ideas within and between sentences and paragraphs in a text. They help to create coherence and unity in a text, making it easier for the reader to follow the writer's ideas and arguments. In an IELTS exam, the use of transition phrases can significantly improve the coherence and cohesion of your writing and help you score higher.

To use transition phrases effectively, it is essential to understand their functions and the context in which they are used. Here are some of the most common transition phrases and how to use them:

1. Addition: These phrases are used to add new information to the text. Examples include: "in addition," "furthermore," "moreover," "also," and "likewise."

Example: "In addition to his academic achievements, John is an excellent athlete."

2. Contrast: These phrases are used to show a contrast between two ideas or concepts. Examples include: "however," "nevertheless," "on the other hand," "in contrast," and "despite."

Example: "Despite the rainy weather, we decided to go on the hike anyway."

3. Comparison: These phrases are used to compare and contrast two ideas or concepts. Examples include: "similarly," "likewise," "in the same way," "just as," and "as if."

Example: "Just as we need food to survive, we also need love and companionship."

4. Cause and Effect: These phrases are used to show the relationship between cause and effect. Examples include: "as a result," "consequently," "therefore," "thus," and "because."

Example: "Because of his hard work and dedication, John was able to achieve his goals."

5. Time: These phrases are used to show the sequence of events in a text. Examples include: "firstly," "secondly," "subsequently," "eventually," and "meanwhile."

Example: "Firstly, we visited the museum, and then we went to the park."

Using transition phrases correctly can significantly improve the coherence and cohesion of your writing. It is essential to choose the right phrase according to the context and meaning of the sentence. In addition, using a variety of transition phrases can make your writing more interesting and engaging for the reader.

Using a wide range of vocabulary will help you to gain higher score at IELTS.

Don't fear: you don't have to learn all of these phrases. Just choose a few that you like and practice using them in your writing.

Listing	Giving examples	Generalizing
firstly, secondly, thirdly	for example	in general
first, furthermore, finally	for instance	generally
to begin, to conclude	as follows:	on the whole
next	that is	as a rule
Reinforcement	in this case	for the most part
also	namely	in most cases
furthermore	in other words	usually
moreover	Result/consequence	Highlighting
what is more	so	in particular
in addition	therefore	particularly
besides	as a result/consequence	especially
above all	accordingly	mainly
as well (as)	consequently	Reformulation
in the same way	because of this/that	in other words
not only ... but also	thus	rather
Similarity	hence	to put it more simply
equally	for this/that reason	Expressing an alternative
likewise	so that	alternatively
similarly	in that case	rather
correspondingly	under these circumstances	on the other hand
in the same way	Deduction	the alternative is
Transition to new point	then	another possibility would be
now,	in other words	Contrast
as far as x is concerned	in that case	instead
with regard/reference to	otherwise	conversely
as for ...	this implies that ...	on the contrary
it follows that	if so/not	in contrast
turning to	Stating the obvious	in comparison
Summary	obviously	Concession (smth unexpected)
in conclusion	clearly	even though
to conclude	naturally	however
in brief	of course	however much
to summarise	as can be expected	nevertheless
overall	surely	still
therefore	after all	yet