signal words essay writing

Signal Words: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Texts

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: September 19, 2023

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Signal words are an essential part of effective writing and communication. They help to connect ideas and make the text more coherent and easy to follow. For English learners, mastering signal words is crucial to improving their writing skills and building their vocabulary.

In this article, we will explore what signal words are, why they are important, and how to use them effectively in your writing. We will provide a comprehensive list of signal words, along with their meanings and examples of how they can be used in different contexts. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will help you to enhance your writing skills and communicate more effectively in English.

By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the different types of signal words and how they can be used to connect ideas, add coherence to your writing, and make your text more engaging and easy to follow. So, let’s dive in and discover the power of signal words in improving your writing skills and building your vocabulary.

Signal Words

Understanding Signal Words

Signal words, also known as transition words, are words or phrases that connect ideas and help the reader or listener follow along with the flow of the text or speech. They indicate the relationship between different parts of a sentence or paragraph, making the text easier to understand. Signal words are essential in writing and speaking, as they help to create coherence and cohesion in the text.

Using signal words is important because it makes writing and speaking more effective. They help to guide the reader or listener through the text or speech, making it easier to follow along. Signal words can also help to clarify the writer’s or speaker’s intended meaning, making the text or speech more persuasive.

List of Signal Words

Here are some common signal words organized by different categories in a table:

Remember that these are just some common signal words and there are many more that can be used in different contexts and situations.

Using Signal Words Effectively

When writing, it is important to use signal words effectively to help readers follow along with your ideas. Signal words can help to show the relationship between different ideas and can make your writing easier to understand. Here are some examples of signal words you can use in your writing:

For instance, you can use signal words like “for example” or “moreover” to introduce examples or add more information to your writing. On the other hand, you can use signal words like “however” or “as a result” to show contrast or the consequence of something.

Common Mistakes When Using Signal Words

Using too many signal words: While signal words can be useful in guiding the reader through a text, using too many can make the writing appear cluttered and confusing. It is important to use signal words strategically and only when they are necessary to convey the intended meaning.

Using signal words incorrectly: Using a signal word that does not accurately reflect the relationship between ideas can be misleading and confusing for the reader. It is important to choose signal words carefully and ensure that they accurately convey the intended meaning.

Overusing the same signal word: Using the same signal word repeatedly can make the writing appear repetitive and monotonous. It is important to vary the use of signal words to maintain the reader’s interest and attention.

Using signal words inconsistently: Inconsistently using signal words can make the writing appear disorganized and difficult to follow. It is important to use signal words consistently and appropriately throughout the text.

Using signal words without understanding their meaning: Using signal words without understanding their meaning can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. It is important to have a clear understanding of the meaning and usage of each signal word before using it in writing.

Signal Words and English Learning Tools

If you’re learning English, you may have heard of signal words. These are words that help guide the reader or listener through a text or conversation, indicating a change in topic or direction. Signal words are important to understand for both reading and writing in English. Here are some English learning tools that can help you master signal words.

Many English learning books include sections on signal words, as they are an important part of English writing and reading. Some popular books that cover signal words include “ The Elements of Style ” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, “English Grammar in Use” by Raymond Murphy, and “The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation” by Jane Straus.

In these books, you’ll find explanations of different types of signal words, along with example sentences and exercises to help you practice using them correctly. By working through these books, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of signal words and how to use them effectively in your own writing.

A good dictionary is an essential tool for any English learner, and it can also be a great resource for learning signal words. When you look up a word in the dictionary, you’ll often see example sentences that use the word in context. By paying attention to the signal words in these sentences, you can learn more about how they are used and how they can help guide the reader or listener through a text.

In addition to using a traditional print dictionary, you can also use online dictionaries like Merriam-Webster or Oxford English Dictionary. These sites often include audio pronunciations, example sentences, and other helpful features that can aid your English learning journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some commonly used signal words in English?

Signal words are words or phrases that help to indicate the relationship between ideas and sentences. Some commonly used signal words in English include:

Addition: also, furthermore, in addition, moreover, besides, likewise
Contrast: however, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, yet, although, in contrast
Time: meanwhile, next, later, afterward, then, finally, previously
Cause and Effect: consequently, therefore, thus, as a result, because, since, so
Example: for example, such as, in particular, specifically, to illustrate
Sequence: first, second, third, next, then, finally

What are the signal words used in a text?

Signal words used in a text can help readers understand the relationships between ideas and the structure of the text. Some signal words commonly used in a text include:

Introduction: first, second, third, in conclusion, to summarize
Comparison and Contrast: similarly, likewise, on the other hand, in contrast, although, however
Cause and Effect: therefore, because, consequently, as a result, since, thus

What are some examples of sequence signal words?

Sequence signal words are used to indicate the order in which events occur. Some examples of sequence signal words include:

What are some signal words for cause and effect?

Signal words for cause and effect help to show the relationship between events. Some signal words for cause and effect include:

Consequently
As a result

What are some exemplification signal words?

Exemplification signal words are used to provide examples that support a point. Some exemplification signal words include:

For example
Specifically

What are some transition signal words?

Transition signal words are used to connect ideas and sentences. Some transition signal words include:

Additionally
Furthermore
In addition

In summary, signal words are important in communicating effectively in writing. By using signal words, writers can help readers understand the relationships between ideas and the structure of the text.

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Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Change will not be effected, say some others, unless individual actions raise the necessary awareness.

While a reader can see the connection between the sentences above, it’s not immediately clear that the second sentence is providing a counterargument to the first. In the example below, key “old information” is repeated in the second sentence to help readers quickly see the connection. This makes the sequence of ideas easier to follow.

Sentence pair #2: Effective Transition

You can use this same technique to create clear transitions between paragraphs. Here’s an example:

Some experts argue that focusing on individual actions to combat climate change takes the focus away from the collective action required to keep carbon levels from rising. Other experts argue that individual actions are key to raising the awareness necessary to effect change. According to Annie Lowery, individual actions are important to making social change because when individuals take action, they can change values, which can lead to more people becoming invested in fighting climate change. She writes, “Researchers believe that these kinds of household-led trends can help avert climate catastrophe, even if government and corporate actions are far more important” (Lowery).

So, what’s an individual household supposed to do?

The repetition of the word “household” in the new paragraph helps readers see the connection between what has come before (a discussion of whether household actions matter) and what is about to come (a proposal for what types of actions households can take to combat climate change).

Sometimes, transitional words can help readers see how ideas are connected. But it’s not enough to just include a “therefore,” “moreover,” “also,” or “in addition.” You should choose these words carefully to show your readers what kind of connection you are making between your ideas.

To decide which transitional word to use, start by identifying the relationship between your ideas. For example, you might be

making a comparison or showing a contrast Transitional words that compare and contrast include also, in the same way, similarly, in contrast, yet, on the one hand, on the other hand. But before you signal comparison, ask these questions: Do your readers need another example of the same thing? Is there a new nuance in this next point that distinguishes it from the previous example? For those relationships between ideas, you might try this type of transition: While x may appear the same, it actually raises a new question in a slightly different way.
expressing agreement or disagreement When you are making an argument, you need to signal to readers where you stand in relation to other scholars and critics. You may agree with another person’s claim, you may want to concede some part of the argument even if you don’t agree with everything, or you may disagree. Transitional words that signal agreement, concession, and disagreement include however, nevertheless, actually, still, despite, admittedly, still, on the contrary, nonetheless .
showing cause and effect Transitional phrases that show cause and effect include therefore, hence, consequently, thus, so. Before you choose one of these words, make sure that what you are about to illustrate is really a causal link. Novice writers tend to add therefore and hence when they aren’t sure how to transition; you should reserve these words for when they accurately signal the progression of your ideas.
explaining or elaborating Transitions can signal to readers that you are going to expand on a point that you have just made or explain something further. Transitional words that signal explanation or elaboration include in other words, for example, for instance, in particular, that is, to illustrate, moreover .
drawing conclusions You can use transitions to signal to readers that you are moving from the body of your argument to your conclusions. Before you use transitional words to signal conclusions, consider whether you can write a stronger conclusion by creating a transition that shows the relationship between your ideas rather than by flagging the paragraph simply as a conclusion. Transitional words that signal a conclusion include in conclusion , as a result, ultimately, overall— but strong conclusions do not necessarily have to include those phrases.

If you’re not sure which transitional words to use—or whether to use one at all—see if you can explain the connection between your paragraphs or sentence either out loud or in the margins of your draft.

For example, if you write a paragraph in which you summarize physician Atul Gawande’s argument about the value of incremental care, and then you move on to a paragraph that challenges those ideas, you might write down something like this next to the first paragraph: “In this paragraph I summarize Gawande’s main claim.” Then, next to the second paragraph, you might write, “In this paragraph I present a challenge to Gawande’s main claim.” Now that you have identified the relationship between those two paragraphs, you can choose the most effective transition between them. Since the second paragraph in this example challenges the ideas in the first, you might begin with something like “but,” or “however,” to signal that shift for your readers.

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Transition Signals in Writing

What are transition signals.

Transition signals are connecting words or phrases that strengthen the internal cohesion of your writing. Transition signals act like bridges between parts of your writing. They link your sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that they flow and there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas.

Transition signals also act like signposts making it easier for the reader to follow your ideas. They help carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one paragraph to another, or between separate sentences, paragraphs or topics.

There are several types of transition signals. Some lead your reader forward and imply the building of an idea or thought, while others make your reader compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts.

Sample text

The following words and phrases can be used to indicate transitions and to cue your reader about how ideas are logically connected in your writing. This list is also helpful for providing alternative options if you find yourself constantly using the same linking word or phrase.

To indicate sequence or to logically order ideas

first, second, third etc.

followed by

before, after

next, finally

previously, subsequently

initially, followed by

concurrently

at that time

To refer to a specific incident or example

for example

to illustrate

for instance

in the case of case

specifically

in this case

on this occasion

To provide emphasis or indicate importance

particularly

To indicate time

at that/this point

immediately

simultaneously

then, later

at that/ this time

To compare and/ or contrast

To compare:

on the one hand
correspondingly

in the same way

To contrast:

in contrast

on the other hand

a different view is

on the contrary

differing from
balanced against
by/ in comparison

To indicate result or cause and effect

as a result (of this)

consequently

as a consequence

accordingly

for this reason

because (of this)

so much (so) that

To introduce a similar idea

To add another idea or more information.

in addition

furthermore

it could also be said

additionally

To introduce an opposite idea, to show exception or concession

alternatively

it could also be said that

nevertheless

despite/in spite of (this)

even though

nonetheless

notwithstanding (this)

regardless (of this)

To give an example

take the case of

to demonstrate

To identify or clarify

that is (to say)

in other words

To summarise or conclude

on the whole

in conclusion

as a result

to summarise

Transition signals in writing
Quotations and paraphrases
Punctuation
Paraphrasing, summarising, quoting
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87 Signal Phrases and Transitions

John Lanning and Amanda Lloyd

A signal phrase, also known as an attributive tag, is a device used to smoothly integrate quotations and paraphrases into your essay. It is important to use signal phrases to clearly attribute supporting evidence to an author and to avoid interrupting the flow of an essay. Signal phrases can also be used as meaningful transitions, moving your readers between your ideas and those of your sources.

A basic signal phrase consists of an author’s name and an active verb indicating how the author is presenting the material. A signal phrase may also include information explaining an author’s credentials and/or affiliations as well as the title and/or publisher of the source text.

Referring to the Author within a Signal Phrase

In many instances, a signal phrase should contain only the last name of the author or authors of the source text (as opposed to the author’s first and last name). For instance, APA style guidelines require no reference to an author’s first name at any point in an essay and few if any gender specific pronouns. But in MLA papers, if you are referring to an author for the first time in your essay, you should include that author’s first name (you might also want to include the author’s credentials and the title of the source—see “Types of Signal Phrases” below). Any future signal phrase should refer to the author by last name only or with a pronoun when it’s perfectly clear to whom that pronoun refers. For example:

Michael Pollan observes that “Americans today are having a national conversation about food and agriculture that would have been impossible to imagine even a few short years ago” (29).
Pollan continues, “But the national conversation unfolding around the subject of food and farming really began in the 1970s” (29).
He then specifies, “I would argue that the conversation got under way in earnest in 1971, when [Wendell] Berry published an article in The Last Whole Earth Catalogue” (29).

Notice how each signal phrase verb is followed by a comma (or the word “that”), which is then followed by one space before the opening quotation mark.

In essays written according to MLA and APA guidelines, it is acceptable to refer to the author as “the author” as long as it is perfectly clear to whom you are referring. In APA, it is common to see general references to “researchers.”

Signal Phrase Verb Tense

In the examples above, notice how the signal phrase verbs are written in present tense. When you are asked to write a paper that follows MLA guidelines, signal phrases should always be written in present (not past) tense. When writing a paper using APA style, signal phrase verbs should be written in past tense. For example:

Pollan (2009) observed that “Americans today are having a national conversation about food and agriculture that would have been impossible to imagine even a few short years ago” (p. 29).

Notice how APA in-text citations also differ from MLA style in that APA citations include the year of publication and the page number is preceded by a “p.”

Varying Your Verbs

You should also vary your signal phrase verbs (rather than simply using “states” throughout your entire essay) in order to maintain your readers’ interest and to indicate the author’s intended use of the excerpted material. See below for examples of strong signal phrase verbs.

Types of Signal Phrases

In most instances, the first time the author is mentioned in an MLA-style essay, as well as including the author’s first and last name in a signal phrase, it is also a good idea to include the author’s credentials and the title of the source.

While providing the author’s credentials and title of the source are the most common types of signal phrases, there are others we should be aware of. In the examples below, the information relevant to the type of signal phrase is underlined.

Type: Author’s credentials are indicated.

Example: Grace Chapmen, Curator of Human Health & Evolutionary Medicine at the Springfield Natural History Museum, explains…

Purpose: Presenting an author’s credentials should help build credibility for the passage you are about to present. Including the author’s credentials gives your readers a reason to consider your sources.

Type: Author’s lack of credentials is indicated.

Example: Matthew Spencer, whose background is in marriage counseling, not foreign policy, claims…

Purpose: Identifying an author’s lack of credentials in a given area can help illustrate a lack of authority on the subject matter and persuade the audience not to adopt the author’s ideas. Pointing to an author’s lack of credentials can be beneficial when developing your response to counter-arguments.

Type: Author’s social or political stance, if necessary to the content, is explained.

Example: Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Roland Hayes, prominent civil rights activist, preaches…

Ralph Spencer, who has ties to the White Nationalist movement, denies…

Purpose: Explaining the author’s social or political stance can help a reader to understand why that author expresses a particular view. This understanding can positively or negatively influence an audience. Be careful to avoid engaging in logical fallacies such as loaded language.

Type: Publisher of the source is identified.

Example: According to a recent CNN poll…

Purpose: Identifying the publisher of the passage can help reinforce the credibility of the information presented and you can capitalize on the reputation/ credibility of the publisher of the source material.

Type: Title of the Source is included.

Example : In “Understanding Human Behavior,” Riley argues …

Purpose: Informs the reader where the cited passage is being pulled from.

Type: Information that establishes context is presented.

Example: In a speech presented during a Free Speech rally, Elaine Wallace encourages …

Purpose: Presenting the context that the original information was presented can help the audience understand the author’s purpose more clearly.

MLA Signal Phrase Verbs

apa signal phrase verbs.

https://owl.excelsior.edu/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=h5p_embed&id=51

Transitional Words and Phrases for University Writing

by Suzan Last

Transitional words and phrases are a type of signal phrase, too. They help guide a reader from one sentence, idea, or paragraph to the next. In previous English classes, you may have learned the basic transitional words or phrases in Table D.1. These can be effective when writing simple information in a structure where you simply add one idea after another, or want to show the order of events.

TABLE D.1 Basic beginner-level transitions

However, more complex university-level writing requires more sophisticated transitions. It requires you to connect ideas in ways that show the logic of why one idea comes after another in a complex argument or analysis. For example, you might be comparing/contrasting ideas, or showing a cause and effect relationship, providing detailed examples to illustrate an idea, or presenting a conclusion to an argument. When expressing these complex ideas, the simple transitions you’ve learned earlier will not always be effective – indeed, they may even confuse the reader.

Consider the transitions in Table D.2, and how they are categorized. While this is not an exhaustive list, it will gives you a sense of the many transitional words and phrases that you can choose from, and demonstrate the need to choose the one that most effectively conveys your meaning.

TABLE D.2 Sophisticated university-level transitions

Transitional words and phrases show the connection between ideas, and show how one idea relates to and builds upon another. They help create coherence. When transitions are missing or inappropriate, the reader has a hard time following the logic and development of ideas. The most effective transitions are sometimes invisible; they rely on the vocabulary and logic of your sentence to allow the reader to “connect the dots” and see the logical flow of your discussion.

Repeat a word or phrase from the previous sentence (or use a synonym, related word, or antonym) to show that the same idea is still being discussed, but is being developed further
Use the pronoun “this + noun” to show continued discussion of the idea
Use one of the above transitional words or phrases to show HOW you are developing your idea (are you showing contrast? Are you using an example to develop your idea? Are you showing a cause and effect relationship? Are you concluding? Are you conceding a point?).

Transition Exercises: Place the transitional words below the paragraph into the blanks where they work most logically into the paragraphs.

A vegan can be defined as someone who does not eat meat, fish, or other animal products, such as eggs or cheese; ________, they eat vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds. __________ this diet consists of non-meat food sources, a vegan typically consumes less fat and cholesterol than an individual who consumes meat. __________, raising animals for food uses valuable land, water, and energy. __________, adopting a vegetarian diet can help conserve the valuable resources that our future depends on.

consequently
furthermore
for example

__________ many educators and parents have praised the Harry Potter series, some Christian parents have called for a ban on the books in their schools and libraries. Some churches have even gone as far as burning the books, citing biblical injunctions against witchcraft, __________ those in Exodus and Leviticus . __________, some Christians believe the books are compatible with Christianity, __________, that they embody basic Christian beliefs.

in addition

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Chapter 11: Ethical Source Integration: Citation, Quoting, and Paraphrasing

11.4 Signal Phrases

John Lanning and Amanda Lloyd

A signal phrase , also known as an attributive tag, is a device used to smoothly integrate quotations and paraphrases into your essay. It is important to use signal phrases to clearly attribute supporting evidence to its author or authors and to avoid interrupting the flow of an essay. Signal phrases can also be used as meaningful transitions, moving your readers between your ideas and those of your sources.

A signal phrase consists of an author’s name and an active verb indicating how the author is presenting the material. A signal phrase may also include information explaining an author’s credentials and/or affiliations as well as the title and/or publisher of the source text.

Referring to the Author within a Signal Phrase

In many instances, signal phrase s will contain only the last name of the author of the source text (as opposed to the author’s first and last name). For instance, APA style guidelines require no reference to author first names at any point in an essay. But in MLA papers, if you are referring to an author for the first time in your essay, you should include that author’s first name as well as the author’s relevant credentials or affiliations in your signal phrase (you might also want to include the title of the source text). Once you have supplied an author’s first name and credentials, any subsequent signal phrase referencing that same author should contain the author’s last name only. For example:

Michael Pollan, Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at the University of California Berkeley, observes that “Americans today are having a national conversation about food and agriculture that would have been impossible to imagine even a few short years ago” (29).
Pollan continues, “But the national conversation unfolding around the subject of food and farming really began in the 1970s” (29).

Notice how each signal phrase verb is followed by the word “that” or a comma, which is then followed by one space before the opening quotation mark.

In essays written according to MLA and APA guidelines, it is acceptable to refer to an author as “the author” as long as it is perfectly clear to whom you are referring. In APA, it is common to see references to “the researchers.”

Signal Phrase Verb Tense

Pollan (2009) observed that “Americans today are having a national conversation about food and agriculture that would have been impossible to imagine even a few short years ago” (p. 29).

Notice how APA in-text citations also differ from MLA style in that APA citations include the year of publication and the page number is preceded by a “p.”

See section 12.6 for more information on APA in-text citations and section 12.2 for MLA citations.

Varying Your Verbs

Types of Signal Phrases

Type: Author’s credentials are indicated.

Example: Grace Chapmen, Curator of Human Health & Evolutionary Medicine at the Springfield Natural History Museum, explains…

Type: Author’s lack of credentials is indicated.

Example: Matthew Spencer, whose background is in marriage counseling, not foreign policy, claims…

Type: Author’s social or political stance, if necessary to the content, is explained.

Example: Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Roland Hayes, prominent civil rights activist, preaches…

Ralph Spencer, who has ties to the White Nationalist movement, denies…

Type: Publisher of the source is identified.

Example: According to a recent CNN poll…

Type: Title of the Source is included.

Example : In “Understanding Human Behavior,” Riley argues …

Purpose: Informs the reader where the cited passage is being pulled from.

Type: Information that establishes context is presented.

Example: In a speech presented during a Free Speech rally, Elaine Wallace encourages …

Purpose: Presenting the context that the original information was presented can help the audience understand the author’s purpose more clearly.

MLA Signal Phrase Verbs

apa signal phrase verbs.

11.4 Signal Phrases by John Lanning and Amanda Lloyd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Writing Center

Loyola university chicago, transitions & signal words.

We use transitions in writing to connect ideas and signal to readers that we are moving through our discussion. Transitions help writers organize their papers and help readers understand how ideas and parts of the paper fit together. These transitions can occur Between Paragraphs and Between Sentences .

Between Paragraphs

Each of your paragraphs should refer to a previous idea. In order to make sure the ideas flow logically, we use transitions between paragraphs to link ideas and show readers how the paragraphs are connected. Example phrases include:

While A suggests B, C suggests D.
After looking at A, we move to B.
In addition, C also argues D.

Between Sentences

We use transitions between sentences to link ideas and help the sentences flow coherently.

Use transition words such as first , next , however , and in addition to show the relationships among sentences and ideas. Repeat key words or phrases to tie related sentences together:

The new black middle class came of age in the 1960s during an unprecedented American economic boom and in the hub of a thriving mass culture . The economic boom made luxury goods and convenient services available to large numbers of hard-working Americans for the first time. American mass culture presented models of the good life principally in terms of conspicuous consumption and hedonistic indulgence.

—Cornel West, Race Matters*

Use parallel phrases—phrases that begin with the same word or that share the same grammatical structure—to emphasize connections among similar examples or related pieces of information:

I spent my two days at Disneyland taking rides . I took a bobsled through the Matterhorn and a submarine under the Polar Ice Cap and a rocket jet to the Cosmic Vapor Curtain. I took Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Alice’s Scary Adventures, and Pinocchio’s Daring Journey. I took a steamboat and a jungle boat. I took the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Coyote Country and the Splash Mountain roller coaster to Critter Country. […] More precisely, those rides took me : up and down and around sudden corners and over rooftops, and all I had to do was sit back and let whatever conveyance I was sitting in do the driving.

—William Zinsser, American Places*

Common Transition Words and Phrases:

To Add: and, again, and then, besides, finally, further, too, in addition, moreover, as equally important, as well, also, furthermore, likewise, moreover, similarly, still, next

To Compare/Contrast: but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, nonetheless, rather, instead

To Prove: because, for, since, for the same reason, furthermore, moreover, indeed, in fact, as a result, consequently, accordingly, thus

To Show Exception: yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, aside from, barring, except, excluding, other than, save

To Show Time/Sequence: immediately, thereafter, soon, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, third, fourth, etc.), next, first of all, to begin with, in turn, meanwhile, afterward, in conclusion, following, subsequently, previously, simultaneously, concurrently, after, before, consequently, previously, hence

To Repeat/Summarize: as I have said, as I have noted, as I have shown, as a result, in brief, in short, finally, to summarize, therefore, after all, in any case, in other words, once again, consequently

To Emphasize: definitely, extremely, surprisingly, without a doubt, certainly, above all, chiefly, especially, particularly

To Give an Example: for example, for instance, to illustrate, in this situation, to demonstrate, in this case, in particular, namely, specifically, such as, including

To Generalize: as a rule, for the most part, generally speaking, usually

Undergraduate
Graduate/ Professional
Adult Education

11.3 Glance at Genre: Reasoning Strategies and Signal Words

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Identify and define reasoning strategies and signal words.
Determine how the rhetorical situation influences the content and reasoning strategies of written works.

As you read in The Digital World: Building on What You Already Know to Respond Critically , rhetorical situation are shaped by the conditions of the communication and the agents involved in that communication. To help you determine the conditions and the agents, you can examine purpose, culture, and audience expectation.

The purpose , or intention, for your writing determines the reasoning strategies you use. For example, if your purpose is to explain why one restaurant is better than another, you likely would use comparison and contrast.

Writers of essays and other formal papers usually support their ideas by using more than one reasoning strategy. For example, within comparison and contrast, they may include description , such as sensory details about the food at the two restaurants; narration , such as an anecdote about why they and their companions went to the restaurants or about something that happened at one of the restaurants; and sequencing , such as the order in which they received their food or the directions to get to the restaurants.

Alternatively, writers may combine some of the six strategies already mentioned. For instance, within the larger structure of comparison and contrast, they may use classification and division when discussing the restaurants’ menus, sorting by main dishes, side dishes, appetizers, soups, salads, and desserts. Therefore, while the essay’s primary purpose may be to compare and contrast, individual strategies within an essay or even within a paragraph may differ.

Recognizing Purpose

Throughout your paper, your purpose for writing should be clear and focused. Your introduction, thesis, topic sentences, body paragraphs (which include reasoning and evidence), and conclusion should all reflect your argumentative or persuasive purpose.

To support and clarify your purpose, you are likely to use the following:

Analogy : to explain to readers a subject with which they are unfamiliar by comparing a specific trait or traits with those of a more familiar subject.
Cause-and-effect : to provide a clear understanding of the relationship between an event or situation and/or what happened because of it, why it occurred, and what might continue to happen.
Classification and division: to explain a subject by breaking it into smaller parts and explaining the distinctions of the smaller parts or by grouping individual, disparate elements on the basis of certain characteristics to form larger units.
Compare and contrast : to examine the similarities and/or differences of subjects in order to explain a specific point about their similarity or difference (often an unexpected similarity or difference).
Problem-and-solution : to indicate a predicament or difficulty and suggest ways to deal with or eliminate it.
Definition : to illustrate to readers an idea, word, or expression, allowing you to explain a unique meaning of a topic through details and analysis.

Recognizing Audience

Critically thinking about the culture , or common beliefs and lived experiences, of your audience , the people who will read your work, can help you choose an appropriate vocabulary and level of detail.

The culture and audience expectation determine the language you use, the amount and type of information you include, and the way you deliver that information. Determine first what your readers want to know (their expectations), what they already know, and what they do not know. Determining—or at least making an educated guess about—the culture of your audience will aid you in deciding how to use the reasoning strategy you choose and the way in which you present your paper.

Suppose, for instance, your purpose is to persuade your audience to vote for a proposed local ordinance. First, consider the culture of your audience to ensure the language you use clearly explains the terms of ordinance for those who know nothing about it. Also, be sure that you fully understand the issues surrounding the ordinance and how it might have different effects on different groups of people so that what you assert is accurate. Next, again consider the culture of your audience members and what they may or may not know about your topic. For example, they may not know the reason for the proposed ordinance, what might happen if it is passed or not passed, or how it might affect them personally or culturally. If they are not as informed as you are, then include the background information they need to know about it in order for your reasoning strategy and overall argument to be effective.

Depending on your audience, you may want to include an analogy to help readers understand connections and particular points in certain ways. An analogy is also useful if the subject is complex. You can make a complex subject more accessible for your audience by comparing it to something familiar.

Recognizing Points

Every point you make in a paper should be meaningful and should relate to the paper’s thesis , its overarching claim or angle. How you make each point is determined by your reason for making that point. In most academic writing, you will use structures that present a thesis at the beginning of the essay. Readers should recognize your thesis because of

its prominent placement in the essay;
the language you use leading up to it; and
the language you use following it.

For example, if your thesis is that the first two years of college should be tuition free for students (that is, tuition should be subsidized by the state), then you might begin your essay with an attention-getting fact stating that the current national student debt is over $1.7 trillion. After that, you might share evidence about the number of students who do not finish a bachelor’s degree but have accrued student loan debt. Finally, you might preview your reasons for the position advocating for free tuition for the first two years of college.

Readers will recognize your supporting points as stated in your paragraph-level topic sentences because of how you discuss them in relation to your thesis. In all of your academic writing, choose language and reasoning strategies that guide readers back to your thesis.

When you present facts, whether in your thesis or in your evidence, remember to cite them properly according to the format your instructor requires. For more about proper citations, see MLA Documentation and Format and APA Documentation and Format .

Structuring Your Reasoning Strategies

To present your reasoning, which is the main part of your essay, try these suggestions for using the six strategies:

Analogy paragraphs often begin with a statement of comparison between two unlike subjects, followed by reasons, explanations, or analyses of their similarities.

Example topic 1: compare enrolling as a first-year student to visiting an amusement park for the first time

Example sentence: Enrolling as a first-year student is like visiting an amusement park for the first time in this way: the inexperienced students and park goers must pay a high fee, abide by strict rules, and choose how they spend their adventure.

Example topic 2: compare increasing the federal deficit to eating salted peanuts

Example sentence: Increasing the federal deficit is like eating salted peanuts: the higher the increase, the more will be demanded. When you eat salted peanuts, the more you eat, the more you want.

Paragraphs explaining cause-and-effect often begin in one of these two ways: (1) an explanation of the cause(s), followed by an explanation of the effect(s) that happened as a result of the cause(s); or (2) an explanation of the effect(s), followed by an explanation of the cause(s) that led to the effect(s).

Example topic 1: how an oil spill affected animals, waterways, and environmental costs

Example sentence: Because an oil spill occurred off the coast of California, the fur and feathers of animals became dangerously matted, waterways were damaged, and the cost of maintaining a clean environment skyrocketed.

Example topic 2: how the pandemic affected the population

Example sentence: Because of the pandemic, gas consumption dropped, indoor dining at restaurants declined, and online shopping rose.

Example topic 3: how animals, waterways, and environmental costs were affected by an oil spill

Example sentence: The fur and feathers of animals became dangerously matted, waterways were damaged, and the cost of maintaining a clean environment skyrocketed as the result of an oil spill off the coast of California.

Example topic 4: how the pandemic affected the population

Example sentence : Gas consumption dropped, indoor dining at restaurants declined, and online shopping rose because of the pandemic.

Classification -and- division paragraphs often begin in either of two ways: (1) Classification paragraphs identify individual items and place them in a larger group; and (2) Division paragraphs break a large group or a single unit into smaller parts.

Example classification topic: essential workers during the pandemic included employees in several fields

Example sentence: During the pandemic, essential workers not under quarantine included employees in the fields of health care, childcare, transportation, water and wastewater, and agriculture and food production.

Example division topic: how the new superstore will be divided

Example sentence: The layout for the new superstore will be divided into furniture (third floor), household goods and kitchenware (second floor), and men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing (first floor).

When using compare and contrast reasoning, you have choices about the structure to use. Comparison-and-contrast paragraphs identify two subjects and address their similarities and then their differences; or comparison-and-contrast paragraphs identify two subjects and address their similarities and then their differences.

Example topic 1: reality television and scripted television

Example sentence: Reality television and scripted television are alike in that both should make money for the network that airs them; however, they differ in the predictability of what the characters do in their roles.

Example topic 2: printed book and audio book

Example sentence: A printed book and an audio book are alike in that both present the material the author wrote; one way they differ is that listeners—as opposed to readers—cannot make notes on text in a printed book.

Example topic 3: reality television and scripted television

Example sentence: Reality television and scripted television differ in the predictability of what the characters do in their roles, but they are alike in that they both should make money for the network that airs them.

Example topic 4: printed book and audio book

Example sentence: One way a printed book and an audio book differ is that listeners—as opposed to readers—cannot make notes on material in the printed book; however, both present the material the author wrote.

You can develop a problem-and-solution paragraph in one of two ways: (1) identify the problem, and then explain a way to solve it; or (2) explain the solution to a problem, and then identify the problem(s) that necessitated it.

Example topic 1: student loans

Example sentence: The issue of defaulting on repayment of student loans would be solved by increasing the time the students are given to repay the loans.

Example topic 2: campus parking

Example sentence: The issue of the increased need for parking on campus would be solved by paving the area on the corner of Twelfth and Locust Streets to allow parking on that lot.

Example topic 3: student loans

Example sentence: By increasing the time in which student loans must be repaid, the issue of defaulting on repayment of student loans would be solved, and students could have more ease of mind to pursue their careers.

Example topic 4: campus parking

Example sentence By paving the area on the corner of Twelfth and Locust Streets to allow parking on that lot, the issue of the increased need for parking on campus would be solved, an eyesore would be beautified, and more students and faculty would get to class on time.

Definition paragraphs often begin by noting the dictionary definition (denotation) of the topic and then illustrating and explaining its unique or extended meaning.

Example topic 1: patriotism

Example sentence: Most people think patriotism is showing devotion to their country; to me, however, it is conducting myself in ways that are respectful to everyone.

Example topic 2: independence

Example sentence: Independence means freedom from outside control, but college students often find it brings personal responsibility they had not considered.

Integrating Evidence from Appropriate Sources

Most academic writing is built on the writer’s own ideas as supported by the ideas of others. Regardless of the reasoning strategies you use in an essay, you will usually need to integrate others’ ideas to

help you explore a topic;
define, illustrate, explain, or prove an idea;
help readers think critically about an idea; and
give strength or credibility to your ideas.

These ideas from others could come from a variety of sources such as print or electronic media or in-person conversations. Similarly, these sources could be either personal (e.g., a conversation you had with someone or an email you received) or public (e.g., available online or in a printed publication). You can read more about finding and using credible sources in Research Process: Accessing and Recording Information and Annotated Bibliography: Gathering, Evaluating, and Documenting Sources .

These models show how writers integrate ideas from appropriate sources into their reasoning strategies.

Enrolling as a first-year student is like going to an amusement park for the first time: the inexperienced students or park goers must pay a high fee, abide by many rules, and choose their adventures. Like the cost for riding roller coasters, the cost for taking college classes is great and must be paid before the students start their journey. However, even after paying tuition, students do not have immediate access to whatever class they want to take, just as the park visitor cannot jump on any ride at any time. In the park, certain rides have warnings, such as “You must be at least 60 inches tall to go on this ride.” In college, many classes have prerequisites or require students to have earned a minimum placement score. Also, even though park goers have paid their entrance fees and received armbands that allow them to go anywhere in the park, they are not guaranteed a place on that one awesome ride they have heard so much about. They may have to choose between waiting in a line for hours or doing something else and trying to catch that ride another time. Similarly, college classes have a limited number of seats. Like the roller coaster that everyone wants to ride, college classes close, and students must make another choice. So, while students may not be able to pick up that class that semester, they can try again the next term. Like those starting an adventure at an amusement park, those starting the college journey should have a plan of how they want to fill their time and have a backup plan should they be unable to get every class they want, according to Max Vega, a first-year adviser. Similarly, park goers should use a map to plan their adventure.

Cause and Effect

Because an oil spill occurred off the coast of California, the fur and feathers of many animals became dangerously matted, waterways were damaged, and the cost of maintaining a clean environment skyrocketed. In May 2015, a ruptured pipeline in Santa Barbara County spilled oil along 20 miles of coastline. According to information published by the University of California -Davis, wildlife rescuers were able to save 49 coastal birds, 25 sea lions, and 6 elephant seals ( Kerlin , “Wildlife Experience High Price of Oil”). Helping ecosystems recover from oil spills is difficult and can take decades and billions of dollars to recover even partially.

Classification and Division

The layout for the new superstore can be divided into furniture (third floor), household goods and kitchenware (second floor), and men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing (first floor). This arrangement allows customers to feel they have control over their shopping experience. Customers shopping for clothes are not distracted by household goods or furniture displays. “By categorizing our merchandise in this manner, we can further subdivide the merchandise on each floor, developing a logical system of separation that repeat customers will learn easily,” said Carla Dawkins, general manager for Hometown Corner Store, in a Curtisville News report (Thurston 2). These subdivisions, Thurston stated, would allow individual floor managers to design the footprint of their floors to create an originality distinct and separate from the other floors (8).

Comparison and Contrast

One way Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth are alike is that both are tragedies written by William Shakespeare ; one way they differ is that they explore different themes. In Romeo and Juliet , almost all action centers on the theme of love, whether it is the innocent love between two young people or the protective love of parents for their children. In Macbeth , however, the action centers on ambition. The characters act on their ambitions for themselves and for their country, but excessive ambition is condemned and severely punished ( Royal Shakespeare Company , “ Macbeth Analysis”).

Problem and Solution

The issue of the increased need for parking on campus would be solved by paving the area on the corner of Twelfth and Locust Streets to allow parking on that lot. According to an email sent to all students from the provost, Dr. Sandra Kuryakin, the college purchased the corner lot two years ago with the intent of creating more parking spaces. In the email, Dr. Kuryakin adds, “We will break ground in June and plan to have the lot finished before students are back on campus in August, thus solving our parking problem on the west end of campus.”

Most people think patriotism means showing devotion to their country; to me, however, it is conducting myself in ways that are respectful to everyone. Too often, people proclaim themselves as patriots when they are actively seeking to withhold liberties from their fellow citizens or even harm them. When those claiming to be patriots condemn and physically harm others because they do not agree on political issues, they are not showing any reverence for their country. Instead, they dishonor their country by dishonoring its people. Respecting America should mean more than saluting the flag or singing the national anthem. It should mean respecting others’ rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In light of all this, for me, patriotism means respecting others not only because they are fellow Americans but because they are fellow human beings.

Signal Words and Phrases

Writers use signal words and phrases to steer readers in certain directions. You might use signal words and phrases to give readers clues about

how one idea connects with another;
how one paragraph connects with another;
how one idea supports or refutes another;
what is to come;
points you want to emphasize;
illustrations of your topic; or
similarities or differences you want to emphasize.

Common signal words and phrases for reasoning strategies include these:

Cause-and-effect

Classification

Compare and contrast

Frequently Used Reasoning Strategies Terms

Audience : the people who will read your paper.
Description : writing in which the author attempts to depict certain characteristics of a person, place, or object. Writers describe their subjects by carefully noting details and sensory impressions, such as what the subject looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels like.
Metaphors : comparison of two unlike elements. For example, the arguing protestors were volcanic, spewing hot, inflammatory speech.
Narration : telling a story or relating events.
Point : an important idea to share with the audience.
Purpose : reason for writing.
Sequencing : relating information in the order in which something happened or in which steps should be followed.
Similes : comparison of two unlike elements. The word as or like appears in a simile. For example, the protestors’ arguments were as heated as an erupting volcano.
Thesis : the overarching and unifying idea of a piece of writing.

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Academic Writing / APA 7th Ed / Blogcast

Signal Phrases

by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published October 30, 2020 · Updated November 5, 2020

In case you’re wondering what a signal phrase is, let me start there. All a signal phrase is is some introductory text that precedes (and sometimes splits or follows) information that comes from a source whether that information is a direct quote, a paraphrase, or a summary. A signal phrase is a natural part of an APA Style narrative in-text citation as it attributes information to a particular source like this: Clements (date of publication in parentheses) explained signal phrases in a recent fabulous podcast. Common signal phrases include such phrasing as According to X, As noted by X, As X argued, stated, reported, or some other past tense verb, and other similar constructs.

APA is not the only documentation style that uses signal phrases. MLA uses signal phrases as well, and the key difference between the way signal phrases are used is that MLA uses present tense verbs and APA Style uses past tense verbs.

A signal phrase in MLA: Jones argues that . . .

A signal phrase in APA: Jones argued that . . .

You may be wondering, What’s the benefit of using a signal phrase? Well, for starters, signal phrases help writers distinguish their ideas from a source’s ideas.

Listen to the following example:

Recent studies have shown that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. “Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers, who have a crash rate four times higher than that of older drivers” (Zernike, 2012, p. 76). Although some 16 year olds may appear more mature than some 18 year olds, records show that 16 year olds are more likely to get involved in car accidents.

Could you tell what content in that section was mine and what content came from a source? Absolutely not, right? Now obviously if you could actually see the page and a direct quote was used, then you would be able to tell what material was quoted, but even then, it’s a good idea to give a quote authority by using a signal phrase to name the author prior to the direct quote.

Listen to this updated version of the content I just read:

Recent studies have shown that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. According to Zernike (2019), “Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers, who have a crash rate four times higher than that of older drivers” (p. 76). While Zernike’s contention should be concerning, what should also be clear is that some 16 year olds may be more mature than some 18 year olds.

Note how in this revised passage, the author, Zernike, is named before the quote so readers know the source right out of the gate, and then the quote is integrated. In APA when using a signal phrase, put the date of publication in parenthesis directly after the author’s last name. Did you notice anything else about the short passage I just read? You probably noticed this sentence: “While Zernike’s contention should be concerning, what should also be clear is that some 16 year olds may be more mature than some 18 year olds.” Why use the author’s name again as I have done? Using the author’s name again and attributing an idea to that source shows my view of the issue relative to Zernike’s view, and in this way makes it clear to readers what ideas are mine and what ideas are Zernike’s. Attributing information to a specific source is another way writers make sure their ideas stand out on the page. Indeed, signal phrases and other forms of attribution function as signposts to readers so that it’s clear whose ideas belong to whom.

While it’s important to use a signal phrase, repeating the same language and placing it prior to the source material will make your writing predictable and perhaps even boring to readers. To this end, you will want to vary how you use signal phrases. The signal phrase is most commonly used prior to the direct quote, paraphrase, or summary, but it can also be used after the information used or it can even split up content from a source. And of course you should mix up the wording you use in the signal phrases. In other words, you wouldn’t want to use “According to” in every instance you use a signal phrase. Vary the phrasing as much as possible.

Another good reason for using a signal phrase when integrating a direct quote is so that you avoid using stand-alone quotes–that is, a quote that starts and ends a sentence. There is no transition into or out of the quote. The quote just appears. I call this kind of quote an island quote, but it’s also known as a dropped quote because it’s dropped into a paragraph without any transitions or real context. Stand-alone quotes should be avoided and using signal phrases will help in this regard.

One suggestion for integrating source material is to be sure to include one or more sentences that establish your thoughts on a subject prior to using the material. You as the writer set the context before even beginning to use content from a source.

Listen to the following excerpt and take note of how the first sentence clearly expresses a personal view as well as a reaction to previously used content, and then a new sentence starts with a signal phrase, followed by the source material.

While Zernike’s contention should be concerning, others argue that some 16 year olds may appear more mature than some 18 year olds, but records show that 16 year olds are still more likely to get involved in car accidents. Preusser and Leaf (2018) argued that the “problem is related to both age and experience. Young drivers lack the fully developed judgmental and decision-making skills of older people at a time when they are just beginning to acquire their driving experience” (2000, p. 36). Preusser and Leaf’s argument is logical–how can new drivers be expected to make split-second decisions when they are still learning to drive? The prudent course of action, then, is to set eighteen as the minimum age in which a driver can be issued a license.

When writing an academic essay, the writer expresses their view–in some way, shape, or form–on a topic, so it’s important for the writer’s voice to be loud and clear in the discussion. To this end, when material from research is integrated into a composition, writers need to make sure they interpret and comment on that content as a way of developing their thoughts on the topic and advancing what the essay as a whole is trying to say. When writers interact with material from sources in this way, their voice is a clear part of the conversation.

Did you notice in the previous excerpt how the writer included such commentary on the evidence presented? Listen to part of the excerpt again:

Preusser and Leaf (2000) argued that the “problem is related to both age and experience. Young drivers lack the fully developed judgmental and decision-making skills of older people at a time when they are just beginning to acquire their driving experience” (2000, p. 36). [Here comes the part to pay attention to]: Preusser and Leaf’s argument is logical–how can new drivers be expected to make split-second decisions when they are still learning to drive? The prudent course of action, then, is to set eighteen as the minimum age in which a driver can be issued a license.

The excerpt begins with a signal phrase that clearly lets readers know the source of the content, and after the material is used, the writer offers commentary on that content as a way for the writer to make his case. The commentary directly follows the content and in this case begins with “Preusser and Leaf’s argument is logical.”

It’s important to offer commentary on evidence presented or the writer risks an essay that is simply presenting information and has no other purpose–or at least no clear purpose. Even if the purpose of the essay is to inform, commentary connects the content to the point of the paragraph as well as to the larger point of the essay.

Until next week–

Kurtis Clements

Writing Resources

Stitching: signal words, concluding phrases.

For the reasons above
As you can see
As I have noted
In other words
On the whole
Without a doubt
In summation
Unquestionably
Undoubtedly
In conclusion
Summarizing
In any event
In any case

Supporting Opinions

Furthermore
In addition

Introducing Details

For example
For instance
As evidence
In support of this

Cause and Effect

For this reason
If … then
This results in
Consequently
Accordingly
As a result of
Brought about
Made possible
As might be expected
Give rise to
Was responsible for

Compare and Contrast

Compared to
In like manner
On the other hand
In the same way
Contrasting
On the contrary
As opposed to
Have in common
The same as
Whether or not
Even though
Rather than
Nevertheless
In spite of
I realize you
I understand you
Even though you
Although you
Some people
It may be that you
Your ideas to ____ deserves some merit
Let me explain
Professional Writing
Resources for Faculty
Research and Pedagogy

Recognizing Transitions or Signal Words

Transitions or signal words.

Transitions or signal words help you, the reader, follow the direction of a writer’s thought. They are like signposts on the road that guide the traveler.

Look at the following sentences:

I love drinking coffee. It keeps me awake at night.

These sentences imply that the writer loves drinking coffee because it keeps her awake at night. To add more specificity, the signal word “because” can be used. To change the relationship between the sentences, other transition words can be used. Transitions (or signal words) are words and phrases that show the connection between ideas. To show how transitions guide us, here are the same two ideas, but this time with a transition word:

I love drinking coffee even though it keeps me awake at night.

Now the writer loves coffee in spite of its keeping her awake at night. The relationship between the sentences’ ideas has changed. A transition has smoothed the way from one idea to the other. In Latin, trans means “across,” so transitions live up to their name – they carry the reader “across” from one thought to another. Common signal words show emphasis, addition, comparison or contrast, illustration, and cause and effect.

Emphasis Words

Among the most valuable signals for you to know are emphasis words , through which the writer tells you directly that a particular idea or detail is especially important. Think of such words as red flags that the author is using to make sure you pay attention to an idea. Look over the following list, which contains some typical words showing emphasis:

important to note, most of all, a significant factor, a primary concern, a key feature, the main value, especially valuable, most noteworthy, remember that, a major event, the chief outcome, the principal item, pay particular attention to, the chief factor, a vital force, above all, a central issue, a distinctive quality, especially relevant, should be noted, the most substantial issue

Read the selections that follow and circle the emphasis words. Note the example.

The safest and most effective solution to the various approaches to sex education is obviously a course of compromise. Certain sexual needs should be permitted expression; unadorned information about the physiological and psychological aspects of sex should be presented to all; and the Judeo-Christian traditions within which we live must be understood and dealt with sensibly in the framework of present-day society.

Although the resources of our world are limited, the wants of people are not. Indeed, one of the most important assumptions of economics is that the total human wants can never be satisfied. No matter how much we have, we seem to want more. As people’s income increase, so does their desire for more and better goods and services. (1 signal word)
Chronic air pollution is expensive to the American public, costing us dearly in terms of both money and health. Air pollution causes buildings and automobiles to deteriorate. Our poisoned air damages crops, livestock, roads, and metals and forces huge cleaning bills for everything from dusty draperies to soot-blackened buildings (Griffin, 1972). It is especially in terms of health, however, that pollution hurts. It is estimated that breathing the air of New York City is the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. (1 signal word)
To be happy, adolescents must be realistic about the achievements they are capable of, about the social acceptance they can expect to receive, and about the kind and amount of affection they will receive. Of the three, social acceptance is the most crucial. Well-accepted adolescents will automatically receive affection from those who accept them, and their achievements will win approval if not acclaim. (1 signal word)
In practice, a deficiency of just one nutrient, such as protein, is not generally seen. More likely, a combination of protein and calorie malnutrition will occur. Protein and calorie deficiency go hand in hand so often that public health officials have given a name to the whole spectrum of disease conditions that range between the two–protein-caloriemalnutrition (PCM). This is the world’s most widespread malnutrition problem, killing millions of children every year. (1 signal word)

Addition Words

Addition words tell you that the writer’s thought is going to continue in the same direction. He is going to add on more points or details of the same kind. Addition words are typically used to signal enumeration. Look over some addition words:

also, another, finally, first, first of all, for one thing, furthermore, in addition, last of all, likewise, moreover, next, and, second, the third reason

Read the selections that follow and circle the major addition words. Note the example.

A computer is often called a “thinking machine,” and in many ways it is just that. Computers perform difficult and timesaving mathematical computations, as well as problems in logic and reasoning. In addition , computers run other machines and answer questions. Also, they are used to guide astronauts on takeoff.

1. Despite favorable surface conditions, there were throughout the 1920’s defects in the American economy. First, some major industries did not experience the general prosperity which characterized most of the economy. Meager farm income meant that farmers lacked purchasing power to buy their share of the increasing output of goods and services. Coal, textiles, and shoes were among other industries which suffered from low profit margins. Moreover, while employment rose during the 1920¹s, the biggest gains were in the low-paid service trades rather than in those industries where earnings were high. Furthermore, the condition of American foreign trade was not as healthy as it appeared. (3 signal words)

2. Here are ways to take some of the danger out of smoking. First of all, choose a cigarette with less tar and nicotine. The difference between brands (including those with filters) can be as much as two to one, even more. See how much you can reduce your tar and nicotine intake by switching. Also, don’t smoke your cigarette all the way down. You get the most tar and nicotine from the last few puffs because the tobacco itself acts as a filter. Smoke halfway and you get only about 40 percent of the total tar and nicotine. The last half of the cigarette will give you 60 percent. Another help is to take fewer draws on each cigarette. Just reduce the number of times you puff on each cigarette and you’ll cut down on your smoking without really missing it. In addition, you should reduce your inhaling. Remember, you’re not standing on a mountain gulping in fresh air; so don’t welcome it with open lungs. Don’t inhale as deeply; take short shallow drags. Practice on a big cigar. Finally, you should smoke fewer cigarettes each day. For some people this is easy, but for others it may be the most difficult step of all. Don’t think of it as cutting down; think of it as postponing. It’s always easier to postpone a cigarette if you know you’ll be having one later. Carry your cigarettes in a different pocket; at work, keep them in a desk drawer or a locker - any place where you can’t reach for one automatically. The trick is to change your habit patterns. (5 signal words)

Comparison or Contrast Words

Comparison words signal that the author is pointing out a similarity between two subjects. They tell you that the second idea is like the first one in some way. Look over the following comparison words:

like, likewise, just, equally, in like manner, in the same way, alike, similarity, similarly, just as, as in a similar fashion

Contrast words signal a change in the direction of the writer’s thought. They tell you that the author is pointing out a difference between two subjects or statements. Look over the following contrast words:

but, however, in contrast, yet, differ, difference, variation, still, on the contrary, conversely, otherwise, on the other hand

Read the selections that follow and circle the comparison or contrast words. Note the example.

The sex of the instructor affected the extent of active student participation. In classes taught by men with roughly equal proportions of male and female students, male students were responsible for about 75% of all class discussion. Similarly , with women as instructors, female student participation rose from 25% to 42%; in contrast , male participation slipped from 75% to 58%.

1. In the half century between 1860 and 1910, some 23 million foreigners migrated to America. Just as had been the case before the Civil War, most of them came in search of better economic opportunities. But there were new forces at work in both the United States and Europe which interacted to attract ever-increasing numbers of immigrants. (2 signal words)

2. Ellen tells a friend that she saw a Bob’s TV Repair truck in her neighbor’s driveway for the fifth time in the last two weeks. Ellen is reporting only what she saw; she is relating a perception of fact. A fact is a verifiable statement - usually a statement about something that can be or has been directly observed. If, however, Ellen adds, “She’s having a terrible time getting her TV fixed,” she is making an inference - a conclusion about what has been observed. (1 signal word)

3. Sleep has always been a fascinating topic. We spend about one-third of our adult lives sleeping. Most animals sleep in a similar fashion - they collapse and relax their muscles. In contrast, birds and horses sleep upright, with their antigravity muscles at work. Most of us complain when we have not gotten several hours of sleep. Yet some people sleep for an hour or less a day and lead otherwise healthy and normal lives. (3 signal words)

Illustration Words

Illustration words tell you that an example or illustration will be given to make an idea clear. Such words are typically used in textbooks that present a number of definitions and examples of those definitions. Look over the following illustration words:

for example, to illustrate, specifically, once, for instance, such as

Read the selections below and circle the illustration words. Note the example.

Black English used to be considered simply poor English until linguists realized that the so-called errors were actually consistent alternative grammatical forms, some of which originated in African linguistic patterns. For example , the word “be” in standard English is primarily used as part of the infinitive “to be.” But in Black English, “be” can also be used to indicate a repeated action or existential state (Labov, 1972). To illustrate this , in Black English one can say “I am sick” or “I be sick.” The first means “I am sick at this present moment.” The second includes the recent past as well as the present; to express the second concept in standard English, one might say, “I have been sick for a while.”

1. One purpose for incorporating sexual themes or pictorial material in advertisements is to attract consumers’ attention to the ad. However, evidence suggests that use of such material may not always have an easily predictable or desired effect. For example, one study found nonsexual and sexual-romantic themes to have a greater influence on consumers’ attention than did nudity. (1 signal word)

2. An interesting point about role playing is the way middle-years and adolescent youngsters play the role of being their age. One eight year old boy, for instance, avidly collected baseball cards and kept track of games and team standings in sports pages in accordance with the mores of his neighborhood, even though he had never seen a baseball game or expressed the slightest interest in attending one. (1 signal word)

Cause-and-Effect Words

Cause-and-effect words signal that the author is going to describe results or effects. Look over the following cause-and-effect words:

because, therefore, so that, cause, reason, effect, thus, consequently, since, as a result, if . . . then, result in

Read the selections that follow and circle the cause-and-effect words. Note the example.

Atherosclerosis is the result of the buildup of fat, fibrin, parts of dead cells, and calcium on the inside of the arteries. No one knows what causes this disease, but a number of things can speed its development. These include smoking cigarettes and eating animal fat and cholesterol. Others include age, hypertension, diabetes, stress, heredity, and sex (males have more heart attacks).

1. “The hamburger end of the fast-food industry is facing the long-awaited problem of saturation,” says analyst Michael Culp at the brokerage firm of Bache Halsey Stuart Sheilds. “It’s increasingly difficult to open more restaurants, and it’s harder to sell more hamburgers.” Thus, to maintain their growth momentum, the industry’s big names are moving aggressively to steal each other’s customers, enlarge their menus, and spawn new fast-food concepts. (1 signal word)

2. Changes in social ideas about acceptable health result in changes in the problems of illness. Twenty years ago, coal miners and workers in cotton mills accepted cancer of the lung as part of life. In a vague way they knew longtime workers got short of breath and coughed up blood, and they wrote folk songs about brown lung disease. But as a consequence of a new awareness about occupational diseases and a social movement against cotton dust and coal dust, an accepted fact of life was transformed into an unacceptable illness. (2 signal words)

3. There are several possible reasons why retail prices are set to end on certain odd or even numbers. The practice is supposed to have started many years ago when retailers priced products so that clerks were forced to record the sale and make change. This discouraged the clerks from pocketing the money from sales. Some people believe that the practice of odd-even pricing continues today because consumers view these prices as bargains. If the price of the shirt is only $14.95, then they are able to spend “less than $15 for a shirt.” (4 signal words)

Practice in Recognizing Signal Words

Activity 1 .

Below are some of the signal words that are most often used by writers. Place each word under its proper heading below:

for example, therefore, moreover, most important, but, also, differ, alike, as a result, in addition,

for instance, just as, consequently, most significant, however, such as, similarly, especially valuable

Activity 2

Circle the main signal words in the selections that follow. The number in parentheses tells you how many signal words to look for in each case. Also write in the margin beside each signal whether it shows emphasis, addition, comparison, contrast, illustration, or cause-and-effect.

1. Many of the restless and dissatisfied sons and daughters of these middle, upper-middle, and upper class homes had never known poverty. Consequently, they could not understand their parents’ emphasis upon money, status, and work. Parents, on the other hand, could not understand how some of their children could be indifferent, even hostile, to such practical things as formal education and preparation for work. (2 signal words)

2. The greatest value of play technique is in the study of personality. Children often cannot or will not explain themselves in the first person. However, they may reveal much of their inner lives in play. The child who will not tell about his or her own fears and conflicts may readily project these feelings into dolls. Feelings of rejection, insecurity, ambivalent attitudes toward parent, repressed hatred, fears, and aggressions may all be freely revealed in play. As a result, the play technique, when properly handled, offers opportunities for understanding the child that are otherwise difficult to create. (3 signal words)

3. One of the most persistent desires of human beings has been to indulge in mood-changing and pleasure-giving practices. For instance, diverse cultures have engaged in the drinking of alcoholic beverages of all descriptions. But as with most pleasure, overindulgence can be harmful to oneself and others. Also, not everyone agrees that drinking or using other mood modifiers should be an accepted pleasure. (4 signal words)

4. Energy is used to cause chemical changes. For example, a chemical change occurs in the electroplating of metals when electrical energy is passed through a salt solution in which the metal is submerged. A chemical change also occurs when radiant energy from the sun is utilized by plants in the process of photosynthesis. Moreover, as we say, a chemical change occurs when heat causes mercuric oxide to decompose. Chemical changes are often used to produce energy rather than new substances. The heat or thrust generated during the combustion of fuels is more important than the products formed. (5 signal words)

5. Along with food production, human beings found time to develop the arts and sciences. Some hunter-gatherers, as was already pointed out, must have had considerable leisure without making any notable movement toward civilization. A difference between the hunter-gatherers and farmers that is important to note is that the former are usually nomadic whereas the latter are sedentary.

But even those pre-agricultural people who had fairly stationary living sites did not develop in civilizing ways comparable to the farmers. Agriculture probably required a far greater discipline than did any form of food collecting. Seeds had to be planted at certain seasons, some protection had to be given to the growing plants and animals, harvests had to be reaped, stored, and divided. Thus we might argue that it was neither leisure time nor a sedentary existence that produced great changes in human culture. The cause was rather the more rigorous demands associated with an agricultural way of life. Humanity was changing plants and animals to suit its needs, and living in close relation with plants and animals was changing humans’ way of life. (9 signal words)

Activity

1. Although the resources of our world are limited, the wants of people are not. Indeed, one of the most important assumptions of economics is that the total human wants can never be satisfied. No matter how much we have, we seem to want more. As people’s income increase, so does their desire for more and better goods and services. (1 signal word)

2. Chronic air pollution is expensive to the American public, costing us dearly in terms of both money and health. Air pollution causes buildings and automobiles to deteriorate. Our poisoned air damages crops, livestock, roads, and metals and forces huge cleaning bills for everything from dusty draperies to soot-blackened buildings (Griffin, 1972). It is especially in terms of health, however, that pollution hurts. It is estimated that breathing the air of New York City is the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. (1 signal word)

3. To be happy, adolescents must be realistic about the achievements they are capable of, about the social acceptance they can expect to receive, and about the kind and amount of affection they will receive. Of the three, social acceptance is the most crucial. Well-accepted adolescents will automatically receive affection from those who accept them, and their achievements will win approval if not acclaim. (1 signal word)

4. In practice, a deficiency of just one nutrient, such as protein, is not generally seen. More likely, a combination of protein and calorie malnutrition will occur. Protein and calorie deficiency go hand in hand so often that public health officials have given a name to the whole spectrum of disease conditions that range between the two–protein-caloriemalnutrition (PCM). This is the world’s most widespread malnutrition problem, killing millions of children every year. (1 signal word)

Comparison or Contrast Words

Exercises , cause-and-effect words .

Practice in Recognizing Signal Words

Below are some of the signal words that are most often used by writers. Place each word under its proper heading below.

1. Many of the restless and dissatisfied sons and daughters of these middle, upper-middle, and upper class homes had never known poverty. Consequently (cause and effect), they could not understand their parents’ emphasis upon money, status, and work. Parents, on the other hand (contrast), could not understand how some of their children could be indifferent, even hostile, to such practical things as formal education and preparation for work. (2 signal words)

2. The greatest value (emphasis) of play technique is in the study of personality. Children often cannot or will not explain themselves in the first person. However (contrast), they may reveal much of their inner lives in play. The child who will not tell about his or her own fears and conflicts may readily project these feelings into dolls. Feelings of rejection, insecurity, ambivalent attitudes toward parent, repressed hatred, fears, and aggressions may all be freely revealed in play. As a result (cause and effect), the play technique, when properly handled, offers opportunities for understanding the child that are otherwise difficult to create. (3 signal words)

3. One of the most persistent (emphasis) desires of human beings has been to indulge in mood-changing and pleasure-giving practices. For instance (example), diverse cultures have engaged in the drinking of alcoholic beverages of all descriptions. Bu (contrast)t as with most pleasure, overindulgence can be harmful to oneself and others. Also (addition), not everyone agrees that drinking or using other mood modifiers should be an accepted pleasure. (4 signal words)

4. Energy is used to cause chemical changes. For example (illustration), a chemical change occurs in the electroplating of metals when electrical energy is passed through a salt solution in which the metal is submerged. A chemical change also (addition) occurs when radiant energy from the sun is utilized by plants in the process of photosynthesis. Moreover (addition), as we say, a chemical change occurs when heat causes mercuric oxide to decompose. Chemical changes are often used to produce energy rather than (contrast) new substances. The heat or thrust generated during the combustion of fuels is more important (emphasis) than the products formed. (5 signal words)

5. Along with (addition) food production, human beings found time to develop the arts and sciences. Some hunter-gatherers, as was already pointed out, must have had considerable leisure without making any notable movement toward civilization. A difference (contrast) between the hunter-gatherers and farmers that is important to note (emphasis) is that the former are usually nomadic whereas (contrast) the latter are sedentary.

But (contrast) even those pre-agricultural people who had fairly stationary living sites did not develop in civilizing ways comparable to the farmers. Agriculture probably required a far greater discipline than (contrast) did any form of food collecting. Seeds had to be planted at certain seasons, some protection had to be given to the growing plants and animals, harvests had to be reaped, stored, and divided. Thus (cause and effect) we might argue that it was neither leisure time nor a sedentary existence that produced great changes in human culture. The cause (cause and efffect) was rather (contrast) the more rigorous demands associated with an agricultural way of life. Humanity was changing plants and animals to suit its needs, and living in close relation with plants and animals was changing humans’ way of life. (9 signal words)

Broderick, Groundwork for College Reading , Townsend Press, Inc., PA, 1990. Langan, Reading and Study Skills , McGraw-Hill Book Co., NY, 1989.

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Signal Phrases

A signal phrase, also known as an attributive tag, is a device used to smoothly integrate quotations and paraphrases into your essay. It is important to use signal phrases to clearly attribute supporting evidence to its author or authors and to avoid interrupting the flow of an essay. Signal phrases can also be used as meaningful transitions, moving your readers between your ideas and those of your sources.

Referring to the Author within a Signal Phrase

In many instances, signal phrases will contain only the last name of the author of the source text (as opposed to the author’s first and last name). For instance, APA style guidelines require no reference to the author’s first name at any point in an essay. But in MLA papers, if you are referring to an author for the first time in your essay, you should include that author’s first name as well as the author’s relevant credentials or affiliations in your signal phrase (you might also want to include the title of the source text). Once you have supplied an author’s first name and credentials, any subsequent signal phrase referencing that same author should contain the author’s last name only. For example:

Michael Pollan, Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at the University of California Berkeley, observes that “Americans today are having a national conversation about food and agriculture that would have been impossible to imagine even a few short years ago” (29).
Pollan continues, “But the national conversation unfolding around the subject of food and farming began in the 1970s” (29).

Notice how each signal phrase verb is followed by the word “that” or a comma, which is then followed by one space before the opening quotation mark.

In essays written according to MLA and APA guidelines, it is acceptable to refer to an author as “the author” as long as it is clear to whom you are referring. In APA, it is common to see references to “the researchers.”

Signal Phrase Verb Tense

In the examples above, notice how the signal phrase verbs are written in the present tense. When you are asked to write a paper that follows MLA guidelines, signal phrases should always be written in present (not past) tense. When writing a paper using APA style, signal phrase verbs should be written in past tense. For example:

Pollan (2009) observed that “Americans today are having a national conversation about food and agriculture that would have been impossible to imagine even a few short years ago” (p. 29).

Notice how APA in-text citations also differ from MLA style in that APA citations include the year of publication and the page number is preceded by a “p.”

Varying Your Verbs

You should also vary your signal phrase verbs (rather than simply using “states” throughout your entire essay) to maintain your readers’ interest and to indicate the author’s intended use of the excerpted material. See below for examples of strong signal phrase verbs.

Types of Signal Phrases

While providing the author’s credentials and the title of the source are the most common types of signal phrases, there are others we should be aware of. In the examples below, the information relevant to the type of signal phrase is underlined.

Type: Author’s credentials are indicated.

Example: Grace Chapmen, Curator of Human Health & Evolutionary Medicine at the Springfield Natural History Museum, explains…

Type: Author’s lack of credentials is indicated.

Example: Matthew Spencer, whose background is in marriage counseling, not foreign policy, claims…

Type: Author’s social or political stance, if necessary to the content, is explained.

Example: Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Roland Hayes, a prominent civil rights activist, preaches…

Ralph Spencer, who has ties to the White Nationalist movement, denies…

Type: Publisher of the source is identified.

Example: According to a recent CNN poll…

Type: Title of the Source is included.

Example : In “Understanding Human Behavior,” Riley argues …

Purpose: Inform the reader where the cited passage is being pulled from.

Type: Information that establishes context is presented.

Example: In a speech presented during a Free Speech rally, Elaine Wallace encourages …

Purpose: Presenting the context in which the original information was presented can help the audience understand the author’s purpose more clearly.

MLA Signal Phrase Verbs

apa signal phrase verbs.

Attributions

A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing by Melanie Gagich & Emilie Zickel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Transition Words & Phrases | List & Examples

Transition Words & Phrases | List & Examples

Published on May 29, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on August 23, 2023.

Transition words and phrases (also called linking words, connecting words, or transitional words) are used to link together different ideas in your text. They help the reader to follow your arguments by expressing the relationships between different sentences or parts of a sentence.

The proposed solution to the problem did not work. Therefore , we attempted a second solution. However , this solution was also unsuccessful.

For clear writing, it’s essential to understand the meaning of transition words and use them correctly.

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When and how to use transition words, types and examples of transition words, common mistakes with transition words, other interesting articles.

Transition words commonly appear at the start of a new sentence or clause (followed by a comma ), serving to express how this clause relates to the previous one.

Transition words can also appear in the middle of a clause. It’s important to place them correctly to convey the meaning you intend.

Example text with and without transition words

The text below describes all the events it needs to, but it does not use any transition words to connect them. Because of this, it’s not clear exactly how these different events are related or what point the author is making by telling us about them.

If we add some transition words at appropriate moments, the text reads more smoothly and the relationship among the events described becomes clearer.

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Consequently , France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. The Soviet Union initially worked with Germany in order to partition Poland. However , Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

Don’t overuse transition words

While transition words are essential to clear writing, it’s possible to use too many of them. Consider the following example, in which the overuse of linking words slows down the text and makes it feel repetitive.

In this case the best way to fix the problem is to simplify the text so that fewer linking words are needed.

The key to using transition words effectively is striking the right balance. It is difficult to follow the logic of a text with no transition words, but a text where every sentence begins with a transition word can feel over-explained.

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There are four main types of transition word: additive, adversative, causal, and sequential. Within each category, words are divided into several more specific functions.

Remember that transition words with similar meanings are not necessarily interchangeable. It’s important to understand the meaning of all the transition words you use. If unsure, consult a dictionary to find the precise definition.

Additive transition words

Additive transition words introduce new information or examples. They can be used to expand upon, compare with, or clarify the preceding text.

Adversative transition words

Adversative transition words always signal a contrast of some kind. They can be used to introduce information that disagrees or contrasts with the preceding text.

Causal transition words

Causal transition words are used to describe cause and effect. They can be used to express purpose, consequence, and condition.

Sequential transition words

Sequential transition words indicate a sequence, whether it’s the order in which events occurred chronologically or the order you’re presenting them in your text. They can be used for signposting in academic texts.

Transition words are often used incorrectly. Make sure you understand the proper usage of transition words and phrases, and remember that words with similar meanings don’t necessarily work the same way grammatically.

Misused transition words can make your writing unclear or illogical. Your audience will be easily lost if you misrepresent the connections between your sentences and ideas.

Confused use of therefore

“Therefore” and similar cause-and-effect words are used to state that something is the result of, or follows logically from, the previous. Make sure not to use these words in a way that implies illogical connections.

We asked participants to rate their satisfaction with their work from 1 to 10. Therefore , the average satisfaction among participants was 7.5.

The use of “therefore” in this example is illogical: it suggests that the result of 7.5 follows logically from the question being asked, when in fact many other results were possible. To fix this, we simply remove the word “therefore.”

We asked participants to rate their satisfaction with their work from 1 to 10. The average satisfaction among participants was 7.5.

Starting a sentence with also , and , or so

While the words “also,” “and,” and “so” are used in academic writing, they are considered too informal when used at the start of a sentence.

Also , a second round of testing was carried out.

To fix this issue, we can either move the transition word to a different point in the sentence or use a more formal alternative.

A second round of testing was also carried out.
Additionally , a second round of testing was carried out.

Transition words creating sentence fragments

Words like “although” and “because” are called subordinating conjunctions . This means that they introduce clauses which cannot stand on their own. A clause introduced by one of these words should always follow or be followed by another clause in the same sentence.

The second sentence in this example is a fragment, because it consists only of the “although” clause.

Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed. Although other researchers disagree.

We can fix this in two different ways. One option is to combine the two sentences into one using a comma. The other option is to use a different transition word that does not create this problem, like “however.”

Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed, although other researchers disagree.
Smith (2015) argues that the period should be reassessed. However , other researchers disagree.

And vs. as well as

Students often use the phrase “ as well as ” in place of “and,” but its usage is slightly different. Using “and” suggests that the things you’re listing are of equal importance, while “as well as” introduces additional information that is less important.

Chapter 1 discusses some background information on Woolf, as well as presenting my analysis of To the Lighthouse .

In this example, the analysis is more important than the background information. To fix this mistake, we can use “and,” or we can change the order of the sentence so that the most important information comes first. Note that we add a comma before “as well as” but not before “and.”

Chapter 1 discusses some background information on Woolf and presents my analysis of To the Lighthouse .
Chapter 1 presents my analysis of To the Lighthouse , as well as discussing some background information on Woolf.

Note that in fixed phrases like “both x and y ,” you must use “and,” not “as well as.”

Both my results as well as my interpretations are presented below.
Both my results and my interpretations are presented below.

Use of and/or

The combination of transition words “and/or” should generally be avoided in academic writing. It makes your text look messy and is usually unnecessary to your meaning.

First consider whether you really do mean “and/or” and not just “and” or “or.” If you are certain that you need both, it’s best to separate them to make your meaning as clear as possible.

Participants were asked whether they used the bus and/or the train.
Participants were asked whether they used the bus, the train, or both.

Archaic transition words

Words like “hereby,” “therewith,” and most others formed by the combination of “here,” “there,” or “where” with a preposition are typically avoided in modern academic writing. Using them makes your writing feel old-fashioned and strained and can sometimes obscure your meaning.

Poverty is best understood as a disease. Hereby , we not only see that it is hereditary, but acknowledge its devastating effects on a person’s health.

These words should usually be replaced with a more explicit phrasing expressing how the current statement relates to the preceding one.

Poverty is best understood as a disease. Understanding it as such , we not only see that it is hereditary, but also acknowledge its devastating effects on a person’s health.

Using a paraphrasing tool for clear writing

With the use of certain tools, you can make your writing clear. One of these tools is a paraphrasing tool . One thing the tool does is help your sentences make more sense. It has different modes where it checks how your text can be improved. For example, automatically adding transition words where needed.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or writing rules make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Transitions and Sequencing Using Signal Words

Transitions

We want our writing to flow naturally. We want our readers to feel that we know where we are headed and we are in control of our writing. This means they can just sit back and enjoy the ride!

We don’t want our readers to feel that we are jumping all over the place. As well, we don’t want our readers to feel that they are reading a list of ideas written by a robot ! We want to communicate with our readers in a way that sounds natural to them.

We do this is by using transitions and sequencing to move our reader from one idea to another. We also use these “signal words” to demonstrate to our reader how all our ideas connect together. Our reader will be more likely to understand and enjoy what we have written if we show them the road signs along our path of ideas .

Here are 3 Ways to Think of Transitions:

1. Building bridges between ideas and events

2. Connecting ideas and events

3. Showing the order of ideas and events

We Transition from Sentence-to-Sentence and from Paragraph-to-Paragraph

We use transitions and sequencing to move from sentence to sentence, and to move from paragraph to paragraph. We use transitions and sequencing as an artistic tool. Not every sentence must transition to another sentence. In fact, you wouldn’t want to do this. We want to “sprinkle in” these transitional signal words in an artistic and creative way. The way we transition is the true art of writing.

Compared to transitioning sentences, it is a little more common to transition every paragraph into another paragraph. Better though, is to show some artistic creativity! If the ways you use transitions are always the same, people see the pattern and it becomes too predictable. Predictable is not creative.

Transitions and the Art of Writing

When it comes to the “art of writing” there is little more important than the way you transition throughout your writing. You want to lead and guide your reader along a path, but you don’t want them to be overly aware that they are being led and guided. You want them to be so engaged in what you have written that they can’t see or won’t think about your transitions.

In music transitions are the sign of a true master! Have you ever heard a song that starts off slow and quiet, and later in the song it sounds fast and loud? Sometimes you wonder if it’s even the same song! How did they get there? It’s all in the transitions!

Here Are Some Transitions That We Will Want to Signal Our Reader About:

1. That we are adding new information and continuing in the same direction

2. That we are changing directions or we are going to compare and contrast events or ideas

3. That we are going to show the cause and effect of events or ideas

4. That the order/sequence/time of events and ideas is important

5. That we are going to emphasize, repeat, or give examples of events or ideas

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Using Signal Words and signal phrases in an Essay

Jan 26, 2022

Jan 26, 2022 | Blog

Writing is a limitless form of expression and an attempt to express thoughts, ideas, or emotions.

Writers use words as the building blocks for their message, which can be used in many different ways.

Words can combine in many different ways, resulting in various interpretations of what you are trying to say.

Signal words are like invisible stitches that connect two halves of a sentence.

Signal phrases serve as guides ensuring only certain things will be communicated when using them.

Signal words are also known as transitions.

Signal words are just a transition between two sentences; they also help the reader understand how one sentence relates to another.

What are signal words?

What is the meaning of signal words? and what is the use of signal words?

Signal words are words and phrases that show a connection between ideas?

They are also called sentence superheroes, transitional words .

Like traffic signs or accident prevention signs are important to drivers to warn of danger ahead, signal words are essential in writing.

One will know the transitions and the relationship between ideas when signal words are used in writing .

It will be easy for students to build new ideas framework by reflecting on what they have read and predicting the next outcome.

The reader can make predictions of what will follow when signal lights are used correctly in writing.

When a signal word is not used, the possibility of getting confused when reading partial sentences is very high.

It is essential to ensure clarity at the beginning of your essay as you write for the reader to know where you are going are with your argument.

This way, the reader will know your intentions and for clear communication.

Any person reading your work will know where you are coming from with your argument and where you are going.

Types of Signal Words

There are different categories of signal words, which are highlighted below.

Introduction Signals

When writing your introduction, it is crucial to ensure you have clear phrases to indicate that you are starting the essay.

There are specific assets that are used in an introduction that shows specific sentences belong in this category.

Examples of an introductory signal sentence include; in this essay, I will analyze/ explore/discuss…

This way, the reader knows exactly what to expect in your work.

Time and Order Signals

The structure of your essay tells much about your planning.

They Indicate when something happened about something else.

To signal the reader concerning time and order, use the phrases

Immediately

Emphasis Signal Words

The most important ideas in any given article are often the ones that pertain to its main point.

Some supporting points may not be as pertinent, but they serve an integral purpose by reinforcing which side of a debate is stronger or more persuasive.

But when it comes down to what really matters about the piece you’re reading – whether for pleasure or academic purposes – usually those key concepts will be near-ubiquitous

If something has been mentioned constantly throughout your text (or even just once), the chances are good that this idea was chosen because it’s absolutely pivotal!

For instance,

The most important weapon in fighting corruption in third-world countries is political will.

The emphasis words highlighted set apart political will as the main weapon among many others.

Some typical words showing emphasis include the following:

Important to note, most of all, a significant factor, a primary concern, a key feature, the main value, precious, most noteworthy, remember that, a major event, the chief outcome, the principal item, pay particular attention to, the chief factor, a vital force, above all, a central issue, a distinctive quality, especially relevant, should be noted, the most substantial issue

Compare and Contrast Signals Words

Contrast signal word

Some signals will indicate that you have a different opinion concerning your argument, and you should highlight them.

To show you have an alternative viewpoint, contrast words use the following sentences or phrases:

Even though, Conversely, Nevertheless, In contrast, On the other hand, Instead, Despite, but yet, differ, difference, variation, still, on the contrary, otherwise.

Comparison Signals

They show the relationship or similarities between ideas

The second idea, in some way, looks like the first one.

What the writer wants to achieve is to point out the similarities between the subjects.

Examples include:

In like manner, Likewise, Similarly, Just as, Just like, like, likewise, equally, in the same way, alike, as in a similar fashion.

Importance of compare and contrast signal words

Compare and contrast signal words have the following importance in an essay

When writing compare and contrast essays , you are trying to examine subject matters.

You can either compare them, contrast them or do both.

The essence of comparing and contrasting essays is to show the differences and similarities between the two subject matters.

When writing an essay, you must highlight the subjects you compare and contrast and highlight what is learned.

One of the reasons you are comparing and contrasting is to give the reader additional information that is constructive.

It would help if you used comparison and contrast phrases to signal to the reader how to analyze the subject matter.

Additions Signals

As you write your essay, you may want to build up or continue your arguments in the same direction.

You will then need to add more details or points of the same kind.

Addition signals show the thought process of the writer in presenting more than one idea.

Addition words tell you that the writer is going to continue in a similar direction.

He will add more details and points of the same kind. Addition words are typically used for enumeration.

Useful phrases in this category include:

Apart from, In addition to, Besides, First of all, Furthermore, Another, Moreover, second, Also, Finally, First, For one thing, Last of all, Likewise, Next, And, Second, The third reason

Illustration signals

Illustration words use illustrations to make ideas clearer.

They’re typically found in textbooks that present several definitions and examples for those concepts to the students.

But they don’t have to be just for books!

They show development or clarification of an Idea.

Examples of illustration words include;

For example, Specifically, Including, Such as, For instance, illustrate, once

Explanation, clarifying, or emphasizing words signal

When you want to give more explanations concerning an argument.

They also show a particular idea is especially is important.

Writers use emphasis words to make the reader pay attention to an idea.

They are also used to expand a point.

Use the following phrases.

In other words
To clarify this
This is to say
As a matter of fact

Location Signal Words

They show where something is located

Signal Words for Cause and Effect

The cause and effect signal words help to determine the relationship between various phenomena.

A cause-and-effect essay shows what the writer can see as the main course of an event and effect.

When writing a cause-and-effect essay , you can begin with the effect and later give more information about the cause or vice versa.

Using the right causative phrases can help you signal to the reader to understand the connection of different elements.

Cause and effect signals show what happened and why something happened.

Listed are examples of cause and effect signal words

Cause Signal Words and Phrases

To be a result of
To result from
The sequence of
As a consequence of
The effect of

Effect Signal Words and Phrases

As a result
As a consequence
To result in
The cause of
The reason for
To affect on

Conclusion or summary signals

Conclusion signals the reader that you are wrapping up your work or is concluding a thought.

Therefore, it would be best to make this as clear as possible as you are winding up your arguments.

Summarizing or concluding words

Signal words examples

To conclude
On the whole

Essay Writing Tips – Using ‘signal word’ in essays

As you write essays , the words that signal where your argument is going next are essential.

For example: “This essay will now explore what we can learn from psychology about why people got upset when they saw their favorite characters die.”

Or, “I’ll start by exploring Arnold’s theory of horror” implies a discussion in which Arnold’s ideas and thoughts on horror movies as well as how these affect our society today will be introduced to readers before discussing other theories or works with different points-of-view.

To get an idea for some signaling words, look at examples on the EssayFreelanceWriters website.

Essay Introduction Signals

As you write essays, the words that signal where your argument is going next are essential.

Essay writing examples – time and order

In the first place, we will begin by discussing the crucial points of your essay.

Previously, it would help if you mentioned what these thoughts are being used to avoid confusion later on in the paper.

To conclude this section, here is a quick recap:

In order words and phrases such as “firstly,” “lastly,” or otherwise mentioned before that designate where one thought ends and another begins within an essay.

To sum up, their purposes use terms like ‘for example,’ ‘e.g.’ etc.; finally, explain how they’re linked with each other at large.

Writing Tips – Contrasts

You might use words like “however, “despite this,” or even “on the other hand.”

To show disagreement with an idea in your essay, try to use of the word such as “although.”

The best way to expand on your argument is by using phrases such as, that’s to say, and one can put it another way, which clarifies something.

Other words are also a great option!

Conclusion signals

What I have to say is finally coming to an end.

It’s been a long and bumpy ride, but it was worth the journey because here we are after my argument that this essay has shown.

In summary, after all that work you put into reading what I had to say about XYZ’s topic (just kidding), take note of these critical points.

Did you know that the way you signal your ideas in an essay can help you earn higher grades?

There are many ways to put signals into essays, but they all have one thing in common.

They make it easier for readers to follow along.

Have you found a good website with more advice on signaling words, or is there something else we should discuss below?

Frequently Asked Questions

Signal words can be defined as words that show the connection between ideas.

They are also referred to as sentence superheroes, sentence connectors, or signposts.

These words show the writer’s intention and the direction they give the reader to slow with the idea.

Examples of signal words also include, in contrast, for example, however, as also, and as a result.

What are the six types of signal words?

Illustration
Cause and effect

What are the signal words for compare and contrast ?

The same as
In the same way
In contrast
on the contrary
Differently
On the other hand
Even though

What are examples of signal phrases?

A Signal phrase gives a better understanding of a sentence.

The reader can identify and know the flow of your work

Signal phrases Suggest, imply, point out, respond, comment, declare, Claim, argue and

Examples of the phrases include

As a result of

The moment you understand how to signal in essay writing, you will write a good master’s dissertation in the future.

The more one is exposed to signal words in speech and writing , the better you will recognize and use them easily.

If you need to learn concerning signals in essay writing, consider reaching out to us through our websites.

With a passion for helping students navigate their educational journey, I strive to create informative and relatable blog content. Whether it’s tackling exam stress, offering career guidance, or sharing effective study techniques

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40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine and engineering .

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Signal and Lead-in Phrases

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In most citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago style, you can add variety to your research writing by not always using the same sentence structure to introduce quotations, paraphrases, or pieces of information borrowed from different sources. It is relatively simple to use a wide variety of different expressions to introduce both direct and indirect citations. These expressions, which usually occur in the parts of sentences that come just before quotes and paraphrases, are called signal phrases (or, in some cases, lead-in phrases ).

Often, signal phrases can be distinguished by the presence of a verb like "indicate" or "argue" that references what the author is doing in the original source. However, a few select signal phrases contain no verbs (e.g., "According to [author],").

In the examples below, the author being cited is Jane Doe. The examples in the first section are adapted to APA, which recommends past-tense verbs in signal phrases. For MLA (as well as Chicago style), the same verbs can also be used in the present tense instead of the past tense, as the second section below shows.

Be sure each signal phrase verb matches your intention for the in-text citation. Read the whole sentence after you finish to ensure that the signal phrase grammatically coheres with any content that follows the quote or paraphrase.

Expressing Disagreement with a Signal Phrase

Of course, some quotes and paraphrases express disagreement or negative opinions. In these cases, be sure that any verbs in the signal phrase match the nature of the quote or paraphrase. See the examples below.

Doe rejected the claim that nature is more important than nurture.

Doe denied the claim that nature is more important than nurture.

Doe refutes the claim that nature is more important than nurture.

Doe disputes the claim that nature is more important than nurture.

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Students Are Likely Writing Millions of Papers With AI

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Students have submitted more than 22 million papers that may have used generative AI in the past year, new data released by plagiarism detection company Turnitin shows.

A year ago, Turnitin rolled out an AI writing detection tool that was trained on its trove of papers written by students as well as other AI-generated texts. Since then, more than 200 million papers have been reviewed by the detector, predominantly written by high school and college students. Turnitin found that 11 percent may contain AI-written language in 20 percent of its content, with 3 percent of the total papers reviewed getting flagged for having 80 percent or more AI writing. (Turnitin is owned by Advance, which also owns Condé Nast, publisher of WIRED.) Turnitin says its detector has a false positive rate of less than 1 percent when analyzing full documents.

ChatGPT’s launch was met with knee-jerk fears that the English class essay would die . The chatbot can synthesize information and distill it near-instantly—but that doesn’t mean it always gets it right. Generative AI has been known to hallucinate , creating its own facts and citing academic references that don’t actually exist. Generative AI chatbots have also been caught spitting out biased text on gender and race . Despite those flaws, students have used chatbots for research, organizing ideas, and as a ghostwriter . Traces of chatbots have even been found in peer-reviewed, published academic writing .

Teachers understandably want to hold students accountable for using generative AI without permission or disclosure. But that requires a reliable way to prove AI was used in a given assignment. Instructors have tried at times to find their own solutions to detecting AI in writing, using messy, untested methods to enforce rules , and distressing students. Further complicating the issue, some teachers are even using generative AI in their grading processes.

Detecting the use of gen AI is tricky. It’s not as easy as flagging plagiarism, because generated text is still original text. Plus, there’s nuance to how students use gen AI; some may ask chatbots to write their papers for them in large chunks or in full, while others may use the tools as an aid or a brainstorm partner.

Students also aren't tempted by only ChatGPT and similar large language models. So-called word spinners are another type of AI software that rewrites text, and may make it less obvious to a teacher that work was plagiarized or generated by AI. Turnitin’s AI detector has also been updated to detect word spinners, says Annie Chechitelli, the company’s chief product officer. It can also flag work that was rewritten by services like spell checker Grammarly, which now has its own generative AI tool . As familiar software increasingly adds generative AI components, what students can and can’t use becomes more muddled.

Detection tools themselves have a risk of bias. English language learners may be more likely to set them off; a 2023 study found a 61.3 percent false positive rate when evaluating Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exams with seven different AI detectors. The study did not examine Turnitin’s version. The company says it has trained its detector on writing from English language learners as well as native English speakers. A study published in October found that Turnitin was among the most accurate of 16 AI language detectors in a test that had the tool examine undergraduate papers and AI-generated papers.

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Schools that use Turnitin had access to the AI detection software for a free pilot period, which ended at the start of this year. Chechitelli says a majority of the service’s clients have opted to purchase the AI detection. But the risks of false positives and bias against English learners have led some universities to ditch the tools for now. Montclair State University in New Jersey announced in November that it would pause use of Turnitin’s AI detector. Vanderbilt University and Northwestern University did the same last summer.

“This is hard. I understand why people want a tool,” says Emily Isaacs, executive director of the Office of Faculty Excellence at Montclair State. But Isaacs says the university is concerned about potentially biased results from AI detectors, as well as the fact that the tools can’t provide confirmation the way they can with plagiarism. Plus, Montclair State doesn’t want to put a blanket ban on AI, which will have some place in academia. With time and more trust in the tools, the policies could change. “It’s not a forever decision, it’s a now decision,” Isaacs says.

Chechitelli says the Turnitin tool shouldn’t be the only consideration in passing or failing a student. Instead, it’s a chance for teachers to start conversations with students that touch on all of the nuance in using generative AI. “People don’t really know where that line should be,” she says.

Properly Write Your Degree

The correct way to communicate your degree to employers and others is by using the following formats:

Degree - This is the academic degree you are receiving. Your major is in addition to the degree; it can be added to the phrase or written separately. Include the full name of your degree, major(s), minor(s), emphases, and certificates on your resume.

Double Majors - You will not be receiving two bachelor's degrees if you double major. Your primary major determines the degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). If you're not fully sure which of your majors is primary, check CheckMarq or call the registrar's office.

Example: Primary Major: Psychology ; Secondary Major: Marketing

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology & Marketing

Primary Major: Marketing ; Secondary Major: Psychology

Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing & Psychology

In a letter, you may shorten your degree by writing it this way:

In May 20XX, I will graduate with my Bachelor's degree in International Affairs.
In December 20XX, I will graduate with my Master's degree in Counseling Education.

Not sure which degree you are graduating with? Here is a list of Undergraduate Majors and corresponding degrees:

College of Arts & Sciences
College of Business Administration
College of Communication
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Health Sciences
College of Nursing

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Major/Career Exploration
Internship/Job Search
Graduate/Professional School
Year of Service
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8 Sensational Signal Words For Essay And How To Use Them
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What Are Signal Words
Text Structure Signal Words
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What are signal words for cause and effect. 8 Sensational Signal Words

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Signal Words: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Texts
Signal words used in a text can help readers understand the relationships between ideas and the structure of the text. Some signal words commonly used in a text include: Introduction: first, second, third, in conclusion, to summarize. Comparison and Contrast: similarly, likewise, on the other hand, in contrast, although, however.
The Writing Center
Signal phrases usually include the author's name but can also include the author's job title or background ("reporter for Washington Post," "researcher," "senator," "scholar," and so on) and/or the title of the source. Signal phrases usually come at the beginning of a sentence before the source material, but they can also ...
Signal Phrases
Signal phrases and their functions; Function Example sentence Signal words and phrases; Propositional: The position is arguable rather than definitive, but the author isn't necessarily responding to an existing debate. The historian Oswald Spengler (1918) proposed that all cultures are superorganisms with a predictable lifespan. assumes, believes, claims, concludes, declares, emphasizes ...
PDF Signal Words
Signal Words Signal words are transitional words or phrases that are used to connect ideas, show the relationship ... For more detailed help or if you have questions, visit the Writing Center located in the Lewis University Library, or call 815-836-5427. Resources Consulted: Motlow State Community College, Clark College, and LINCS. Author:
Transitions
explaining or elaborating. Transitions can signal to readers that you are going to expand on a point that you have just made or explain something further. Transitional words that signal explanation or elaboration include in other words, for example, for instance, in particular, that is, to illustrate, moreover. drawing conclusions.
Guide to Transition Signals in Writing
Transition signals act like bridges between parts of your writing. They link your sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that they flow and there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas. Transition signals also act like signposts making it easier for the reader to follow your ideas. They help carry over a thought from one sentence to ...
Signal Phrases and Transitions
A signal phrase, also known as an attributive tag, is a device used to smoothly integrate quotations and paraphrases into your essay. It is important to use signal phrases to clearly attribute supporting evidence to an author and to avoid interrupting the flow of an essay. Signal phrases can also be used as meaningful transitions, moving your ...
11.4 Signal Phrases
11.4 Signal Phrases. John Lanning and Amanda Lloyd. A signal phrase, also known as an attributive tag, is a device used to smoothly integrate quotations and paraphrases into your essay. It is important to use signal phrases to clearly attribute supporting evidence to its author or authors and to avoid interrupting the flow of an essay.
Transitions & Signal Words
We use transitions in writing to connect ideas and signal to readers that we are moving through our discussion. Transitions help writers organize their papers and help readers understand how ideas and parts of the paper fit together. These transitions can occur Between Paragraphs and Between Sentences.
11.3 Glance at Genre: Reasoning Strategies and Signal Words
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PDF Signal Words Accessible
Signal Words. In academic writing, transition (signal) words guide the reader between evidence and our own ideas. These words help to introduce a quotation or paraphrase. Says - introduces information. Comments Discloses Discusses Divulges Explains Informs Mentions Notes Remarks Reports States Specifies Writes. Shows - introduces evidence.
Signal Phrases
A signal phrase is a natural part of an APA Style narrative in-text citation as it attributes information to a particular source like this: Clements (date of publication in parentheses) explained signal phrases in a recent fabulous podcast. Common signal phrases include such phrasing as According to X, As noted by X, As X argued, stated ...
Stitching: Signal Words
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Recognizing Transitions or Signal Words
Transitions or signal words help you, the reader, follow the direction of a writer's thought. They are like signposts on the road that guide the traveler. Look at the following sentences: I love drinking coffee. It keeps me awake at night. These sentences imply that the writer loves drinking coffee because it keeps her awake at night.
PDF Grammar Signal Words
Signal words are specific words that you can use to transition between the different ideas in your paper clearly and organically. moreover and then in addition together with further likewise equally important along with furthermore also in conjunction with plus besides too over and above one/another ...
Signal Phrases
A signal phrase, also known as an attributive tag, is a device used to smoothly integrate quotations and paraphrases into your essay. It is important to use signal phrases to clearly attribute supporting evidence to its author or authors and to avoid interrupting the flow of an essay. Signal phrases can also be used as meaningful transitions ...
Transition Words & Phrases
Misused transition words can make your writing unclear or illogical. Your audience will be easily lost if you misrepresent the connections between your sentences and ideas. Confused use of therefore "Therefore" and similar cause-and-effect words are used to state that something is the result of, or follows logically from, the previous.
Transitions and Sequencing Using Signal Words
1. That we are adding new information and continuing in the same direction. 2. That we are changing directions or we are going to compare and contrast events or ideas. 3. That we are going to show the cause and effect of events or ideas. 4. That the order/sequence/time of events and ideas is important. 5.
92 Essay Transition Words to Know, With Examples
Abruptly switching topics in essays can be jarring; however, transition words can smooth the change for the convenience of the reader.Moreover, you can use essay transition words to start a paragraph, sentence, or clause more naturally.Additionally, essay transition words can connect new information to the previous statement so you don't have to say everything at once.
8 Sensational Signal Words For Essay And How To Use Them
The moment you understand how to signal in essay writing, you will write a good master's dissertation in the future. The more one is exposed to signal words in speech and writing, the better you will recognize and use them easily. If you need to learn concerning signals in essay writing, consider reaching out to us through our websites.
40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays
4. That is to say. Usage: "That is" and "that is to say" can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: "Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.". 5. To that end. Usage: Use "to that end" or "to this end" in a similar way to "in order to" or "so".
Signal and Lead-in Phrases
These expressions, which usually occur in the parts of sentences that come just before quotes and paraphrases, are called signal phrases (or, in some cases, lead-in phrases ). Often, signal phrases can be distinguished by the presence of a verb like "indicate" or "argue" that references what the author is doing in the original source.
Investigating the effects of signal words on the readability of writing
The idea that reading model essays facilitates better writing is generally accepted in second language writing literature. As such, anthologies of model essays are often selected for inclusion in writing centre self-access library shelves. ... writing centre staff) and the publishing industry include signal words as part of a hybrid ...
Students Are Likely Writing Millions of Papers With AI
A year ago, Turnitin rolled out an AI writing detection tool that was trained on its trove of papers written by students as well as other AI-generated texts. Since then, more than 200 million ...
Properly Write Your Degree
The correct way to communicate your degree to employers and others is by using the following formats: Degree - This is the academic degree you are receiving. Your major is in addition to the degree; it can be added to the phrase or written separately. Include the full name of your degree, major (s), minor (s), emphases, and certificates on your ...

Signal Words: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Texts

Understanding Signal Words

List of Signal Words

Using Signal Words Effectively

Common Mistakes When Using Signal Words

Signal Words and English Learning Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Related posts:

Sentence pair #2: Effective Transition

Transition Signals in Writing

Sample text

To indicate sequence or to logically order ideas

To refer to a specific incident or example

To provide emphasis or indicate importance

To indicate time

To compare and/ or contrast

To indicate result or cause and effect

To introduce a similar idea

To introduce an opposite idea, to show exception or concession

To give an example

To identify or clarify

To summarise or conclude

87 Signal Phrases and Transitions

Referring to the Author within a Signal Phrase

Signal Phrase Verb Tense

Varying Your Verbs

Types of Signal Phrases

MLA Signal Phrase Verbs

Transitional Words and Phrases for University Writing

Share This Book

11.4 Signal Phrases

Referring to the Author within a Signal Phrase

Signal Phrase Verb Tense

Varying Your Verbs

Types of Signal Phrases

MLA Signal Phrase Verbs

Feedback/Errata

Writing Center

Between Paragraphs

Between Sentences

Common Transition Words and Phrases:

11.3 Glance at Genre: Reasoning Strategies and Signal Words

Recognizing Purpose

Recognizing Audience

Recognizing Points

Structuring Your Reasoning Strategies

Integrating Evidence from Appropriate Sources

Cause and Effect

Classification and Division

Comparison and Contrast

Problem and Solution

Signal Words and Phrases

Frequently Used Reasoning Strategies Terms

Signal Phrases

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Writing Resources

Supporting Opinions

Introducing Details

Cause and Effect

Compare and Contrast

Recognizing Transitions or Signal Words

Emphasis Words

Addition Words

Comparison or Contrast Words

Illustration Words

Cause-and-Effect Words

Practice in Recognizing Signal Words

Activity 2

Activity

Comparison or Contrast Words

Practice in Recognizing Signal Words

Signal Phrases

Referring to the Author within a Signal Phrase

Signal Phrase Verb Tense

Varying Your Verbs

Types of Signal Phrases

Type: Author’s credentials are indicated.

Type: Author’s lack of credentials is indicated.

Type: Author’s social or political stance, if necessary to the content, is explained.