Easy Words to Use as Sentence Starters to Write

Better Essays
Updated on October 23, 2015

How to Write Better Sentences Now

Can you quickly and easily improve your writing? Yes. For over 20 years, I've been teaching
students how to improve their writing, lessons I share with you here. Every time my students take
these easy tips and apply them, their writing gets dramatically better. Why? Three reasons:

These tips and transition words help you resist the old habit of simple subject-verb
sentence structure and develop richer and more nuanced ideas.

By adding these transition words to your sentences, you link your ideas more effectively.

These transition words make your writing sound more professional and less like spoken
language.

Using Transition Words to Start Sentences

The most important tip for improving your writing quickly is to follow one rule:
Tip #1: Start every sentence in a paragraph with a different word. How? Here is my step-bystep guide:

Use the transition list as you write: Think about how the sentences in your paragraph are
related to one another. If you are comparing and contrasting two ideas, then use the
"Showing Contrast" transition words (see list below). Are you writing about steps in a
process? Then use the "Adding to an Idea" transition words below. When writing about
something that happened, use the "Sequence/Time" transitions I've provided.

Using the transition list while you are revising: Sometimes, it is easier not to worry about
these words until your final draft stage, especially if you are a beginning writer. How do you
do this? Use the following tips:

1.

Go through your first draft and circle the first word in every sentence.

2.

If you use the same word to start a sentence twice in a paragraph, then you need to
choose another transition word and re-word the sentence.

3.

How to choose transition words? Think about how each sentence fits with the one before
it.

Does this sentence add information? Then use "moreover," "furthermore," or another word
that adds to the idea.
If this sentence contrasts with the previous sentence, you might use "however" or "on the
other hand."
If it is a time sequence, use "next," "then," or consider using "first," "second," etc.
Dont use the same transition too often. Also, don't forget the comma after the transition word
and don't forget to put the subject of the sentence after the comma.

Transition Word List

Words to Show Contrast

Words to Add to an Idea

Words That Show

Consequence

Words That Add Emphasis

although

additionally

accordingly

admittedly

besides

also

as a result

above all

conversely

again

because

as a rule

however

as well as

consequently

as usual

in contrast

besides

due to

assuredly

in comparison

comparatively

for this reason

certainly

instead

consequently

for this purpose

chiefly

likewise

coupled with

hence

especially

nevertheless

correspondingly

otherwise

granted

on the one handon the other

hand

furthermore

since

generally speaking

on the contrary

in addition

so then

for the most part

other than

indeed

subsequently

in this situation

outside of

in fact

therefore

no doubt (undoubtably)

rather

identically

thereupon

obviously

similarly

likewise

this is why

of course

yet

moreover

thus

ordinarily

still

similarly

wherefore

particularly

whereas

whereas

singularly
unquestionably
usually

Tip #2: Use a Variety of Words When Citing Examples

especially

for one thing

in particular (particularly)

specifically

chiefly

as an illustration

markedly

this can be seen in

for/as an example

illustrated with/by

namely

such as

for instance

in this case

including

Use any of these alternatives to add clarity and variety to your writing.

Tip #3: Use Different Words to Order Events and

Sequence Time

first... second... third...

currently

with this in mind

in turn

generally... furthermore... finally

during

for now

later on

in the first place... also... lastly

earlier

immediately

meanwhile

to be sure... additionally... lastly

eventually

in the meantime

next

first... just in the same way...

finally

finally

for the time being

then

basically... similarly... as well as

first of all

the next step

simultaneously

afterward

to begin with

in conclusion

soon

at first

in the first place

in time

while

Use a wide variety of words to show how ideas are chronologically related.

Tip #4: Use Interesting Words When Summarizing

after all

in any event

in other words

on balance

all in all

in brief

in short

that is (that is to say)

all things considered

in conclusion

in brief

therefore

briefly

in essence

in summary

to put it differently

by and large

indeed

in the final analysis

to sum up

hence

on the whole

in the long run

to summarize

in any case

overall

namely

finally

Use a wide variety of words to sum up the point you are making.