Transitions and signposting
How do I use transitions and signposting in my academic text?
When writing an academic text, it is important to ensure that the whole feels like a smooth, coherent piece of work. To this end, you need to build effective links between your sentences and paragraphs, which will take your reader through your line of reasoning or argument.
The use of transition words and phrases is an important part of this. These give the reader a hint as to what is to come without interfering with the general flow.
Examples of connectors to add a point:
- In addition, …
- Furthermore, …
- Moreover, …
- Besides, …
Find more connectors from Writefull’s Sentence Palette.
Examples of connectors to conclude a section:
- To conclude, …
- Given these points, …
- In summary, …
- To sum up, …
Find more connectors from Writefull’s Sentence Palette.
Examples of connectors to introduce a cause-and-effect relationship:
- Consequently, …
- As a consequence, …
- As a result, …
- Therefore, …
Find more connectors from Writefull’s Sentence Palette.
Examples of connectors to introduce a contrasting point:
- Conversely, …
- On the other hand, …
- Nonetheless, …
- However, …
Find more connectors from Writefull’s Sentence Palette.
Signposting is another way to add coherence to your writing. The most obvious example of signposting is the use of headings and section numbering. Another form of signposting is to include echoes of past arguments (such as recaps and summaries of points previously made). A standard journal article or essay can be long, so readers may feel grateful for occasional reminders. For this, think of simple phrases such as ‘As discussed/mentioned/stated in Chapter/Section…’.
Learn how to refer to tables and figures, sections, and other parts of your paper here, and learn more about using connectors here and here.