COHESION

A common critique you may face is that your mediation, speaking or writing works lack cohesion because you run short of conjunctions or transition words (they are the same) at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph. Or you may get stuck in a rut using the same transition words over and over. As a «part of speech» transition words are used to link words, phrases or sentences. They help the reader to progress from one idea (expressed by the author) to the next idea. Thus, they help to build up coherent and cohesive relationships within the text.

It can be difficult to think of different words in the moment, so here you have a handy lists to help you pick the perfect conjunctions and transition words to help you make the grade.

Synonyms of the basic transition words (conjunctions)

Check out more linkers here

Because of:

• On the grounds of
• On account of
• On the basis of
• Out of
• Under
• Due to
• As a result of
• In the light of
• Down to
• Owing to the fact that
• In view of the fact that
• Forasmuch as
• Inasmuch as

Therefore:

• Hence
• Thus
• Thereby
• Whereby
• Thereupon
• By doing so
• In doing so
• As a result
• That being so

To:

• For the sake of
• In a bid to
• With an eye to
• As a means to
• With an eye to
• As a means to
• With the purpose of/For the purpose of
• With the intention of
• With the aim of
• With a focus on
• With an effort to
• So that
• In order to
• So as to

And:

• Not only but also
• Not merely………. But also
• Not to mention
• Aside from
• Along with

Moreover:

• Furthermore
• Still further
• By the same token
• Likewise
• Along with
• On top of that
• Over and above that

Two things ar closely related:

• Sit alongside
• Go hand in hand together
• In a similar sort of fashion (in a similar way)
• Hand in glove

More or les:

• Around /About
• In the neighborhood of (informal)
• In the región /área of
• Of the order of
• Or thereabouts
• Plus or minus a few
• Not far off
• In the ballpark of
• Roughly
• Roughly Speaking
• Pretty much
• More or less
• Sort of/ Kind of
• Somehow
• Give or take
• If that

List of Transition Words

Here you have a more complete list of transition words. Choose the ones you are more at ease with and introduce them in your mediation exercise.

Common and Useful Transition Words

Transition words are the glue that holds your mediation, speaking and writing together and makes it more comprehensive and easy to understand and read. Sometimes transition words are single words, and other times they are whole phrases, such as “for example” or “as well as.”

Less Common Transition Words

Some transition words are more formal or specific and are therefore used less often. However, they are a perfect way to make your writing stand out from the crowd.

Transition Words Make a Difference

It’s important to make sure transitional words flow naturally. To determine whether or not you need a transition word at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph, look at the sentence with and without the transition word or phrase and compare the results.

The purpose of transition words is to weave your points together and guide the reader through your work. You can use them in all forms of writing, but they are particularly handy when writing.

Common Conjunctive Adverbs List

You can use conjunctive adverbs for several different purposes. «However» and «comparatively» are helpful ways to show the contrast between ideas, while «therefore» and «consequently» can demonstrate cause and effect.  Many conjunctive adverbs function well as transition words in a larger piece of writing. These adverbs help the reader understand where the current event or idea falls in context.

There are many ways to join two ideas with one word that modifies the sentence’s meaning. Check out these example sentences to see how conjunctive adverbs join ideas.

• The workers are demanding better pay. Additionally, they want longer breaks.
• I missed my interview. Consequently, I didn’t get the job.
• The freshmen haven’t finished their project. Comparatively, the seniors have been done for weeks.

You probably noticed that conjunctive adverbs can come after the period of the first independent clause, or they can follow a semicolon that joins the two clauses. Either of these placements is grammatically correct. It simply depends on your writing style and how you are communicating your point.

Conjunctive adverbs function as both conjunctions (by joining ideas) and as adverbs (by modifying parts of the sentence). Indeed, they are some of the most helpful types of adverbs that you’re likely to encounter.

Here you have some adverbs which can modify the entire sentence that follows them. For example:

• Unfortunately, he lost his bike and had to walk to work.
• Generally, students who do well on the SAT get good grades in college.
• Interestingly, the cow raised the flock of chickens as her own.
• Actually, we didn’t go to the party.
• Thankfully, the car’s brakes functioned as they should.