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Why I Don't Make My Bed: Place, I Am Not Concerned About Maintaining A Tidy Bedroom Because No One Except Me Ever

This document provides a list of 10 categories of connectors or transitional expressions that are used to guide readers from one sentence to the next in paragraphs. It includes examples for each category of transitions, such as addition, cause-effect, comparison, contrast, conclusion, example, insistence, place, restatement, and time. The transitions help show the relationship between ideas and make the writing unified and coherent.

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127 views4 pages

Why I Don't Make My Bed: Place, I Am Not Concerned About Maintaining A Tidy Bedroom Because No One Except Me Ever

This document provides a list of 10 categories of connectors or transitional expressions that are used to guide readers from one sentence to the next in paragraphs. It includes examples for each category of transitions, such as addition, cause-effect, comparison, contrast, conclusion, example, insistence, place, restatement, and time. The transitions help show the relationship between ideas and make the writing unified and coherent.

Uploaded by

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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WRITING SKILLS __________________________________________________________________2009

CONNECTORS (or transitional expressions)

The following paragraph is unified and coherent. Notice how the italicized words and phrases
(called transitions) guide us along, helping us see how one detail leads to the next.

Why I Don't Make My Bed

Ever since I moved into my own apartment last fall, I have gotten out of the habit of making my
bed--except on Fridays, of course, when I change the sheets. Although some people may think
that I am a slob, I have some sound reasons for breaking the bed-making habit. In the first
place, I am not concerned about maintaining a tidy bedroom because no one except me ever
ventures in there. If there is ever a fire inspection or a surprise date, I suppose I can dash in
there to fluff up the pillow and slap on a spread. Otherwise, I am not bothered. In addition, I find
nothing uncomfortable about crawling into a rumpled mass of sheets and blankets. On the
contrary, I enjoy poking out a cozy space for myself before drifting off to sleep. Also, I think that
a tightly made bed is downright uncomfortable: entering one makes me feel like a loaf of bread
being wrapped and sealed. Finally, and most importantly, I think bed-making is an awful way to
waste time in the morning. I would rather spend those precious minutes checking my email or
feeding the cat than tucking in corners or snapping the spread.

Transitional words and phrases guide readers from one sentence to the next. Although they
most often appear at the beginning of a sentence, they may also show up after the subject.
Here are the common transitional expressions, grouped according to the type of relationship
shown by each.

1. Addition Transitions

and
also
besides
first, second, third
in addition
in the first place, in the second place, in the third place
furthermore
moreover
to begin with, next, finally

Example
In the first place, no "burning" in the sense of combustion, as in the burning of wood, occurs
in a volcano; moreover, volcanoes are not necessarily mountains; furthermore, the activity
takes place not always at the summit but more commonly on the sides or flanks; and finally,
the "smoke" is not smoke but condensed steam.
(Fred Bullard, Volcanoes in History)

2. Cause-Effect Transitions

accordingly
and so
as a result
consequently
for this reason
hence
so
then
therefore
thus

Example
The ideologue is often brilliant. Consequently some of us distrust brilliance when we should
distrust the ideologue.
(Clifton Fadiman)

3. Comparison Transitions

by the same token


in like manner
in the same way
in similar fashion
likewise
similarly

Example
When you start with a portrait and search for a pure form, a clear volume, through
successive eliminations, you arrive inevitably at the egg. Likewise, starting with the egg and
following the same process in reverse, one finishes with the portrait.
(Pablo Picasso)

4. Contrast Transitions

but
however
in contrast
instead
nevertheless
on the contrary
on the other hand
still
yet

Example
Every American, to the last man, lays claim to a sense of humor and guards it as his most
significant spiritual trait, yet rejects humor as a contaminating element wherever found.
America is a nation of comics and comedians; nevertheless, humor has no stature and is
accepted only after the death of the perpetrator.
(E. B. White)

5. Conclusion and Summary Transitions

and so
after all
at last
finally
in brief
in closing
in conclusion
on the whole
to conclude
to summarize
Example
Reporters are not paid to operate in retrospect. Because when news begins to solidify into
current events and finally harden into history, it is the stories we didnt write, the questions
we didnt ask that prove far, far more damaging than the ones we did.
(Anna Quindlen)

6. Example Transitions

as an example
for example
for instance
specifically
thus
to illustrate

Example
With all the ingenuity involved in hiding delicacies on the body, this process automatically
excludes certain foods. For example, a turkey sandwich is welcome, but the cumbersome
cantaloupe is not.
(Steve Martin, "How to Fold Soup")

7. Insistence Transitions

in fact
indeed
no
yes

Example
The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you dont
want.
(Frank Butler, Going My Way)

8. Place Transitions

above
alongside
beneath
beyond
farther along
in back
in front
nearby
on top of
to the left
to the right
under
upon

Example
What did it matter where you lay once you were dead? In a dirty sump or in a marble tower
on top of a high hill? You were dead, you were sleeping the big sleep, you were not bothered
by things like that.
(Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep)
9. Restatement Transitions

in other words
in short
in simpler terms
that is
to put it differently
to repeat

Example
Anthropologist Geoffrey Gorer studied the few peaceful human tribes and discovered one
common characteristic: sex roles were not polarized. Differences of dress and occupation
were at a minimum. Society in other words, was not using sexual blackmail as a way of
getting women to do cheap labor, or men to be aggressive.
(Gloria Steinem, "What It Would Be Like If Women Win")

10. Time Transitions

afterward
at the same time
currently
earlier
formerly
immediately
in the future
in the meantime
in the past
later
meanwhile
previously
simultaneously
subsequently
then
until now

Example
At first a toy, then a mode of transportation for the rich, the automobile was designed as
man's mechanical servant. Later it became part of the pattern of living.

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