Linking Ideas with Transitions
Basics on the topic Linking Ideas with Transitions
Do you want to find out how to better link ideas in your text? Let’s learn about linking words through the fun video, activities, and worksheets!
Linking Words – Definition
In writing, we often need to connect ideas to make the text more coherent. In order to do this, we use transitions or linking words.
Linking words and transitions are words or phrases we use to clarify and link our ideas. They can help us list, order, emphasize, compare and contrast, show cause and effect, and summarize our ideas.
We can use linking words for essays, stories, or any other types of texts. It is important to use them smartly – you don’t have to include a linking word in every sentence. Use them when there is a logical connection between ideas that needs to be shown.
Linking Words – Lists
There is a variety of linking words or transitions that we use for different purposes. For example, we can use such linking words as also or in addition for listing or adding ideas. To remember how to use each linking word, check out this table:
| Function | Phrases |
|---|---|
| List | for example, also, furthermore, in addition |
| Order | first, then, recently, before, meanwhile |
| Emphasize | most shockingly, primarily, particularly |
| Compare and Contrast | however, on the other hand, in contrast, similar to |
| Cause and Effect | because, as a result, due to, therefore |
| Summarize | to summarize, in conclusion, overall |
Linking Words – Examples
Now let’s look at some examples of linking words in a text. Let’s read the first paragraph:
Throughout history, multiple great inventions have shaped our current way of life. For example, we would not have the Internet without electricity that was invented in the 1820s. Also, without the invention of the printing press, we would not even be able to read! Before we started printing books, people had to write them by hand. As a result, they were extremely expensive and rare, and not available for the masses.
This paragraph introduces the topic, lists connecting ideas, and shows cause and effect. For example and also are linking words that help list inventions that have shaped our lives. As a result is a linking phrase that helps us see how one thing (writing books by hand) led to another (books being expensive and unavailable to the masses).
Let’s take a look at the second paragraph:
However, not all inventions were initially celebrated. When the telephone was invented, most people were doubtful. First, they were reluctant and even scared to use the unknown device. Then, after getting used to it, people started treating it as an essential part of their daily lives that helps them to connect with their family and friends.
In this paragraph, the author uses the linking word however to compare and contrast how people reacted to inventions. They also show the order of events using first and then.
Finally, let’s read the last paragraph:
In conclusion, these inventions have shaped our world and life as we know it. Particularly, they have made us more efficient, educated, and connected to each other.
The author concludes the text using the summarizing transition in conclusion. It indicates that they conclude the topic and provide a sense of closure. The emphasizing linking word particularly is used in this paragraph to emphasize the idea.
Linking Words – Summary
Let’s review what we have learned about linking words.
We use transitions or linking words in writing to connect and clarify our ideas. They can be used to list, order, emphasize, compare and contrast, show cause and effect, and summarize.
- To list our ideas, we use for example, also, furthermore, in addition.
- To order the ideas, we use first ,then, recently, before, meanwhile.
- To emphasize the ideas, we use most shockingly, primarily, particularly.
- To compare and contrast two or more ideas, we use however, on the other hand, in contrast, similar to.
- To show cause and effect in our ideas, we use because, as a result, due to, therefore.
- To summarize our writing, we use to summarize, in conclusion, overall.
Frequently Asked Questions about Linking Words
Transcript Linking Ideas with Transitions
Linking Ideas with Transitions "I saw that it's your birthday." "Here, they smell beautiful." "APRIL FOOLS!" "You got me good!" "That gives me an idea for an article about April Fool's Day." Transitions are used in writing to connect ideas. Transitions are words or phrases used to clarify our ideas. Transitions can list, order, emphasize, compare and contrast, show cause and effect, and summarize our ideas. Let's read Ernie's article to see how to link ideas with transitions. April Fools' Day gets its name from the custom of playing practical jokes. A popular joke, for example, involves convincing people of outrageous stories. It is also common to try to fool friends into thinking their shoelaces are untied. This paragraph introduces the topic and lists connecting ideas. Listing transitions are used to give examples or to elaborate on information. "For example' and "also' are transitions that list things that people do that are connected to the main idea of playing practical jokes. Other list transitions include "furthermore" and "in addition." Transitions can also give order to ideas. There have been numerous well-known pranks. First, in 1957, a television show broadcast a report about people harvesting spaghetti from trees. Then, in 1980, it was announced that the historic Big Ben clock would be converted to digital! Cottonelle recently tweeted that they would be introducing toilet paper for left-handed people. Most shockingly, Taco Bell announced that it had purchased the Philadelphia Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Bell Liberty Bell! "First, 'then', and 'recently' show these ideas are organized in order in which they occurred. Other order transitions include before and meanwhile. An example of a transition that shows emphasis is 'most shockingly'. When you want to emphasize one idea, use transitions. "Primarily" and "particularly" are two other transitions that emphasize. Let's look at transitions that show contrast. April Fools' Day is celebrated worldwide. However, countries have different pranking traditions. In France, children tape paper fish to the backs of friends and yell "Poisson d'Avril," or April fish, when their friends find it. People in Scotland, on the other hand, call the day "Hunt the Gowk" and engage in pranks for TWO days, usually by sending silly messages that send people on ridiculous errands. Here, customs of two countries are being compared. What compare-and-contrast transitions do you see? (...) "However" and "on the other hand." Other transitions include, "in contrast" and "similar to." Let's look at a passage that shows cause and effect. The origins of April Fools' Day are unknown. According to one theory, during the 1500s, France switched its calendar year from April to January first. Because information spread slowly back then, some people continued to celebrate New Year's on the wrong date. As a result, they were labeled as fools and were frequently used as the punchline in jokes. Here, we see how the chain of events caused one thing to lead to another. What cause-and-effect transitions do you see? (...) "Because" and "as a result." Other cause and effect transitions include "due to" and "therefore." To summarize, April Fools' Day is a fun-filled day full of pranks that is celebrated worldwide, and that's NO JOKE! To conclude writing, summarizing transitions are used. These indicate that we are concluding the topic by providing a summary of the information and a sense of closure. "To summarize" connects all of the article's ideas into a final thought. Other transitions for summarizing include in conclusion and overall. While Jane prepares Ernie's REAL birthday surprise, let's review. Remember, we link ideas with information categories using transitions that list, give order, emphasize, compare or contrast, show cause and effect, and summarize. "For real, here's your favorite strawberry cake! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" "Thank you, but today isn't my birthday." April Fools!
Linking Ideas with Transitions exercise
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Which words are cause and effect transitions?
HintsWords that indicate that something happened as a result of another event show cause and effect.
Cause and effect transitions include because, as a result, due to, and therefore.
There are two cause and effect transitions to highlight.
SolutionThe word because indicates that it is telling you the cause of something else happening.
The phrase as a result indicates that the event in the sentence happened because of what happened in the previous sentence, showing cause and effect.
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Which words are order transition words?
HintsOrder transitions show the order in which things happened. Order transitions indicate which things happened first, next, or later
Order transitions include first, then, recently, before, and meanwhile.
While most shockingly is a transition, it is not an order transition.
There are three order transition words to highlight.
SolutionThe word first indicates when the event happened in relation to the other events in the paragraph; it happened first, or before the others.
The word then indicates that it happened next.
The word recently tells us that the event in that sentence happened after the events listed before.
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Which transition would best fill in the blank?
HintsCompare and contrast transitions help to show how similar and different two things are.
Compare and contrast transitions include however, on the other hand, in contrast, and similar to.
Are we stating a similarity or a difference after the blank?
SolutionApples and oranges are both kinds of fruit. They both grow on trees, and they can both be eaten by humans. However, their nutritional values are different. A large apple contains more fiber than a large orange. On the other hand, an orange contains more potassium and folate than an apple does. While there are similarities between the two fruits, they meet different nutritional needs in humans.
On the other hand is a phrase that indicates that the emphasis has switched to the other thing being compared. While the apple has more fiber, the orange has more potassium and folate. This is the correct answer.
Similar to is a compare and contrast transition, but it shows similarities. The sentence with the blank is showing how the orange has different nutritional benefits than the apple.
Because and as a result are not compare and contrast transitions.
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Match each category of transitions with an example of that kind of transition.
HintsListing transitions are used to list examples or give elaboration.
Emphasizing transitions are used to emphasize one idea.
Transitions used to summarize indicate that we are concluding the writing on this topic by summarizing and to provide closure.
Cause and effect transitions show that one thing caused an event to happen.
Order transitions show us the order in which events happened.
Compare and contrast transitions show us how two things are similar and different.
SolutionFor example is a listing transition because it gives an example or clarifies an idea.
Primarily is an emphasizing transition because it emphasizes a particular idea.
In conclusion is a transition used to summarize because it tells us that the author is concluding her writing with a summary.
As a result is a cause and effect transition because it shows that something happened because of something else.
First is an order transition because it shows the order in which events happened.
In contrast is a compare and contrast transition because it shows how two things are different.
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Which transition does not show order?
HintsOrder transitions are words that help us know when something happened in relation to other things.
Order transitions include first, then, recently, before, and meanwhile.
SolutionOn the other hand is not an order transition. It does not tell us when something happened in relation to other events, so it is the correct answer.
First is an order transition. It helps us see in what order something happened.
Then is an order transition. If one thing happened, then another thing happened, we know the order of events.
Before is an order transition. It indicates when an event occurred compared to another event.
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Can you find the transitions?
HintsTransitions are used to link ideas. Transitions can list, order, emphasize, compare and contrast, show cause and effect, or summarize.
Transition words can compare and contrast two things or ideas.
Transition words can show cause and effect, like those in the chart below.
There are four transitions in this paragraph.
SolutionHowever is a compare and contrast transition word because it contrasts two things or ideas.
Then is a transition word that shows order.
Due to is a transition that shows cause and effect.
On the other hand is a compare and contrast transition because it contrasts two ideas.
