How to Transition Between Paragraphs and Sentences: Transition words with examples?

Transition words are like signposts that help your writing move from one idea to another smoothly, just like when you walk from one room in your house to another.

Imagine you're telling a story about your day. You start with breakfast, then go to school, and finally play with friends. To make the story flow, you might say:

• "I had breakfast, and then I went to school."
• "After school, I played with my friends."

The words and, then, and after are transition words, they help your reader know what happens next.

Without them, it's like jumping from one place to another without looking. You might say:

• "I had breakfast. I went to school. I played with friends."

It still makes sense, but the story feels more jumpy, just like if you suddenly appeared in your friend’s backyard instead of walking there.

Using transition words is like giving your reader a gentle nudge in the right direction, so they know where the story (or your writing) is going next.