8 Types of Transition Signals you should be Using in your Blog Articles

A transition signal, or transition word, is a word or phrase that serves to signal a transition from one idea to another and to show the relationship between these ideas. The use of appropriate transition signals will make it easier for readers to follow the flow of ideas and make our paragraphs more coherent and easy to understand. Therefore, let's look at the types of transition signals that should be used appropriately in writing, including blog articles. You can also see the table of transition words and phrases by types.

1. Temporal

Temporal transitions are words or phrases used to indicate a transition in the context of time. Typically, temporal transition signals are used to, but are not limited to, describing the chronological order in articles. The words and phrases included in this transition are: after, afterward, always, as soon as, at last, at once, briefly, eventually, finally, immediately, in the meantime, in the past (or future), last, later, meanwhile, next, never, now, often, once, promptly, sometimes, soon.

2. Spatial

Spatial transitions are words or phrases used to indicate a change in place or direction. This type of transition is often used in tutorial blog articles because it contains instructions that must be written clearly. Among the spatial transition words are: above, among, around, at this point, behind, below, beside, beyond, down, forward, from, here, in front of, inside, nearby, next to, on, on the other side, opposite, over, through.

3. Addition

Usually we use addition transitions to expand or deepen our ideas. As the name suggests, an addition transition signal is a word or phrase we use to add an idea or detail to an idea. Some of the words or phrases used to create addition transitions are: again, also, and, as well as, besides, for one thing, further, furthermore, in addition to, last, likewise, more, moreover, next, similarly, too.

4. Explanatory

An explanatory transition signal performs almost the same function as an addition transition signal, but there are differences between the two. If an addition transition signal serves to add an idea (or detail to an idea), then an explanation transition signal serves to clarify an idea, invite the reader to see an idea from another point of view, or provide a clear picture so that the reader can understand the essence of the idea. Among the explanatory transition signal words and phrases are: for example, for instance, in other words, in particular, namely, specifically, such as, that is, thus, to illustrate.

5. Comparative

Often, we have two or more ideas about an object that we describe in our blog articles. The ideas may be the same or comparable, or different and even contradictory. To convey these ideas, we need to use comparative transition signals. Simply put, a comparative transition signal is a word or phrase used to bridge two (or more) ideas that are compared or opposed to each other. To make comparative transitions, we usually use words or phrases such as: but, even so, conversely, differently, however, in contrast, in spite of, in the same way, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, yet.

6. Cause-Effect

Cause-and-effect transition signals are words or phrases used to bridge two (or more) ideas in which one idea is a variable that affects or is affected by another variable; or to describe a cause-and-effect relationship between two ideas. Words that are often used as cause-and-effect transition words are: accordingly, as a result, consequently, for that reason, hence, then, therefore, thus.

7. Emphasis

Sometimes we want readers to be able to detect the important parts in our blog articles. To achieve this, we often style words such as bold, italic, or underlined. In addition, we also use the emphasis transition signal. An emphasis transition signal is a word or phrase that is used to signal a transition to an idea that is important to us for the reader to pay attention to. Words commonly used to create emphasis transitions are: above all, especially, indeed, in fact, most important.

8. Summary

After explaining an idea at length, it is natural to conclude and summarize it. Without summarizing the explanation, it is likely that the reader will forget what he has read. This is where we use summary transitions. Summary transition signals are words and phrases used to indicate a transition from explanation to conclusion or summary. The words that are usually used to start a summary are: as has been noted, finally, in brief, in other words, in short, on the whole, to sum up.

To summarize, here I show a table of transition words by type:

Transition Words and Phrases by Types

Types of Transition	Words and Phrases
Temporal	after, afterward, always, as soon as, at last, at once, briefly, eventually, finally, immediately, in the meantime, in the past (or future), last, later, meanwhile, next, never, now, often, once, promptly, sometimes, soon.
Spatial	above, among, around, at this point, behind, below, beside, beyond, down, forward, from, here, in front of, inside, nearby, next to, on, on the other side, opposite, over, through.
Addition	again, also, and, as well as, besides, for one thing, further, furthermore, in addition to, last, likewise, more, moreover, next, similarly, too.
Explanatory	for example, for instance, in other words, in particular, namely, specifically, such as, that is, thus, to illustrate.
Comparative	but, even so, conversely, differently, however, in contrast, in spite of, in the same way, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, yet.
Cause-Effect	accordingly, as a result, consequently, for that reason, hence, then, therefore, thus.
Emphasis	above all, especially, indeed, in fact, most important.
Summary	as has been noted, finally, in brief, in other words, in short, on the whole, to sum up.

The words and phrases we mentioned above have certainly been used frequently in writing blog articles. However, it is not impossible that most of us are not aware of the function of these words as transition signals. With this article, I hope that we are more aware of using transitional words and phrases in various types because each type performs a different function in our articles. The use of appropriate transitional words and phrases will ensure the coherence and readability of the articles that we post on our blogs.