What words to use for transitions

Contrast

There are two meanings of contrast:

1. Used to contradict what has been said or implied.
   
   1. He stumbled and fell.
      
   2. He stumbled but didn't fall.
2. Used to indicate the lack of an expected implication. 
   
   1. She felt warm because of the sun.
      
   2. She felt cold in spite of the sun.

There are three types of contrasting words:

1. Conjunction: joins two clauses (e.g. He says he has the team shirt, although I've never seen him wear it).
   1. First meaning: but, although, though
   2. Second meaning: yet, although, though
2. Adverb: modifies a sentence (e.g. People tend to put on weight in middle age. However, gaining weight is not inevitable).
   1. however
   2. nonetheless, nevertheless, even so, yet
3. Preposition: joins a clause with a noun (e.g. She remains a great leader despite her age).
   1. but, except for, apart from, besides
   2. in spite of, despite

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Result

These words have the same meaning and can be used in any way. This guide presents one way to use them that improves readability (i.e. the flow of the text).

Conjunction: (only 'so' can be a conjunction)

• It was still painful, so I went to see a specialist.​

Starting a clause:

• Accordingly, cannabis is not a major contributor to road accidents.
• The boat is wide and, consequently, is safer for beginners.
• The dictator plans to murder activists; therefore, it is our duty to get rid of him.

Before a verb or noun: (goes after 'be' verbs)

• Writing is often a means of release for me, hence the reason for this blog.
• Retention is thus the new key word in debates about education in Britain.
• It then seems unlikely that our results were biased by patients' responses.

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What's more

Starting a sentence:

• In addition/Furthermore/Moreover, it was confirmed that the concentration was more than 250 times higher than the acceptable limit.

​Within a sentence:

• He was a brilliant linguist but was also interested in botany.
  

Adding a noun phrase:

• Members of the board were paid a small allowance in addition to/besides/apart from their normal salary.