Stop Slapping on Unnecessary Transition Words

Introduction

Somewhere along the way, most of us have heard the advice, “good writing uses transitions.” So we picked up words like however, therefore, moreover, and in addition and started sprinkling them into our sentences like magic dust. Transitions, we were told, make writing flow.

We were supposed to learn that strong writing flows because ideas connect logically. The goal was to help readers understand a general concept, then use it for a specific purpose in the next sentence. But instead of thoughtfully choosing transitions and arranging our sentences to create those logical connections, we started looking through word lists and slapping single-word transitions onto the beginning of sentences.

Unnecessary transitions don’t clarify your ideas—they clutter them. They bloat sentences and slow down your reader. Worse, they often add nothing at all. So if a transition word doesn’t improve clarity, it doesn’t belong in your sentence. Cut it.

This is the basis of WordRake’s most controversial position: we suggest deleting most single-word transitions. As a professional who writes for work, you have enough experience to drop these words and rely on punctuation, sentence order, and paragraph structure instead.

Write More Like You Talk

Did you know that transitions are less common in spoken language than in written language? Spoken English intonation shows contrast and transition, and we rely on this intonation to provide information that helps the listener. (Intonation is the tone of your voice and the words you emphasize.) Other languages use word order or additional words to achieve this same effect.

If you’re writing rather than speaking, punctuation can show a reader how to imagine the sentence being read aloud. Trust your reader’s interpretation skills and let the arguments speak for themselves.

Consider these sentences:

1. I get along well with Bob; he is friendly.
2. I get along well with Bob. He is friendly.
3. I get along well with Bob because he is friendly.
4. Since Bob is friendly, I get along well with him.      

All four sentences provide the same information. The first two sentences show that punctuation alone can show reasoning. If you read the first two sentences out loud, you’ll notice that you’ll put stress on the word well, which is essentially your main opinion word in those sentences. The semi-colon and the period can both mean because in English writing, and the first two sentences are stronger because they force the reader to focus on your opinion. Try reading the last two sentences out loud. In Sentence 3, you are likely to stress the word friendly, which may be an opinion, but which is actually your supporting evidence for your opinion here. In Sentence 4, you are likely to stress the words Bob and well. For your readers, that means an extra word plus an extra beat for interpretation (Bob is the topic, but it will take the reader a bit longer to realize that this statement is an opinion about him.)

Our Strategies to Delete, Trim, or Simplify Transitions

When you use WordRake, you’ll get suggestions to delete, trim, or simplify transitions. Any suggestions will also include any necessary changes to the surrounding punctuation. WordRake follows the Chicago Manual of Style and Bryan A. Garner’s The Redbook and makes some edits that place conjunctions at the beginning of the sentence. We also consider how some writers follow different conventions and style guides when deciding whether to start a sentence with but, and, yet, and other conjunctions.

Brevity Mode: Cutting the Clutter

WordRake’s Brevity mode deletes many unnecessary transition words and expressions. The punctuation and surrounding information provide enough to help your readers follow your thought process. They already expect your information to go in a logical order. If your paragraph needs a transition, consider reorganizing or rewriting your sentences to provide the transitional information more effectively.

Thereafter, the The fair moved to bigger cities to attract larger crowds.

Dr. Roman found permanent and total disability based on Mr. Lincoln’s combined physical injuries. Furthermore, this This court held in a previous an earlier case that “it may not always be necessary that the physicians evaluate every condition allowed in a claim.”

A few of the policy changes, moreover, aim specifically to improve environmental conditions.

The book has three main parts. Part I introduces empirical research through a structure for selecting a research design and explains several essential areas related to empirical research. Moreover, it It provides introductions to systematic literature reviews, experiments, surveys, and case studies. Part II devotes one chapter to each of the five experiment steps…

​In sum, the The Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court's declaratory judgment, vacated the "money judgment" against the Secretary, and remanded to the Secretary for further determinations regarding whether the services are reimbursable.

As such, I look forward to exploring potential alternatives at the next meeting.

In summary, the The main disadvantage of the drug is its potential risk in patients with vascular disease, though this is a risk shared by all medications in this class.

The prosecutor's characterization, in summation, of the defense's contention claim that the witness used gun as a "smokescreen" or "a red herring" did not exceed the broad bounds of rhetorical comment permissible in closing argument.

As for my My colleagues returned the favor many times over.

However, in conclusion, the report recommends that instead of the centralized dismantling of the public distribution system, the decision on the means of delivery should be left to the states.

As for me, I’m still working on that list of life goals I made as a young man.

The policy had not been abandoned; indeed, in two former colonies, it has survived well into the twentieth century.

The claim, accordingly, must be dismissed.

For the reasons stated above, an An additional committee meeting has been scheduled to evaluate the progress made.

​Regardless of Despite tax constraints, it stands to reason that if your customer is successfully selling your product abroad, then there's no reason you can't do the same.

The Non-Solicitation Covenant is ambiguous and therefore unenforceable as a matter of law.

Data from 2010 were coded under a different system and are thus excluded from this analysis.

​Overall, the The experience has been positive, and the university has committed to the continued use of software.

At the time, she She had 11 million followers and lost over a million followers after the ordeal.

As provided above, the The ABC Plan establishes lending policies and procedures unique to the ABC award.

Additionally, by By adjusting local growth conditions, other carbon nanostructures (i.e. nanotubes) are readily synthesized.

Tonight, the students have been inspired by Mr. Brown, and they, in turn, will inspire us with their focus and commitment to music and the arts.

Of course, not Not everyone agreed with the judge’s verdict.

Removing redundant and rambling transitions

In other Brevity edits, WordRake reduces wordy transition phrases to more efficient versions, even if it requires changing the grammar in the sentence. Many writers face word count constraints, so every little bit matters. The more words there are in a transition, the easier it is for your reader to lose track of the subject. Unnecessary transitions are also a hallmark of AI writing (read more about this problem here). Don’t let your writing sound like a bot wrote it. If transitional phrasing is necessary, at least see if you can streamline it.

Then​, for the reasons that were previously discussed, as previously discussed, we continued to campaign.

​Despite the fact that Although fatigue at the wheel is the leading cause of motorway fatalities, nearly three of every four European drivers ignore the recommendation to take a break every two hours during a journey.

The Court of Civil Appeals has held that Plaintiff’s performance of the contract ​renders the contract enforceable makes the contract enforceable in equity, ​despite the fact that there was never despite there never being any possession of the lands by the plaintiff in Ms. Smith’s lifetime.

In view of the fact that Because no consensus could be reached, the Taskforce decided that the report should not be positioned as the Taskforce's Report.

The call notes and the statements therein were also admissible ​for the following reasons: because: (i) As admissions by a party opponent under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2), the records were not hearsay; and (ii) the notes included admissible records of present sense impressions of Smith and Lincoln.

As far as the participants are concerned As for the participants, the patent pool is almost like the public domain-but a privatized public domain, a park that only residents may enter.

Deleting a transition when a synonym is nearby

When writers combine two similar transition words in a sentence, WordRake’s Brevity mode also deletes one of the redundant terms. Repetitive transitions waste your reader’s time and muddle your arguments. Don’t let your readers get lost in the mechanics of your sentence—help your content stand out by writing more efficiently.

However, it turns out that But mosquito repellent application is a fine art, and none of the above techniques are the best way to prevent being bitten by these creatures.

Many journalists were buzzing about the group; ​at the same time, however, the entity struggled to find the funding required for its startup.

Corgan has spoken about plans to release a remastered version of the album for more than a decade. ​But in the meantime, In the meantime, the original album is still floating around on the Internet.

On the other hand, however However, it is widely accepted that members of the service provided information about government plans to the leaders of the revolution to prevent the collapse of the movement.

​In addition, the The East Site would also include landscaped courtyard space, yard areas for the townhouses, and terraces for some apartments.

​However, despite Despite medical and technological advances, affordability remained a concern for many patients.

Even so, as set forth below, Plaintiffs' claims for injunctive relief are now moot or fail to satisfy the redressability prong of standing, meaning dismissal ​is warranted is justified.