Linking & Transition Words + Concise Writing Guide

Linking & Transition Words + Concise Writing Guide – Academic Skills 2025

All academic assignments should be written using formal and precise language. You’re not just expected to answer a question — you're expected to demonstrate understanding, logical structure, and clear flow of ideas.

 

This guide will help you improve:

1. Structure and flow with linking and transition words

2. Word count and style using conciseness techniques

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 Linking / Transition Words – Why They Matter

Transition words and phrases join ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. They:

• Strengthen the direction and flow of arguments

• Indicate cause, contrast, emphasis, or sequence

• Reduce repetition and improve clarity

📌 When used at the start of a sentence, transition words are followed by a comma.

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 Categories of Linking / Transition Words

 Additional Ideas

• additionally, also, moreover, furthermore, again, further, besides, too, similarly, indeed

 Alternatives

• whereas, conversely, in comparison, by contrast, alternatively, although, instead

 Analyzing Results / Cause and Effect

• therefore, as a result of, consequently, it follows that, hence, this suggests that, owing to x

 Emphasis

• however, nonetheless, despite x, in spite of x, even if x is true, after all

 Examples

• for example, for instance, namely, such as, particularly, notably, including

 Rephrasing

• in other terms, rather, better, in contrast

 Sequencing

• firstly, secondly, next, then, finally, subsequently, eventually, in addition

 Summary / Conclusion

• in conclusion, to summarise, overall, therefore, thus, altogether, on the whole

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 Linking Words: Coordinating Conjunctions (Within Sentences)

• for – connects a reason to a result

• and – connects similar ideas

• nor – connects two negative ideas

• but – connects contrasting ideas

• or – connects equal choices

• yet – introduces contrast

• so – introduces a result

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 Conciseness: Reduce Wordiness, Say More with Less

Many wordy phrases in essays can be replaced with stronger single words. Use Microsoft Word’s “Conciseness” tool in Editor (Fn + F7) or apply the manual list below.

Wordy Phrase	Replace With
employed the use of	used
basic fundamentals	fundamentals
alternative choices	alternatives
in as few words as possible	concisely
look into	investigate
put on	gained
turned down	rejected
got better	improved
hit and miss	erratic
in spite of	although

 Aim for precision: choose words that express exactly what you mean.

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 Final Tip

Strong writing isn’t about sounding complex. It’s about being clear, accurate, and logical.
Use transitions to guide the reader, and reduce wordiness to make every word count.

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 Related Guides:

• Essay Transitions & Linking Words

• Better Words for Important

• Essay Conclusions Guide

Master the use of linking words and reduce wordiness in essays. This 2025 academic guide helps students improve flow, structure, and conciseness.