We all know that strong transitions are critical components of an effective instructional design. But how good are we at actually writing powerful transitions? Try this “Transition Words” list for ideas to help spice up the transitions in your next design. Special thanks to designer, Talli Sperry, for providing this rich list.
Happy transitioning!
Susan Hendrich
Transition words |
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Time Relationships |
Place and Position |
Relationships Between Ideas |
After |
Above |
About |
After a while |
Across |
About this |
After that |
Adjacent |
According to |
Afterwards |
Adjacent to |
Accordingly |
Always |
Ahead |
Actually |
As |
A long |
All this |
As soon as |
Along the way |
Along with |
At |
Alongside |
Also |
At length |
Amid |
Although |
At the end |
Amidst |
Almost |
At the same time |
Among |
And |
Before |
Around |
Another |
Begin by |
At |
Apparently |
By the time |
At first |
As |
Constantly |
At the end |
As a consequence |
Currently |
At the side |
As a result |
During |
Behind |
As an illustration |
Endlessly |
Below |
As for |
Early |
Beneath |
As if |
Earlier |
Beside |
As it stands |
Even now |
Between |
As it worked out |
Even then |
Beyond |
As long as |
Eventually |
By |
As much as |
Finally |
Down |
As though |
First |
Everywhere |
As well as |
Following |
Far |
At least |
For a long time |
Finally |
Because |
Forever |
First |
Because of |
Fourth |
Former |
Begin by |
From time to time |
From |
Begin with |
Immediately |
From aloft |
Besides |
In other times |
Here |
Between |
In retrospect |
Horizontally |
Both |
In some ages |
In |
Bring about |
In the end |
In front of |
But |
In the future |
In the back |
By |
In the meantime |
In the background |
Certainly |
Last |
In the distance |
Contrary to |
Later |
In the first place |
Consequently |
Long past |
In the foreground |
Despite |
Meanwhile |
In the front of |
Differ |
Next |
In the midst of |
Due to |
Next time |
Inside |
Either…or |
Now |
Into |
Equally |
Now and again |
Last |
Especially |
Often |
Latter |
Even |
Once |
Near |
Even as |
Only when |
Nearby |
Even if |
Second |
Next |
Even then |
Secondly |
Next to |
Even though |
Several years ago |
On |
Except |
Slowly |
One after another |
Except for |
Someday |
Opposite |
Except that |
Sometimes |
Out of |
Finally |
Soon |
Outside |
For |
Sooner |
Over |
For example |
Still |
Parallel |
For instance |
Subsequently |
Primarily |
For one thing |
Suddenly |
Second |
For that reason |
Then |
Secondarily |
From |
Third |
There |
From time to time |
Thirdly |
Third |
Further |
This time |
Through |
Furthermore |
Today |
Throughout |
Granted |
Too often |
Toward |
Have in common |
Until |
Under |
However |
Usually |
Upon |
If |
When |
Vertically |
If need be |
Whenever |
Where |
If only |
While |
Within |
Important |
|
|
In addition |
|
|
In addition to |
Compare: |
Summary Statements and Drawing Conclusions: |
In effect |
Alike |
Accordingly |
In fact |
As |
All this and more |
In order to |
As well as |
Also |
In some cases |
Both |
And if |
In spite of |
Compared with |
As a result |
In the same way |
Have in common |
As a result of |
In this respect |
In comparison |
As for |
In this situation |
In like manner |
As long as |
In turn |
In the same way |
Because |
Indeed |
Less than |
Because of |
Instead |
|
Bring about |
Instead of |
Contrast: |
Can only lead to |
Just |
Against |
Caused by |
Just as |
Although |
Consequently |
Lead to |
As opposed to |
Due to |
Like |
At the same time |
Due to this |
Likely |
But |
Evidently |
Likely to |
Contrary to |
Finally |
Likewise |
Conversely |
For of course |
Mainly |
Despite |
For this reason |
May be |
Differ |
Hence |
Maybe |
Even though |
If |
Merely |
Except |
Inevitably |
Might well |
Except that |
In conclusion |
More importantly |
However |
In retrospect |
Moreover |
In contrast |
In the simplest terms |
Most important |
In contrast to |
In view of |
Most importantly |
In spite of |
It is evident |
Most likely |
Instead |
It seems |
Namely |
Instead of |
It turned out that |
Naturally |
Like |
Led to |
Neither…or |
Likewise |
Not only…but also |
Nevertheless |
More than |
On the basis of |
No matter |
None can compare with |
Perhaps |
No matter that |
Not only |
Since |
No matter what |
Or |
So |
Not only |
Same |
So that |
Not to mention |
Similar |
Summarily |
Obviously |
Similarly |
Taken all together |
Of |
The same as |
There is every indication that |
Of course |
Too |
There is every reason to conclude that |
On the basis of |
Much less |
Thereby |
On the contrary |
Neither |
Therefore |
On the other hand |
Nevertheless |
Thus |
One of the reasons |
Nonetheless |
|
Only |
Nor |
|
Only when |
On the contrary |
|
Or |
On the other hand |
|
Other than |
Still |
|
Otherwise |
The reverse of |
|
Perhaps |
Than |
|
Probably |
Though |
|
Rather than |
Unless |
|
Regardless of |
Unlike |
|
Same |
Whereas |
|
Seemingly |
While |
|
Similar |
Yet |
|
Similarly |
|
|
Simply |
|
|
Since |
|
|
So |
|
|
So that |
|
|
Specifically |
|
|
Such as |
|
|
Surely |
|
|
The fact that |
|
|
The reason for |
|
|
The reverse |
|
|
The same as |
|
|
Then |
|
|
There comes a time |
|
|
There is every indication that |
|
|
Thereby |
|
|
Therefore |
|
|
Though |
|
|
Thus |
|
|
To be sure |
|
|
Too |
|
|
Too often |
|
|
Unless |
|
|
Unlike |
|
|
Usually |
|
|
What’s more |
|
|
Whereas |
|
|
When |
|
|
Whether |
|
|
Whether or not |
|
|
While |
|
|
With |
|
|
With respect to |
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Yet |
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