Transition Words
Transition questions show up several times on every test, and they're some of the most reliably winnable points you'll see — if you learn to read the LOGIC between two sentences instead of guessing by 'what sounds good.'
| Relationship | Signal words | Clue in the passage |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast | however, but, instead | The ideas disagree or shift direction |
| Addition | moreover, also, likewise | A second, similar idea piles on |
| Example | for example, specifically | Second idea is a specific case of the first |
| Cause/Result | therefore, as a result | First idea causes the second |
| Sequence | first, then, finally | Steps happen in order |
Match the relationship you find to the right signal word.
A quick yes/no chain to narrow down the transition type.
The trap choices are usually real transitions — just the wrong relationship. If you decide the logic first, you won't get fooled by a word that sounds fancy but signals the wrong connection. Don't bring in outside knowledge about the topic; everything you need is in those two sentences.
The novelist's early works were praised for their lyrical prose. Her later novels, _______, adopted a more minimalist style that some critics found less engaging.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Worked examples
The city's new bike lanes were intended to reduce traffic congestion downtown. _______, traffic studies conducted a year later showed no measurable decrease in the number of cars on major roads.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Octopuses are remarkably skilled at camouflage, changing both color and texture to blend into their surroundings. _______, some species can mimic the appearance of venomous animals like sea snakes to deter predators.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
The company invested heavily in automating its assembly lines, replacing many manual tasks with robotics. _______, it retrained the affected workers for new roles in quality control and maintenance rather than laying them off.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Common pitfalls
Many wrong choices read fine out loud. The test isn't measuring smoothness — it's measuring the relationship between ideas. Always name the relationship in plain words before looking at the options.
Words like moreover and similarly just add a parallel idea; therefore and as a result mean the second idea was caused by the first. Ask: 'Did the first thing make the second thing happen?' If yes, it's cause/effect, not addition.
'For example' only works when the second sentence is a specific instance of a general claim in the first. If the second sentence introduces a new, separate idea, it's not an example.
You only need the relationship between the sentence with the blank and the one right before it. Don't get distracted by later sentences or outside knowledge of the topic.
Key takeaways
Transitions are a logic puzzle: identify the relationship between the two ideas, then match it.
Cover the choices first — summarize the before-idea and after-idea in your own words.
Master the five core categories: contrast, addition, example, cause/result, and sequence.
Contrast words signal a shift or surprise; cause/result words mean the first idea produced the second; 'for example' needs a general claim followed by a specific case.
Wrong answers are usually real transitions signaling the WRONG relationship.
Try it yourself
5 practice questions on Transition Words, drawn from the question bank. The tutor is one click away if you get stuck.