The Professional Writer’s List of Transition Words & Phrases

Clifford Chi

Updated: July 24, 2019

Published: November 27, 2018

Talking to someone who constantly jumps from one unrelated topic to the next is a strange experience. The entire conversation seems random and unfocused, which makes it hard to stay engaged, and easy to say, “I gotta go”.

transition words for cover letter

Needless to say, it’s annoying to talk to people who try to engage you with choppy conversations -- and it’s just as irritating in writing. If you abruptly hop from one point to another, you’ll throw your readers off and confuse them, increasing the likelihood that they’ll abandon your piece.

To avoid losing your audience’s attention when moving from one point to another, you need to weave your ideas and thoughts together with transitions. These logical connections between different sections in your writing give your audience a train of thought to follow, boosting the odds that they’ll pay their undivided attention to your piece.

To help you thread your writing together and better engage an audience, we’ve compiled a list of the best transition words and phrases to include in your pieces. Whether you want to know the best transitions for linking separate paragraphs together or ending paragraphs with an emotional punch, we’ve listed some effective options below.

→ Download Now: 6 Free Blog Post Templates

The Professional Writer’s List of Transition Words and Phrases

Additional evidence.

To bolster your ideas with additional support or information, consider using the following transitions:

  • In addition

Here’s an example of this type of transition in use:

“Early adopters can provide a lot of helpful feedback about a product’s or technology’s pros and cons. They also inject these companies with revenue that funds the research and development needed to enhance the product or technology enough to gain widespread adoption.”

To compare multiple thoughts or ideas, consider using the following transitions:

  • By the same token
  • In a similar fashion

“ Just like Facebook Instant Articles, which lets users read articles without leaving Facebook’s mobile app, Google will host AMP pages on its own servers and serve up the content directly on its site.”

To contrast multiple ideas or thoughts, consider using the following transitions:

  • On the other hand
  • At the same time
  • Even though
  • In spite of

“As jobs become more specialized in today’s workforce, it seems logical to hone a specific skill set, especially during school. But only learning the skills that match the exact requirements of a job today might not prepare you for your job tomorrow.”

To describe something that happened, happens, or will happen during a certain time frame, consider using the following transitions:

  • Immediately
  • Simultaneously

“ Nowadays , writing a letter can seem completely archaic. I mean, do people even send mail anymore? Or do they only communicate through email and messaging?”

To describe two things happening at the same time, consider using the following transitions:

“Clifford sat alone and depressed in detention. Meanwhile , his friends were having a blast playing football at the common ground.”

Clarification

To spell out a complicated concept, consider using the following transitions:

  • In other words
  • To rephrase
  • To put it another way

“The term “Bitcoin mining” is really just a clever metaphor for the intricate proof-of-work system that gives people bitcoins in exchange for validating the cryptocurrency’s transactions. In other words , the reason why people mine Bitcoin and how they actually do it is complicated.”

Exemplification

To help your readers grasp an abstract concept, try using the following transitions to provide them with a concrete example:

  • To illustrate
  • To demonstrate
  • For instance
  • For example

“Even if experiences end like your relationships with material objects do, they’ll always be a part of your story, allowing you to bond with other people who’ve shared similar experiences. For instance , who do you think you’ll connect with on a deeper level -- someone who also studied abroad in Scotland during college or someone who wears the same Apple Watch as you?”

Identification

To highlight a distinct attribute of your idea or thought, consider using the following transitions:

  • Specifically
  • Particularly

“If brands truly want to rise from the ashes of the retail apocalypse, they must stay laser-focused on adapting to the evolution of this technology and their customers' preferences. More specifically , they need to embrace change and prepare for the upcoming trends that will transform their industry in 2019.”

To emphasize a thought or idea you just previously stated, consider using the following transitions:

  • More importantly

“When the World Wide Web launched in 1991, most people thought it would fizzle out in a few years. Experts considered it to be a shiny, new fad that no one was really using. In fact , only six countries in the world had more than one internet user per 100 people that year.”

To spotlight the root cause of something happening, consider using the following transitions:

“Strong call-to-actions are a crucial element of a persuasive business letter -- because if you don't tell your reader what to do next, you might as well have never written your letter in the first place.”

To call attention to the consequence of the root cause of something, consider using the following transitions:

  • As a result
  • Subsequently
  • Consequently

“A lot of professionals overlook the importance of writing high-quality business letters because they seem outdated. As a result , most people don’t actually know how to write one.”

To flow from one related topic to another, try referencing the previous topic by using the following transitions:

  • With this in mind
  • On the subject of
  • Considering

“Inlinking with clear, concise, and relevant anchor text can reinforce the topical connection between certain posts in Google’s eyes and help all of those posts rank better. With this in mind , anchor text is nothing to gloss over, so let’s learn more about what exactly anchor text is, why it’s important, and the different types of anchor text."

Summary/Conclusion

To summarize or conclude a paragraph, consider using the following transitions:

  • In a nutshell
  • To put it briefly

“Traveling make you more open to new experiences, which increases your willingness to try new things in the future. It also increases your brain’s capacity and attentiveness in future situations that are new and challenging. In a nutshell , traveling strengthens your desire and ability to learn new skills.”

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

How to Write a Memo [Template & Examples]

How to Write a Memo [Template & Examples]

9 Simple Ways to Write a Good Introduction Sentence

9 Simple Ways to Write a Good Introduction Sentence

Comma Rules for Clear Writing (with Examples)

Comma Rules for Clear Writing (with Examples)

How to Write an Introduction: A Simplified Guide

How to Write an Introduction: A Simplified Guide

How to Become a (Better) Editor: 13 Editorial Tips

How to Become a (Better) Editor: 13 Editorial Tips

How Long Should Blog Posts Be in 2021? [New Data]

How Long Should Blog Posts Be in 2021? [New Data]

How to Improve Your Writing Skills and Escape Content Mediocrity (Infographic)

How to Improve Your Writing Skills and Escape Content Mediocrity (Infographic)

How The Flesch Reading Ease Test Can Help You Write Clear and Concise Copy

How The Flesch Reading Ease Test Can Help You Write Clear and Concise Copy

HubSpot's Guide to Becoming a Better Writer

HubSpot's Guide to Becoming a Better Writer

Save time creating blog posts with these free templates.

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

Complete List of Transition Words

100 Words and Phrases to Use Between Paragraphs

Viorika Prikhodko / E+ / Getty Images

  • Writing Essays
  • Writing Research Papers
  • English Grammar
  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Once you have completed the first draft of your paper, you will need to rewrite some of the introductory sentences at the beginning and the transition statements at the end of every paragraph . Transitions, which connect one idea to the next, may seem challenging at first, but they get easier once you consider the many possible methods for linking paragraphs together—even if they seem to be unrelated.

Transition words and phrases can help your paper move along, smoothly gliding from one topic to the next. If you have trouble thinking of a way to connect your paragraphs, consider a few of these 100 top transitions as inspiration. The type of transition words or phrases you use depends on the category of transition you need, as explained below.

Additive Transitions

Probably the most common type, additive transitions are those you use when you want to show that the current point is an addition to the previous one, notes  Edusson , a website that provides students with essay-writing tips and advice . Put another way, additive transitions signal to the reader that you are adding to an idea and/or your ideas are similar, says  Quizlet , an online teacher and student learning community. Some examples of additive transition words and phrases were compiled by Michigan State University  writing lab. Follow each transition word or phrase with a comma:

  • In the first place
  • Furthermore
  • Alternatively
  • As well (as this)
  • What is more
  • In addition (to this)
  • On the other hand
  • Either (neither)
  • As a matter of fact
  • Besides (this)
  • To say nothing of
  • Additionally
  • Not to mention (this)
  • Not only (this) but also (that) as well
  • In all honesty
  • To tell the truth

An example of additive transitions used in a sentence would be:

" In the first place , no 'burning' in the sense of combustion, as in the burning of wood, occurs in a volcano;  moreover , volcanoes are not necessarily mountains;  furthermore , the activity takes place not always at the summit but more commonly on the sides or flanks..." – Fred Bullard, "Volcanoes in History, in Theory, in Eruption"

In this and the examples of transitions in subsequent sections, the transition words or phrases are printed in italics to make them easier to find as you peruse the passages.

Adversative Transitions

Adversative transitions are used to signal conflict, contradiction, concession, and dismissal, says Michigan State University. Examples include:

  • In contrast
  • But even so
  • Nevertheless
  • Nonetheless
  • (And) still
  • In either case
  • (Or) at least
  • Whichever happens
  • Whatever happens
  • In either event

An example of an adversative transition phrase used in a sentence would be:

" On the other hand, professor Smith completely disagreed with the author's argument."

Causal Transitions

Causal transitions—also called cause-and-effect transitions—show how certain circumstances or events were caused by other factors, says Academic Help . The website that offers assistance with academic writing adds: "They [causal transitions] make it easier for the reader to follow the logic of the arguments and clauses represented in paper." Examples include:

  • Accordingly
  • As a result
  • Consequently
  • For this reason
  • Granting (that)
  • On the condition (that)
  • In the event that
  • As a result (of this)
  • Because (of this)
  • As a consequence
  • In consequence
  • So much (so) that
  • For the purpose of
  • With this intention
  • With this in mind
  • Under those circumstances
  • That being the case

An example of a causal transition used in a sentence would be:

"The study of human chromosomes is in its infancy,  and so  it has only recently become possible to study the effect of environmental factors upon them." –Rachel Carson, "Silent Spring"

Sequential Transitions

Sequential transitions express a numerical sequence, continuation, conclusion , digression , resumption, or summation, says Michigan State, which gives these examples:

  • In the (first, second, third, etc.) place
  • To begin with
  • To start with
  • Subsequently
  • To conclude with
  • As a final point
  • Last but not least
  • To change the topic
  • Incidentally
  • To get back to the point
  • As was previously stated

An example of a sequential transition would be:

"We should teach that words are not the things to which they refer. We should teach that words are best understood as convenient tools for handling reality... Finally , we should teach widely that new words can and should be invented if the need arises." –Karol Janicki, "Language Misconceived"

In sum , use transition words and phrases judiciously to keep your paper moving, hold your readers' attention, and retain your audience until the final word.

  • Definition and Examples of a Transition in Composition
  • How to Teach Topic Sentences Using Models
  • Cohesion Strategies: A List of Transitional Words and Phrases
  • Make Your Paragraphs Flow to Improve Writing
  • What You Need to Know About Conjunctive Adverbs
  • Transitive and Intransitive Verbs in Spanish
  • Conjugating the Verb 'To Be'
  • Persuasive Writing: For and Against
  • Paragraph Transition: Definition and Examples
  • How to Say "And" in Chinese
  • Beef Up Critical Thinking and Writing Skills: Comparison Essays
  • Revising a Paper
  • Objects in English Grammar
  • Understanding the Types of Verbs in English Grammar
  • The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay
  • What Are Causative Verbs?

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Academic writing
  • 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.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

upload-your-document-ai-proofreader

Table of contents

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.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

  • Academic style
  • Vague sentences
  • Style consistency

See an example

transition words for cover letter

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!

 Academic Writing

  • Avoiding repetition
  • Effective headings
  • Passive voice
  • Taboo words
  • Deep learning
  • Generative AI
  • Machine learning
  • Reinforcement learning
  • Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

  • Grammar Checker
  • Paraphrasing Tool
  • Text Summarizer
  • AI Detector
  • Plagiarism Checker
  • Citation Generator

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, August 23). Transition Words & Phrases | List & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved February 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-writing/transition-words/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, using conjunctions | definition, rules & examples, transition sentences | tips & examples for clear writing, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, what is your plagiarism score.

33 Transition Words and Phrases

Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .

as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY

The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.

in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE

The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.

at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER

Afterward, she got a promotion.

even though : ALTHOUGH

She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.

in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made

They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.

in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE

I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.

as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY

The words are often confused and are consequently misused.

in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.

used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said

These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.

used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"

I'm planning to go even though it may rain.

in addition : MOREOVER

I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.

in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.

because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE

He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.

from this point on : starting now

She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.

in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement

I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.

as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement

The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.

all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.

for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.

in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement

She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.

at or during the same time : in the meantime

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.

BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.

in spite of that : HOWEVER

It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.

in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS

The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.

without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.

if not : or else

Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.

more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said

We can take the car, or rather, the van.

in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

I tried again and still I failed.

by that : by that means

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

for that reason : because of that

This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.

immediately after that

The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.

because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY

This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.

while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different

Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.

NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way

It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.

Word of the Day

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Games & Quizzes

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries.  Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Usage Notes

Prepositions, ending a sentence with, hypercorrections: are you making these 6 common mistakes, a comprehensive guide to forming compounds, can ‘criteria’ ever be singular, singular nonbinary ‘they’: is it ‘they are’ or ‘they is’, grammar & usage, words commonly mispronounced, more commonly misspelled words, is 'irregardless' a real word, 8 grammar terms you used to know, but forgot, homophones, homographs, and homonyms, great big list of beautiful and useless words, vol. 3, even more words that sound like insults but aren't, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are).

Learn more

How it works

Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance.

Explore how BetterUp connects to your core business systems.

We pair AI with the latest in human-centered coaching to drive powerful, lasting learning and behavior change.

Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement.

Unlock performance potential at scale with AI-powered curated growth journeys.

Build resilience, well-being and agility to drive performance across your entire enterprise.

Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders.

Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching.

Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Accelerate the performance and potential of your agencies and employees.

See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce.

Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours.

A demo is the first step to transforming your business. Meet with us to develop a plan for attaining your goals.

Request a demo

  • For Individuals

Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth.

View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions.

The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace.

  • BetterUp Briefing

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today.

Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more.

Founded in 2022 to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

Find your Coach

For Business

How to write an impactful cover letter for a career change

young-woman-thinking-how-to-write-a-letter-for-career-change

Understand Yourself Better:

Big 5 Personality Test

Find my Coach

Jump to section

How to write a cover letter for a career change

Career change cover letter examples.

8 tips to write a successful career change cover letter

Learning to navigate career changes

As a job seeker, your primary objective is to stand out from every other candidate — and writing a strong cover letter is a great way to do this.

But if you’re trying to change careers, it might seem more complicated. Crafting a compelling letter for a career change needs to put your best foot forward while explaining how your experience and transferable skills make you the best fit. 

Luckily, like any application, cover letters give you a unique opportunity to make a strong first impression on a prospective employer. They’re your opportunity to spin a perceived drawback into a valuable asset, showing hiring managers your unique perspective and ability to make a change.

Let’s start with the basics. Like any other professional communication, every word of your career change cover letter counts. Your relevant skill set, work experience, and communication style let a recruiter, hiring manager, or potential supervisor know what it’ll be like to work with you. 

Here’s how to use your cover letter to make an impact: 

1. Start with a powerful introduction

The first few lines of your cover letter set the tone and pique your reader's interest (or spur disinterest). Skip generic introductions and aim for an opening line that quickly encapsulates the value you can bring to the new job. It can also reflect your unique personality, within reason.

Don’t be shy about identifying yourself as a career changer. It’s an opportunity to showcase important soft skills — such as courage, intellectual curiosity , and a resilient mindset — and connect relevant experiences with valuable transferable skills . With the right framing, it may be the key to standing out as an interesting candidate.

Here’s an example: “As a seasoned journalist, I’m eager to transition into public relations. I've spent the last 20 years sharpening my critical-thinking, research, and copywriting skills, which will serve me well in this new role.”

2. Develop your full character

Your opening paragraph should include your previous role and new career ambition. Next, it’s time to offer a glimpse of your professional drive and explain in more detail what you bring to a career switch, especially if you’ve been upskilling, taking classes, or attending trainings. This is an opportunity to blend your established reputation with your new career goals. If you’re making the change to pursue your passion or do more meaningful work, putting that fact on diisplay creates a fuller image of your personal values , mission, and vision for the future. 

For example: “I currently manage a team of 50 sales representatives in the constantly evolving healthcare sector. The most fascinating and fulfilling part of my job has always been developing a deep understanding of my client’s needs. Acting as a bridge to better service, consulting with them about updating their tools and training to focus on providing excellent treatment to their patients is so rewarding. I’m excited by the prospect of leveraging my social skills and years of experience working directly with healthcare providers to move into software development for the healthcare sector.” 

3. Show some emotion

woman-channeling-her-emotions-to-write-a-career-change-letter

Carefully placed action verbs and feelings help make your experience jump off the page. Potential employers aren’t just looking for a list of key skills — they want to imagine the person behind them. Choose language that conveys enthusiasm, drive, and work motivation , like “I’ve always been passionate about problem-solving and teamwork” or “I immediately connected with your company’s vision and commitment to sustainability.” 

4. Describe your past performance

Your successes in previous roles are the best predictor of the meaningful work you’ll accomplish in the next one — even if you’re moving to a new industry. Focus on accomplishments that demonstrate flexibility and a learning mindset to help the hiring manager envision a successful transition. You need to make the most out of your letter of interest , portfolio , and resume, so put the highlights on your resume and tell the story in your cover letter. 

For instance: “I oversaw a project to automate sales tracking systems, working with our tech team to evaluate the best strategies for the sales department. The project improved efficiency by 25% and decreased overhead costs by 15%.” 

Metrics quantify the value of your growth mindset and show off important skills like team collaboration , project management , and adaptability. 

5. Align your skills with the job description

Even if you’re at the height of your career, a hiring manager needs to know you can bridge the gap between your current role and the new position. Pay careful attention to the soft and hard skills they mention in the job posting and work them into your career transition cover letter. Don’t embellish for the sake of standing out, but do highlight the skills you can back up with valuable, direct experience. 

6. Write a memorable closing

Your closing is your opportunity to reiterate your excitement about the job opening. Adjectives like “eager,” “excited,” and “thrilled” demonstrate you’re ready to hit the ground running. 

Additionally, your cover letter for switching careers should invite further dialogue with a call to action. For example: “I’m eager to learn more about the role and look forward to sharing how I can bring my unique perspective and years of experience in [industry] to your organization.” 

(D2C) BetterUp Blog - elevate potential_half size_v2

Before digging into your resume or cover letter, a potential employer may peruse your job application or LinkedIn profile to understand your value as a candidate. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to turn a list of skills and experiences into a well-rounded picture of your character. 

The best cover letters balance highlighting your unique personality and perspective with proving you have what it takes to fill the job description. While your letter should represent you, you don’t have to start from scratch. Instead, build your own using a basic structure and templates for inspiration. You can also ask ChatGPT to generate a first draft for you with strategic prompts .

Here’s a general career change cover letter sample to consider:

Dear [hiring manager’s name], 

Thank you for considering my application for [ prospective job title] at [company name]. 

I’ve spent the last [years of experience] learning the ins and outs of [current industry], where I currently work as a [most recent job title]. I gravitated toward [industry] because of my passion for [the factors that pushed you to your current career]. The most fulfilling part of my career has been [transferable skills relevant to the new job posting]. I’ve built my expertise around [relevant skills], which were instrumental in accomplishing [a notable achievement or project]. 

I’m excited to transition into a new career chapter and follow my calling in [new field]. Reading about your company, I immediately connected with [core value]. I’m thrilled by the prospect of contributing [your vision or skills] and am eager to apply my unique perspective as a [current job title] in a new context. 

Attached is my resume. I’m eager to learn more about the company and how my background aligns with your needs.

I look forward to the opportunity to continue the conversation. 

Sincerely, 

[Your name]

When changing careers, you may feel worried about potential red flags in your resume, like career gaps or lack of direct experience . While your technical abilities are important, many recruiters and hiring managers prioritize soft skills , like leadership, critical thinking, and communication. Here’s a cover letter that balances proven soft skills and highlights your excitement to fill the gaps: 

Thank you for the opportunity to apply for [prospective job title] at [company name]. While I’ve developed my career in [industry], my enthusiasm for [relevant interest] combined with my proven [relevant transferable skills] has prepared me for this career path. 

Over the last [years of experience], I’ve cultivated a solid foundation in [relevant skills], which mirror the dynamic demands of [new industry]. 

I’m attracted to [new industry] because of [your interest or inspiration to switch to a new field]. The [specific aspect of your new field] that [company name] embodies deeply resonates with my personal values and professional aspirations. I’ve spent the last [months or years] learning [valuable technical skills or industry knowledge] through [examples of learning experiences, such as a class, seminar, or networking opportunity]. 

Attached is my resume, which underscores my transferable skills and [relevant coursework or certifications]. 

I’m confident that my adaptability, dedication to quality work, and passion for learning position me to hit the ground running and become a strong asset to your team. I look forward to discussing how my excitement and skill set align with your objectives. 

8 tips to write a successful career change cover letter 

a-man-celebrating-after-succesfully-writing-a-letter-for-a-career-change

Now that you have some cover letter examples for changing careers, let’s get into the fine print. Here are eight tips to help your career change cover letter lead to an interview: 

  • Address the letter to the right person: General salutations — like “Dear hiring manager” — may give the impression you’re copying and pasting the same cover letter across several job postings. Likewise, it signals to the reader that you lacked the initiative and dedication to find out more about the role and the hiring team beyond what’s in a brief job posting. Take the time to learn the hiring manager's name and use it to kick off communications. 
  • Keep things short: The objective of your cover letter is to spark a hiring manager’s interest and encourage them to read your resume . Keep your cover letter to a few well-curated paragraphs that balance your unique value with the requisites for the job role. 
  • Research, research, research: The company’s website, social media, and other branded materials can provide insight into the organization’s mission and core values. Aligning your vision with the company’s is a great way to capture a hiring manager’s attention and let them know you fit the company culture .
  • Explain your reasons for changing careers: The courage to take a chance on yourself and switch careers speaks volumes about your character. It’s nothing to shy away from. Highlight the reasons you decided to make the difficult career decision —  your resilience, fortitude, and decisiveness can provide a competitive advantage over more traditional candidates. 
  • Mention new skills: Highlight how you’ve learned about your new industry, acquired technical skills, and prepared for the career switch. Whether it’s a one-day seminar or several months with a career coach , your drive for personal and professional development helps make your case for a smooth transition into a new industry. 
  • Source references: Having a list of professional references and their contact information ready to send to a hiring manager is always a good idea. Carefully choose colleagues who can speak to your passion for your new industry and ability to adapt to change.
  • Align all your communications: Consistency and clarity are important to hiring managers. When your LinkedIn profile, letter of intent , and resume have mismatched skills and work experience, the person reading them may pass you over for a candidate with a profile that’s easier to understand and imagine in the role. Double-check that all your information is up-to-date and consistent across all platforms and lines of communication. 
  • Proofread : An enthralling story about your decision to dive into a new field can be thwarted by a misspelled word or poorly placed comma. Spelling and grammar errors can jeopardize your chances of an interview — hiring managers may worry that a lack of attention to detail could show up in more important areas of your work performance. If you’re not a natural copy editor, double-check your work with a proofreading app like Grammarly.

Learning to navigate career changes 

A career change is a big life decision , no matter where you are in your professional journey. After you’ve settled into your niche, shaking things up at 30, changing careers at 40 or following a new calling in your 50s might feel increasingly overwhelming. 

But it’s never too late to embrace change. Your professional life occupies a big part of your time, energy, and personal identity. You deserve to feel fulfilled — even if that means choosing a road less traveled. Carefully crafting a cover letter for a career change is an effective way to capture a hiring manager's attention from the jump and move one step closer to an exciting new opportunity. 

(D2C) BetterUp Blog - ready to get coach_full size_v2

Elizabeth Perry

Content Marketing Manager, ACC

Books to grow with in 2022

10 examples of principles that can guide your approach to work, what is a severance package, and how can it benefit you, how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, how to be more extroverted at work: tips and advice, is hourly or salary better tips for choosing a pay rate, how to give kudos at work. try these 5 examples to show appreciation, 10 exciting career change ideas (with salaries), what are externships and how can you get one, similar articles, 3 cover letter examples to help you catch a hiring manager’s attention, how to ask for a letter of recommendation (with examples), how to write a great cover letter in 2024: tips and structure, a guide on how to pick a new career, what is a letter of intent examples on how to write one, wondering how to change careers 12 steps to switch it up, tips and tricks for writing a letter of interest (with examples), getting a new manager how to (stop panicking and) make the most of it, chatgpt cover letters: how to use this tool the right way, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

  • Platform Overview
  • Integrations
  • Powered by AI
  • BetterUp Lead
  • BetterUp Manage™
  • BetterUp Care™
  • Sales Performance
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Case Studies
  • Why BetterUp?
  • Career Coaching
  • Communication Coaching
  • Life Coaching
  • News and Press
  • Leadership Team
  • Become a BetterUp Coach
  • BetterUp Labs
  • Center for Purpose & Performance
  • What is coaching?
  • Leadership Training
  • Business Coaching
  • Contact Support
  • Contact Sales
  • Privacy Policy
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • Trust & Security
  • Cookie Preferences

Transitional Words and Phrases

One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement , Paragraphing , and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.

While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.

In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.

Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic. Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.

Categories of Transition Words and Phrases

Causation Chronology Combinations Contrast Example

Importance Location Similarity Clarification Concession

Conclusion Intensification Purpose Summary

Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships

Causation– Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s).

accordingly as a result and so because

consequently for that reason hence on account of

since therefore thus

Chronology– Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.

after afterwards always at length during earlier following immediately in the meantime

later never next now once simultaneously so far sometimes

soon subsequently then this time until now when whenever while

Combinations Lists– Connecting numerous events. Part/Whole– Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.

additionally again also and, or, not as a result besides even more

finally first, firstly further furthermore in addition in the first place in the second place

last, lastly moreover next second, secondly, etc. too

Contrast– Connecting two things by focusing on their differences.

after all although and yet at the same time but

despite however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless notwithstanding

on the contrary on the other hand otherwise though yet

Example– Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.

as an illustration e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)

for example for instance specifically that is

to demonstrate to illustrate

Importance– Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.

chiefly critically

foundationally most importantly

of less importance primarily

Location– Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other.

above adjacent to below beyond

centrally here nearby neighboring on

opposite to peripherally there wherever

Similarity– Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.

by the same token in like manner

in similar fashion here in the same way

likewise wherever

Other kinds of transitional words and phrases Clarification

i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) in other words

that is that is to say to clarify to explain

to put it another way to rephrase it

granted it is true

naturally of course

finally lastly

in conclusion in the end

to conclude

Intensification

in fact indeed no

of course surely to repeat

undoubtedly without doubt yes

for this purpose in order that

so that to that end

to this end

in brief in sum

in summary in short

to sum up to summarize

transition words for cover letter

Improving Your Writing Style

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Clear, Concise Sentences

Use the active voice

Put the action in the verb

Tidy up wordy phrases

Reduce wordy verbs

Reduce prepositional phrases

Reduce expletive constructions

Avoid using vague nouns

Avoid unneccessarily inflated words

Avoid noun strings

Connecting Ideas Through Transitions

Using Transitional Words and Phrases

  • Cover Letters
  • Jobs I've Applied To
  • Saved Searches
  • Subscriptions
  • Marine Corps
  • Coast Guard
  • Space Force
  • Military Podcasts
  • Benefits Home
  • Military Pay and Money
  • Veteran Health Care
  • VA eBenefits
  • Veteran Job Search
  • Military Skills Translator
  • Upload Your Resume
  • Veteran Employment Project
  • Vet Friendly Employers
  • Career Advice
  • Military Life Home
  • Military Trivia Game
  • Veterans Day
  • Spouse & Family
  • Military History
  • Discounts Home
  • Featured Discounts
  • Veterans Day Restaurant Discounts
  • Electronics
  • Join the Military Home
  • Contact a Recruiter
  • Military Fitness

Your Ultimate Guide to Easy Cover Letters -- With Our Free Template

ultimate frisbee player catches cover letter

"Do I really need to write a cover letter? Really??" As Military.com's transition master coach, I field this question all the time. For transitioning military, veterans and military spouses , writing (or reading) an eight-paragraph cover letter like you see in the job-hunt guides seems like a cruel and unusual punishment.

If you ask me, all those torturously long cover letters they use as examples must have been written by someone with an MBA, three Ph.D.s and a giant thesaurus. In, say, 1995.

Not only do these cover letters contain strings of words with four or more syllables, but they also include the kind of world-beating statistics that would make Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk quiver with shame. It's super weird.

That tells me we have lost track of what a cover letter is meant to do in the modern world. So many military, veterans, spouses, career counselors and employers are finding that the job hunt has changed a lot since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes to the cover letter and the way we interact by email are part of the new landscape.

That is why I put together this Ultimate Guide to Easy Cover Letters and a FREE cover letter template for you to copy.

Sure, cover letters are often a necessary part of finding a job for veterans, but you will be glad to know it is a whole lot easier than it ever was before. Here are the answers you need about cover letters:

Are Cover Letters a Total Waste of Time?

At the Veteran Employment Project, we are always trying to help you bridge the gap between the military and the civilian business world. So to help me on the cover letter problem, I reached out to Bill Kieffer, a veteran, career transition leadership coach and author of "Military Career Transition: Insights from the Employer Side of the Desk. "

"I have strong opinions about cover letters," said Kieffer, who spent more than 20 years as a senior human resources executive for three multibillion-dollar companies. "Cover letters waste my time. I know you want the job. I know you think you will be great. But I'm not going to read it because I don't have time."

Understanding the time factor for the other person is a key part of writing a great cover letter. "It is a courtesy. Make it short and sweet and relevant," Kieffer said.

Will the Employer Read This on a Cell Phone?

Most people check their email on their phones first thing in the morning. The last thing a hiring manager wants to see that early in the day is eight paragraphs about anything -- especially if they must scan through a lot of blah, blah, blah to get to the ask.

Find out how to write the perfect cover letter in four sentences by scrolling to the bottom of the page for our FREE cover letter template.

Is the Cover Letter Required?

Now that you have the recipient and their cell phone in mind, the next thing you need to know is whether a cover letter is actually required. "If they are required, you have to do it," said Kieffer. "If [the] job posting demands a cover letter, then do a good one."

Is the Cover Letter Optional?

If the job listing says a cover letter is optional, it is, in fact, absolutely optional. The likelihood is that no one is ever going to read your cover letter. In the interest of ultimate politeness, though, go ahead and use our four-sentence cover letter template below, especially if you are changing fields or roles.

What Is the Purpose of This Cover Letter?

Back in the day, the job of a cover letter was to literally cover your resume. This was when job hunters printed their resumes and letters on paper and then used a mysterious item called an envelope to mail them. In a mailbox. Shocking, I know.

Today, the explanatory and social work of the old-fashioned cover letter is done by including a live link to your LinkedIn profile in your email signature.

Is the Cover Letter Meant to Be a Writing Sample?

Sometimes when a cover letter is required , it might be doing a different kind of work. This might be a sneaky/smart way for an employer to request a writing sample. For a job that requires a lot of writing, a cover letter demonstrates how much a person knows about spelling and grammar, as well as their attention to detail.

Keep the cover letter limited to one page and break up the page with bullet points. Also, please ask someone to read the cover letter to you out loud so you are sure to catch mistakes.

Should I Attach My Resume to the Cover Letter?

If you are applying on a job site that requests a cover letter, upload the resume, cover letter and accompanying documentation together.

Outside a job site, my own rule is that you should never, ever send your resume unless someone specifically asks for it.

Will a Cover Letter Get You the Job?

"I don't know anyone who got a job because they wrote an eight-paragraph cover letter," I confessed to Kieffer in our interview.

"I don't know anyone who got a job because they wrote a one-paragraph cover letter," Kieffer replied. "I think a cover letter ought to be renamed a connecting letter. It fulfills a need for the employer. It connects the dots for them about why you have reached out to them."

The connecting email (aka the cover letter) is sent, because the employer has either a job opening or a problem that needs to be solved. In the email, you connect yourself and your abilities to their job, which results in a conversation. This is networking, which is statistically your best bet toward landing that job offer.

( Sign up for our next FREE master class: Networking Without Awkwardness today .)

What Should the Subject Line Be for a Cover Letter?

Emails have a pretty good open rate compared to other correspondence, especially if that person already knows you. If they do not know you, you can increase your chance of getting the recipient to open your email by naming someone they do know in the subject line.

EXAMPLE: SUBJECT: Alice Janakula sent me.

Or, SUBJECT: Tre Cooper from USNA told me ..."

Or, you can list the name of the job opening in the subject line.

Best Cover Letter Template Ever

So if the job of the cover letter is to connect the dots for the hiring manager, recruiter or professional connection, you have to do it in a way that suits the recipient's schedule.

Too often, we military folks hear "connect the dots" as a demand to reach back and connect 72 dots in eight paragraphs. To get around this problem, use this template to connect just four dots in four sentences.

Dot No. 1: This is how we are connected.

EXAMPLE: Alice Janakula and I ran into each other at our girls soccer game last week, and she remembered ...

Or, In our monthly meeting for the Hampton Roads Veteran Employment Zone, Steve Bremerton mentioned ...

Dot No. 2: I see you have a need.

EXAMPLE: ... that you are looking for a project manager who has experience with Aegis missile systems and an acquisition background.

Dot No. 3: I have the capability to fill that need.

EXAMPLE: Not only was I the weapons department head on the USS Gettysburg, but I also just completed a tour at the Pentagon at N-96. I think I could be of help to you.

Dot No. 4: We should get together next week.

EXAMPLE: I'd like to get on your schedule. Do you have time for a quick call next week?

Quick Check: Did You Bury the Ask?

If you connect these four dots, your cover letter will result in a response -- if you did not bury the ask. So often, I see how veterans will use a phrase like, "Let me know if you are interested," or, "Reach out if you have any questions," to end their cover letter.

While nominally polite, these phrases do not result in connecting calls. These phrases result in the hiring manager not really wanting to add one more thing to their to-do list this week, so they go get breakfast.

Cover letters do not have to be eight-paragraph tomes littered with four syllable words describing impossible feats of business success. Instead, cover letters are the simplest paragraphs that lead to the most beautiful of job offers.

Jacey Eckhart is Military.com's transition master coach. She is a certified professional career coach and military sociologist who helps military members get their first civilian job by offering career-level Master Classes through our Veteran Employment Project and on her website, SeniorMilitaryTransition.com . Reach her at [email protected].

Learn More About the Veteran Employment Project

To get more tips on how to make a successful military transition, sign up for one of our many FREE Military Transition Master Classes today . You can view previous classes in our video library . Questions for Jacey? Visit our Facebook page .

Jacey Eckhart

Jacey Eckhart

You May Also Like

Airman 1st Class Brock Metscher, 28th Communications Squadron cyber systems operations operator, inputs information into a server computer at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

What's the process of getting a security clearance? We guide you through it step by step.

Information Systems Technician Seaman Apprentice Wesley Bryant, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), sets up a computer server administrator account on a virtual server during a training course provided by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR).

Executive branch employees must consider their impartiality when specific parties may affect personal and business...

Airman First Class Sabrina Zarate, 88th Communication Squadron server operations system administrator, conducts a real-time test on a computer server on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

A security clearance becomes inactive once your service ends.

transition words for cover letter

The recent success of many credentialing programs has depleted funding for the AF COOL program.

Veteran Employment Project

Master Class Series

Employers do want to hire hard-working, self-motivated veterans like you. The command does want you to keep firing on all cylinders until the last minute. Your family wants to know what will happen next right now. That is a lot of pressure. Do yourself a favor and take control over your transition by signing up for our exclusive FREE master classes now.

transition words for cover letter

Get the Veteran Jobs Newsletter

Get the scoop on military employers and the latest award-winning content. Right in your inbox.

View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page.

Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to:

More Career Tools

  • Transition Center
  • Veteran Employers
  • Free Resume Assessment
  • FRONT MATTER

Transitions

Print

As a reader, I often find that so much depends on contextual clues the writer provides. Note how the example below, excerpted from a letter in Chapter 6, consistently provides contextual clues related to time ("Over the past year . . ."), content (The NIWC is a cross-community coalition . . ."), and background ("She spent three months in Belfast . . .") about both letter writer and student.

Over the past year I have watched Janet’s interest in Peace and Conflict Studies blossom into a very powerful thesis topic on issues of gender and politics in Northern Ireland. My area of expertise is in the area of gender and nationalism in Northern Ireland; for this reason I am confident when I say she has chosen a fascinating topic for exploration. As part of her research, Janet conducted a case study of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition (NIWC) last summer. She spent three months in Belfast conducting ethnographic and archival research. The NIWC is a cross-community coalition that was formed in 1996 and fully participated in the peace talks which led to the signing of the Easter Agreement. Recently, the NIWC has found itself at the center of political debates focused on issues of gender, class, and nationalism.

Seeking even more contextual efficiency than in the above example, many writers embrace the economy and fluidity fostered by single transition words, especially as they open paragraphs. When a closing paragraph of a recommendation letter begins with a simple transition word such as “Clearly” or “Indeed,” readers sense that the student is viewed in a warm, subjective, and emphatic manner, and they are invited to agree with the detail and spirit of that assessment. A simple transition word also has much more impact than some informal and inefficient phrasing such as “As far as the way I currently see Daniella overall. . . .” Bleah .

Below is a list of transition words that many writers find helpful. As a teacher of writing, I’m always slightly hesitant about providing word lists for fear that writers will simply select from them blindly—a “plug and chug” mentality—or reject the idea of a word list as too elementary. However, my experience with faculty has been that they do appreciate lists and use them appropriately as they consider options for how best to argue a student’s case.

In addition to the transition words listed above, you might find frequent use for simple contextual transitions that announce a paragraph or sentence topic simply by categorizing the criterion that you are about to address—words such as “Academically,” “Analytically,” “Athletically,” “Culturally,” “Intellectually,” “Linguistically,” “Scholastically,” “Socially.” Such words are valuable because they lend economy and establish immediate focus. However, avoid nonstandard usage of the suffix “-wise” to mean “in relation to”; such a practice creates irritating coined words such as “Knowledgewise,” or “Intellectualwise,” resulting in sloppy writing (and, in the two cases just cited, unintentional irony).

Further Study

These pages provide more extensive lists of transition words and their functions:

“Transitional Words and Phrases” list from the University of Richmond Writing Center

“Transition Words” page from Michigan State University

IMAGES

  1. Download Cover Letter Examples For Job Transition most complete

    transition words for cover letter

  2. Good Cover Letter Examples For Career Change

    transition words for cover letter

  3. FREE 8+ Cover Letters for Job Application Templates in PDF

    transition words for cover letter

  4. Transition Manager Cover Letter

    transition words for cover letter

  5. Transition Words

    transition words for cover letter

  6. List of Transition Words and Phrases in English

    transition words for cover letter

COMMENTS

  1. 70+ Words to Use in a Cover Letter

    1. Cover letter action verbs

  2. The Professional Writer's List of Transition Words & Phrases

    Altogether. After all. Ultimately. Here's an example of this type of transition in use: "Traveling make you more open to new experiences, which increases your willingness to try new things in the future. It also increases your brain's capacity and attentiveness in future situations that are new and challenging.

  3. How To Write a Career Change Cover Letter (With Examples)

    1. Introduce yourself Start your cover letter by stating who you are, what you want and why you'd be a good fit for the job. Highlight your most impressive, valuable and relevant achievements without oversharing your lack of experience.

  4. 165 Transition Words To Help You Improve Your Writing

    Updated June 20, 2023 When writing, whether for an article, blog, website copy or any other form of written content, your goal may be to present information clearly and smoothly. One way to improve the readability of your writing is to use transition words between words and phrases.

  5. How to Write a Cover Letter When You're Changing Careers (Sample + Tips

    I believe I'll make a strong addition to your team because my work has largely put the user front and center, and now I'm interested in focusing on a different facet of that goal. Certificates, courses, or trainings It costs over $4,000 to hire an employee, according to the Society for Human Resources Management [ 3 ].

  6. Complete List of Transition Words

    Learn how to use transition words and phrases to connect your paragraphs and ideas in your paper. Find 100 examples of additive, adversative, causal, and sequential transitions for different purposes and contexts.

  7. How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter (With Samples!)

    Here's your step-by-step guide to writing a career change cover letter that'll tell your unique story and help a hiring manager envision how you would benefit their organization. 1. Start strong with a unique opener. Get the reader's attention right away by putting the opening line of your cover letter to work!

  8. Transition Words & Phrases

    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.

  9. Transition Words and Phrases Examples

    These are the transition words that bring paragraphs, arguments, and pieces of writing to a close. They can also be used to summarize and restate ideas. These transition phrases and words include: in summary. in conclusion. to conclude. in any event. in either case. overall.

  10. Common Transitional Words and Phrases

    Common Transitional Words and Phrases. The following list, categorized by type of relationship, provides examples of some common and useful transitional words and phrases. cause and effect: consequently, therefore, accordingly, as a result, because, for this reason, hence, thus

  11. 33 Transition Words for Essays

    33 Transition Words and Phrases 'Besides,' 'furthermore,' 'although,' and other words to help you jump from one idea to the next. Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

  12. How to write an impactful cover letter for a career change

    1. Start with a powerful introduction The first few lines of your cover letter set the tone and pique your reader's interest (or spur disinterest). Skip generic introductions and aim for an opening line that quickly encapsulates the value you can bring to the new job. It can also reflect your unique personality, within reason.

  13. How to Use Power Phrases in Cover Letters

    (Name of employer's company) ranks Number One in companies I prefer to join. I look forward to meeting with you to further discuss my background and to show you some of the (skills or competencies) that I have developed. What you're asking for and what I can deliver sound like a match!

  14. The Best Cover Letter Examples for Any Job Seeker

    2. A Clear Pitch. Use the next few paragraphs of your cover letter to "hit them with the strongest results you have that are aligned with the opportunity," Godfred says. Ryan Kahn —Muse career coach and founder of The Hired Group —calls this your pitch.

  15. The Definitive 4 Step Formula to Writing a Career Transition Cover Letter

    1. Sell the Connection that You Are the Perfect Fit The first paragraph must set the stage for how you are ideally suited for the role. This can be accomplished by weaving language from the job description with strengths and traits unique to you.

  16. How To Write a Career Change Cover Letter + Examples

    Cover Letter for Career Change Format. your contact info. the company's info. dear (hiring manager name) paragraph #1: big achievement and career change reveal. paragraph #2: job-matching achievements. paragraph #3: make an offer. best regards + your name. PS—with one more accomplishment.

  17. Transitional Words and Phrases

    Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you're choosing matches the logic of the relationship you're emphasizing or the connection you're making.

  18. 92 Essay Transition Words to Know, With Examples

    The transition word however acts as a signal to the reader to prepare for a change in topic. When the reader sees transition words like this, they know to expect the switch, so it's not so jarring. You can use transition words to start a paragraph, sentence, clause, or even a brief phrase or individual word. Although tired, we had to continue.

  19. Career Transition

    Career Transition Cover Letter Sample Writing a great career transition cover letter is an important step in getting hired at a new job, but it can be hard to know what to include and how to format a cover letter.

  20. Your Ultimate Guide to Easy Cover Letters

    Changes to the cover letter and the way we interact by email are part of the new landscape. That is why I put together this Ultimate Guide to Easy Cover Letters and a FREE cover letter template ...

  21. How to Explain a Career Transition in Cover Letters + Interviews

    1. Show Don't Tell Because your resume doesn't "tell" the full story (since you haven't worked in the industry or role you're after), use your cover letter to show the ways that you have that experience.

  22. Transitions

    When a closing paragraph of a recommendation letter begins with a simple transition word such as "Clearly" or "Indeed," readers sense that the student is viewed in a warm, subjective, and emphatic manner, and they are invited to agree with the detail and spirit of that assessment.

  23. How to Write the 1st Paragraph of Your Cover Letter

    1. Greet the recipient. One key to a great cover letter is pretty simple: Do your best to address the correct person. "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir" is very generic and tells the reader that you haven't done your homework on finding the identity of the hiring manager. Show you've done your homework by personalizing the letter.