Chapter 1
Information and Ideas
Course: Sat Prep
Subject: Reading And Writing
Chapter: Expression Of Ideas 5879 11902
A transition is a word or short phrase that shows how two ideas fit together. It sits between them and tells the reader what kind of connection is coming. Words like however, because, for example, and therefore all do this job.
These words are short, but they change a great deal. Take two sentences: The bus was late. She missed the meeting. Put therefore between them and the lateness caused the missed meeting. Put however between them and something surprising has happened. The two sentences never changed. Only the small word between them did, and it changed the whole meaning.
This is why transitions matter so much. Writing without them still contains all the facts, but the reader has to work out the connections alone. Sometimes the reader works them out wrongly. A transition removes that guesswork by stating the connection directly.