Comma Rule 2: Transitions
You want the person reading what you write to follow your ideas from sentence to sentence. You must write clearly. It must be easy to follow. One way to help your reader is to use transitions at the beginning of a sentence to help guide the reader from idea to idea.
Transition Types
1. And One More Thing: You’ve given your reader some information. Now, you want to tell them more. You can start with ‘Also’ or ‘In addition.’
She does a lot. She has a job and goes to school. Also, she exercises. (one more thing)
He’s very rich. He has two houses and four cars. In addition, he owns his company.
2. But, but, but: We don’t use the word ‘but’ much in formal, academic writing. It’s better to use the word ‘However.’
She exercises and diets a lot. However, she hasn’t been able to lose weight.
I love listening and dancing to music. However, I can’t play an instrument.
3. Be Specific, Prove it: You’ve written something that you believe. Now, you have to show your reader so they’ll believe you. You have to give them an example: ‘For example,’ ‘For instance.’
Everybody can do little things to lose weight. For example, take the stairs instead of using the elevator.
Some students do finish ESL, go on to college, and start a profession. For instance, I had a student Rebecca from Guatemala who went on to become a nurse.
4. First Things First: Sometimes you’re going to write the steps of how to do something, or you’ll write about a series of events that took place. You don’t want your reader to get lost. You can order or number them: ‘First, second, third, next, later, before, after, finally.”
Here’s how I shave. First, I take a hot shower. Second, I put on shaving cream. Third, I shave my face slowly. Finally, I wash my face again and dry myself with a towel.
She wakes up at 5. First, she brushes her teeth. Second, she makes breakfast. Third, she wakes up her kids. Next, she exercises. Finally, she goes to work.
Circle the correct transition
1. I was at a party and they had burgers. I generally don’t eat meat. _________________, I ate it because I wanted to be polite. A. First b. For example c. However
2. Mexican culture has been influencing American culture a lot recently. _____________, Americans spend more money on salsa than on ketchup. A. Finally b. However c. For example
3. I cleaned up my apartment, went shopping, made dinner, and watched TV. ______________, I did my homework and went to bed. A. Finally b. For example c. Second
4. My computer is very fast and has a lot of programs. ______________, it has a video camera. A. Also b. First c. For instance
5. Japan is a small country. ________________, it has 127 million people. A. In addition b. Second c. However
6. Here’s how you should shop for a car. ___________, decide how much you can spend. A. However b. For example c. First
7. You can take classes here from 8 until 3. ______________, we have night classes. A. For example c. Finally c. Also
8. There are some cars only rich people can buy. ______________, the Range Rover costs $80,000. A. In addition b. However c. For example
9. He studied at the university for 5 years because he was working at the same time. _______, he graduated. A. First b. Second c. Finally
You want the person reading what you write to follow your ideas from sentence to sentence. You must write clearly. It must be easy to follow. One way to help your reader is to use transitions at the beginning of a sentence to help guide the reader from idea to idea.
Transition Types
1. And One More Thing: You’ve given your reader some information. Now, you want to tell them more. You can start with ‘Also’ or ‘In addition.’
She does a lot. She has a job and goes to school. Also, she exercises. (one more thing)
He’s very rich. He has two houses and four cars. In addition, he owns his company.
2. But, but, but: We don’t use the word ‘but’ much in formal, academic writing. It’s better to use the word ‘However.’
She exercises and diets a lot. However, she hasn’t been able to lose weight.
I love listening and dancing to music. However, I can’t play an instrument.
3. Be Specific, Prove it: You’ve written something that you believe. Now, you have to show your reader so they’ll believe you. You have to give them an example: ‘For example,’ ‘For instance.’
Everybody can do little things to lose weight. For example, take the stairs instead of using the elevator.
Some students do finish ESL, go on to college, and start a profession. For instance, I had a student Rebecca from Guatemala who went on to become a nurse.
4. First Things First: Sometimes you’re going to write the steps of how to do something, or you’ll write about a series of events that took place. You don’t want your reader to get lost. You can order or number them: ‘First, second, third, next, later, before, after, finally.”
Here’s how I shave. First, I take a hot shower. Second, I put on shaving cream. Third, I shave my face slowly. Finally, I wash my face again and dry myself with a towel.
She wakes up at 5. First, she brushes her teeth. Second, she makes breakfast. Third, she wakes up her kids. Next, she exercises. Finally, she goes to work.
Circle the correct transition
1. I was at a party and they had burgers. I generally don’t eat meat. _________________, I ate it because I wanted to be polite. A. First b. For example c. However
2. Mexican culture has been influencing American culture a lot recently. _____________, Americans spend more money on salsa than on ketchup. A. Finally b. However c. For example
3. I cleaned up my apartment, went shopping, made dinner, and watched TV. ______________, I did my homework and went to bed. A. Finally b. For example c. Second
4. My computer is very fast and has a lot of programs. ______________, it has a video camera. A. Also b. First c. For instance
5. Japan is a small country. ________________, it has 127 million people. A. In addition b. Second c. However
6. Here’s how you should shop for a car. ___________, decide how much you can spend. A. However b. For example c. First
7. You can take classes here from 8 until 3. ______________, we have night classes. A. For example c. Finally c. Also
8. There are some cars only rich people can buy. ______________, the Range Rover costs $80,000. A. In addition b. However c. For example
9. He studied at the university for 5 years because he was working at the same time. _______, he graduated. A. First b. Second c. Finally
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