transition statement for essays

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

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Connecting Ideas Through Transitions

Using Transitional Words and Phrases

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.

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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

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.

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.  

• picture_as_pdf Transitions

Transitions

What this handout is about.

In this crazy, mixed-up world of ours, transitions glue our ideas and our essays together. This handout will introduce you to some useful transitional expressions and help you employ them effectively.

The function and importance of transitions

In both academic writing and professional writing, your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely, if not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers. In other words, transitions tell readers what to do with the information you present to them. Whether single words, quick phrases, or full sentences, they function as signs that tell readers how to think about, organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what you have written.

Transitions signal relationships between ideas—relationships such as: “Another example coming up—stay alert!” or “Here’s an exception to my previous statement” or “Although this idea appears to be true, here’s the real story.” Basically, transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent argument. Transitions are not just verbal decorations that embellish your paper by making it sound or read better. They are words with particular meanings that tell the reader to think and react in a particular way to your ideas. In providing the reader with these important cues, transitions help readers understand the logic of how your ideas fit together.

Signs that you might need to work on your transitions

How can you tell whether you need to work on your transitions? Here are some possible clues:

• Your instructor has written comments like “choppy,” “jumpy,” “abrupt,” “flow,” “need signposts,” or “how is this related?” on your papers.
• Your readers (instructors, friends, or classmates) tell you that they had trouble following your organization or train of thought.
• You tend to write the way you think—and your brain often jumps from one idea to another pretty quickly.
• You wrote your paper in several discrete “chunks” and then pasted them together.
• You are working on a group paper; the draft you are working on was created by pasting pieces of several people’s writing together.

Organization

Since the clarity and effectiveness of your transitions will depend greatly on how well you have organized your paper, you may want to evaluate your paper’s organization before you work on transitions. In the margins of your draft, summarize in a word or short phrase what each paragraph is about or how it fits into your analysis as a whole. This exercise should help you to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.

If after doing this exercise you find that you still have difficulty linking your ideas together in a coherent fashion, your problem may not be with transitions but with organization. For help in this area (and a more thorough explanation of the “reverse outlining” technique described in the previous paragraph), please see the Writing Center’s handout on organization .

How transitions work

The organization of your written work includes two elements: (1) the order in which you have chosen to present the different parts of your discussion or argument, and (2) the relationships you construct between these parts. Transitions cannot substitute for good organization, but they can make your organization clearer and easier to follow. Take a look at the following example:

El Pais , a Latin American country, has a new democratic government after having been a dictatorship for many years. Assume that you want to argue that El Pais is not as democratic as the conventional view would have us believe.

One way to effectively organize your argument would be to present the conventional view and then to provide the reader with your critical response to this view. So, in Paragraph A you would enumerate all the reasons that someone might consider El Pais highly democratic, while in Paragraph B you would refute these points. The transition that would establish the logical connection between these two key elements of your argument would indicate to the reader that the information in paragraph B contradicts the information in paragraph A. As a result, you might organize your argument, including the transition that links paragraph A with paragraph B, in the following manner:

Paragraph A: points that support the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.

Transition: Despite the previous arguments, there are many reasons to think that El Pais’s new government is not as democratic as typically believed.

Paragraph B: points that contradict the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.

In this case, the transition words “Despite the previous arguments,” suggest that the reader should not believe paragraph A and instead should consider the writer’s reasons for viewing El Pais’s democracy as suspect.

As the example suggests, transitions can help reinforce the underlying logic of your paper’s organization by providing the reader with essential information regarding the relationship between your ideas. In this way, transitions act as the glue that binds the components of your argument or discussion into a unified, coherent, and persuasive whole.

Types of transitions

Now that you have a general idea of how to go about developing effective transitions in your writing, let us briefly discuss the types of transitions your writing will use.

The types of transitions available to you are as diverse as the circumstances in which you need to use them. A transition can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or an entire paragraph. In each case, it functions the same way: First, the transition either directly summarizes the content of a preceding sentence, paragraph, or section or implies such a summary (by reminding the reader of what has come before). Then, it helps the reader anticipate or comprehend the new information that you wish to present.

• Transitions between sections: Particularly in longer works, it may be necessary to include transitional paragraphs that summarize for the reader the information just covered and specify the relevance of this information to the discussion in the following section.
• Transitions between paragraphs: If you have done a good job of arranging paragraphs so that the content of one leads logically to the next, the transition will highlight a relationship that already exists by summarizing the previous paragraph and suggesting something of the content of the paragraph that follows. A transition between paragraphs can be a word or two (however, for example, similarly), a phrase, or a sentence. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places.
• Transitions within paragraphs: As with transitions between sections and paragraphs, transitions within paragraphs act as cues by helping readers to anticipate what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions tend to be single words or short phrases.

Transitional expressions

Effectively constructing each transition often depends upon your ability to identify words or phrases that will indicate for the reader the kind of logical relationships you want to convey. The table below should make it easier for you to find these words or phrases. Whenever you have trouble finding a word, phrase, or sentence to serve as an effective transition, refer to the information in the table for assistance. Look in the left column of the table for the kind of logical relationship you are trying to express. Then look in the right column of the table for examples of words or phrases that express this logical relationship.

Keep in mind that each of these words or phrases may have a slightly different meaning. Consult a dictionary or writer’s handbook if you are unsure of the exact meaning of a word or phrase.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Common transition words and phrases.

In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Transitions Return to Writing Studio Handouts

Transitions clarify the logic of your argument by orienting your reader as you develop ideas between sentences and paragraphs. These tools should alert readers to shifts in your argument while and also maintain the smoothness and clarity of your prose. Below, you’ll find some of the most commonly used transition categories and examples of each. Depending on the example, these suggestions may be within sentences or at the beginning of sentences.

Transitions by Category

1. addition.

Use when presenting multiple ideas that flow in the same direction, under the same heading/ idea also, another, finally, first, first of all, for one thing, furthermore, in addition, last of all, likewise, moreover, next, and, second, the third reason

2. Sequence/ Order

Use to suggest a temporal relationship between ideas; places evidence in sequence first, second (etc.), next, last, finally, first of all, concurrently, immediately, prior to, then, at that time, at this point, previously, subsequently, and then, at this time, thereafter, previously, soon, before, after, followed by, after that, next, before, after, meanwhile, formerly, finally, during

3. Contrast

Use to demonstrate differences between ideas or change in argument direction but, however, in contrast, on the other hand, on the contrary, yet, differ, difference, balanced against, differing from, variation, still, on the contrary, unlike, conversely, otherwise, on the other hand, however

4. Exception

Use to introduce an opposing idea however, whereas, on the other hand, while, instead, in spite of, yet, despite, still, nevertheless, even though, in contrast, but, but one could also say…

5. Comparison

Use to demonstrate similarities between ideas that may not be under the same subject heading or within the same paragraph like, likewise, just, in a different way / sense, whereas, like, equally, in like manner, by comparison, similar to, in the same way, alike, similarity, similarly, just as, as in a similar fashion, conversely

6. Illustration

Use to develop or clarify an idea, to introduce examples, or to show that the second idea is subordinate to the first for example, to illustrate, on this occasion, this can be seen, in this case, specifically, once, to illustrate, when/where, for instance, such as, to demonstrate, take the case of, in this case

7. Location

Use to show spatial relations next to, above, below, beneath, left, right, behind, in front, on top, within

8. Cause and Effect

Use to show that one idea causes, or results from, the idea that follows or precedes it because, therefore, so that, cause, reason, effect, thus, consequently, since, as a result, if…then, result in

9. Emphasis

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

10. Summary or Conclusion

Use to signal that what follows is summarizing or concluding the previous ideas; in humanities papers, use these phrases sparingly. to summarize, in short, in brief, in sum, in summary, to sum up, in conclusion, to conclude, finally

Some material adapted from Cal Poly Pomona College Reading Skills Program and “ Power Tools for Technical Communication .” 

Writing Effective Sentence Transitions (Advanced)

Transitions are the rhetorical tools that clarify the logic of your argument by orienting your reader as you develop ideas between sentences and paragraphs. The ability to integrate sentence transitions into your prose, rather than simply throwing in overt transition signals like “in addition,” indicates your mastery of the material. (Note: The visibility of transitions may vary by discipline; consult with your professor to get a better sense of discipline or assignment specific expectations.)

Transition Signals

Transition signals are words or phrases that indicate the logic connecting sets of information or ideas. Signals like therefore, on the other hand, for example, because, then, and afterwards can be good transition tools at the sentence and paragraph level. When using these signals, be conscious of the real meaning of these terms; they should reflect the actual relationship between ideas.

Review Words

Review words are transition tools that link groups of sentences or whole paragraphs. They condense preceding discussion into a brief word or phrase. For example: You’ve just completed a detailed discussion about the greenhouse effect. To transition to the next topic, you could use review words like “this heat-trapping process” to refer back to the green house effect discussion. The relative ability to determine a cogent set of review words might signal your own understanding of your work; think of review words as super-short summaries of key ideas.

Preview words

Preview words condense an upcoming discussion into a brief word or phrase. For example: You’ve just explained how heat is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. Transitioning to the theory that humans are adding to that effect, you could use preview words like “sources of additional CO2 in the atmosphere include” to point forward to that discussion.

Transition Sentences

The strongest and most sophisticated tools, transition sentences indicate the connection between the preceding and upcoming pieces of your argument. They often contain one or more of the above transition tools. For example: You’ve just discussed how much CO2 humans have added to the atmosphere. You need to transition to a discussion of the effects. A strong set of transition sentences between the two sections might sound like this:

“These large amounts of CO2 added to the atmosphere may lead to a number of disastrous consequences for residents of planet earth. The rise in global temperature that accompanies the extra CO2 can yield effects as varied as glacial melting and species extinction.”

In the first sentence, the review words are “These large amounts of CO2 added to the atmosphere”; the preview words are “number of disastrous consequences”; the transition signals are “may lead to.” The topic sentence of the next paragraph indicates the specific “disastrous consequences” you will discuss.

If you don’t see a way to write a logical, effective transition between sentences, ideas or paragraphs, this might indicate organizational problems in your essay; you might consider revising your work.

Some material adapted from Cal Poly Pomona College Reading Skills Program  and “ Power Tools for Technical Communication .”

Last revised: 07/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 05/2021

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190 Good Transition Words for Essays

August 23, 2023

Essay writing consists of two primary procedures: coming up with the content we want to include and structuring that content. These procedures might take place in either order or they could occur simultaneously. When writing an essay it is important to think about the ways that content and structure complement one another. The best essays join these two elements in thoughtful ways. Transition words for essays (including for college essays) are some of our most primary tools when it comes to structuring a piece of writing.

When beginning an essay it is often recommended to begin with a messy first draft. The purpose of this draft is to get everything out on the page. You should put down as many ideas and trajectories as you can without worrying too much about phrasing or whether they will make it into the final draft. The key here is to be loose—to get ahead of our self-editors and expel everything we can from our minds.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Continued)

While this is a good strategy for beginning an essay it will likely leave you unsure how everything fits together. This is where transition words come in. As you will see in this list (which is necessarily incomplete) the range of transition words for essays is vast. Each transition word implies a different relation, often in subtle ways. After accumulating content, the next step is to figure out how the elements fit together towards an overall goal (this could be but is not necessarily an “argument”). Consulting this list of transition words for essays can provide a shortcut for determining how one piece might lead into another. Along with transition words, rhetorical devices and literary devices are other tools to consider during this stage of essay writing.

Transition Words for College Essays

While this list will be a useful tool for all types of essay writing it will be particularly helpful when it comes to finding the right transition words for college essays . The goal of a college essay is to give a strong overall sense of its author in the tight space of 650 words. As you might imagine, it’s not easy to encompass a life or convey a complex personality in such a space. When writing a college essay you are working with a huge amount of potential content. Students often want to squeeze in as much as they can. To this end, transition words for college essays are essential tools to have at our disposal.

Here is our list of transition words for college essays and other essays. It is organized by the different types of transition words/phrases and their functions. While this organization should be convenient, keep in mind that there’s plenty of overlap. Many of these words can function in multiple ways.

1) Additive Transitions

These words function in an additive manner, accumulating content to build upon what has already been stated. They can be used to construct an argument or establish a scene through the accumulation of details.

• Additionally
• In addition to
• Furthermore
• Not to mention
• In all honesty
• To tell the truth
• Not only…but also
• As a matter of fact
• To say nothing of
• What’s more
• Alternatively
• To go a step further

 2) Comparative Transitions (Similarity)

  These transition words draw a parallel or bring out a similarity between images or ideas. They can be used not only in a straightforward sense but also to establish relations of similarity between objects or ideas that might appear to be dissonant.

• In the same way
• In a similar vein
• Along the lines of
• In the key of

 3) Comparative Transitions (Difference)

  While also functioning comparatively, the following words demonstrate difference between ideas or images. These transition words are useful when it comes to establishing contrasting points of view, an important component of any argument.

• On the other hand
• On the contrary
• In contrast to
• In contradiction
• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• In any event
• In any case
• In either event

4) Sequential Transitions

  The following are particularly effective transition words for college essays. They will allow you to order ideas chronologically or in a sequence, providing a sense of continuity over time. This is particularly useful when an essay leans into something more creative or involves telling a story.

• Subsequently
• At the same time
• Concurrently
• In the beginning
• At the start
• At the outset
• Off the bat

5) Spatial Transitions

Rather than organizing ideas or images in regards to sequence, these transitions indicate spatial relationships. They are particularly useful when it comes to painting a scene and/or describing objects, but they can also be used metaphorically. Consider, for example, how you might use the transition, “standing in […’s] shadow.”

• Standing in […’s] shadow
• In front of
• In the middle
• In the center
• To the left
• To the right
• On the side
• Adjacent to
• Around the bend
• On the outskirts
• In the distance
• On the horizon
• In the foreground
• In the background
• Underground
• Through the grapevine

 6) Causal Transitions

These transition words for essays indicate cause and effect relationships between ideas. They will be particularly useful when you are structuring a logical argument, i.e. using logos as a mode of persuasion . Causal transitions are an important element of academic, legal and scientific writing.

• Accordingly
• Resultingly
• As a result
• Consequently
• In consequence
• As a consequence
• For this reason
• So much that
• Granting that
• That being the case
• Under those circumstances
• With this in mind
• For the purpose of
• For all intents and purposes
• In the event that
• In the event of
• In light of
• On the condition that
• To the extent that

7) Examples/Illustration/Supporting Transition

  These transition words for college essays can be used to introduce supporting evidence, emphasis, examples, and clarification. There is some overlap here with additive transitions and causal transitions. These transitions are also useful when it comes to building an argument. At the same time, they can signal a shift into a different linguistic register.

• For example
• For instance
• In other words
• As an illustration
• To illustrate
• To put it differently
• To put it another way
• That is to say
• As the evidence illustrates
• It’s important to realize
• It’s important to understand
• It must be remembered
• To demonstrate
• For clarity’s sake
• To emphasize
• To put it plainly
• To enumerate
• To speak metaphorically

8) Conclusory Transitions

These transition words for essays serve to bring an idea or story to a close. They offer a clear way of signaling the conclusion of a particular train of thought. They might be followed by a summary or a restatement of an essay’s argument. In this way they also provide emphasis, setting the reader up for what is about to come.

• In conclusion
• To summarize
• To put it succinctly
• To this end
• At the end of the day
• In the final analysis
• By and large
• On second thought
• On first glance
• That’s all to say
• On the whole
• All things considered
• Generally speaking

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (Final Thoughts)

Even when elements appear to be disparate on first glance, transition words are a great tool for giving your essay a smooth flow. They can also create surprising juxtapositions, relationships, and equivalences. The way a reader will understand a transition word depends on the context in which they encounter it.

Individual words and phrases can be used in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the literal to the figurative to the colloquial or idiomatic. “Through the grapevine” is an example of the colloquial or idiomatic. When we encounter this phrase we don’t interpret it literally (as hearing something “through” a grapevine) but rather as hearing news secondhand. There are, of course, a vast number of idioms that are not included in this list but can also function as transitional phrases.

This list of transition words for college essays (and really any form of writing you might be working on) is a resource that you can return to again and again in your life as a writer. Over years of writing we tend to fall into patterns when it comes to the transition words we use. Mixing things up can be exciting both as a writer and for your readers. Even if you don’t choose to stray from your trusted transitions, considering the alternatives (and why they don’t work for you) can offer a deeper understanding of what you are trying to say.

List of Good Transition Words for Essays (An Exercise)

As an exercise in self-understanding, you may want to try highlighting all of the transition words in a piece of your own writing. You can then compare this to the transition words in a piece of writing that you admire. Are they using similar transitions or others? Are they using them more or less often? What do you like or dislike about them? We all use transition words differently, creating different tonal effects. Keeping an eye out for them, not only as a writer but also as a reader, will help you develop your own aesthetic.

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Essay Writing Guide

Transition Words For Essays

Last updated on: Dec 19, 2023

220 Best Transition Words for Essays

By: Nova A.

15 min read

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Jul 9, 2019

Writing essays can be hard, and making sure your transitions are smooth is even harder. 

You've probably heard that good essays need good transitions, but what are they? How do you use them in your writing? Also, your essays are assessed according to particular criteria and it is your responsibility to ensure that it is being met.

But don't worry, we are here to help. This blog will give you transition words for essays, including how to choose the right ones and where to place them for maximum impact. Essay writing is a technical process that requires much more effort than simply pouring your thoughts on paper.

If you are new to the concept of transition words and phrases, deep dive into this article in order to find out the secret to improving your essays.

On this Page

What Are Transition Words 

Transition words are essential elements in essay writing that create smooth transitions between ideas. 

Think of a transition as a conjunction or a joining word. It helps create strong relationships between ideas, paragraphs, or sentences and assists the readers to understand the word phrases and sentences easily.

As writers, our goal is to communicate our thoughts and ideas in the most clear and logical manner. Especially when presenting complex ideas, we must ensure that they are being conveyed in the most understandable way.

To ensure that your paper is easy to understand, you can work on the sequencing of ideas. Break down your ideas into different sentences and paragraphs then use a transition word or phrase to guide them through these ideas.

Why Should You Use Transitions

The purpose of transition words goes beyond just connectivity. They create a cohesive narrative , allowing your ideas to flow seamlessly from one point to another. These words and phrases act as signposts and indicate relationships. 

These relations could include:

• Cause and Effect
• Comparison and Contrast
• Addition and Emphasis
• Sequence and Order
• Illustration and Example
• Concession and Contradiction
• Summary and Conclusion

They form a bridge and tie sentences together, creating a logical connection. In addition to tying the entire paper together, they help demonstrate the writer’s agreement, disagreement, conclusion, or contrast.

However, keep in mind that just using or including transitional words isn’t enough to highlight relationships between ideas. The content of your paragraphs must support the relationship as well. So, you should avoid overusing them in a paper.

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Types of Transitions

Transitions in essays can be classified into different types based on the relationships they indicate between ideas. Each type serves a specific purpose in guiding readers through your arguments. 

Let's explore some common types of transitions and their examples:

Additive Transitions 

These transitions are used to add information or ideas. They help you expand on your points or provide additional supporting evidence. Examples:

• In addition
• Furthermore
• Additionally
• Not only... but also
• Coupled with

Adversative Transitions

Adversative transitions show contrast or contradiction between ideas. They are used to present opposing viewpoints or highlight differences. Examples:

• Nevertheless
• On the other hand
• In contrast

Causal Transitions

Causal transitions explain cause-and-effect relationships. They help you establish the reasons behind certain outcomes or actions. Examples:

• As a result
• Consequently
• Resulting in
• For this reason

Sequential Transitions

Sequential transitions indicate the order or sequence of events or ideas. They help you present your thoughts in a logical and organized manner. Examples: 

• Subsequently
• In the meantime
• Simultaneously

Comparative Transitions

Comparative transitions highlight similarities or comparisons between ideas. They help you draw connections and illustrate relationships. Here are some transition words for essays examples: 

• In the same way
• Compared to
• In comparison
• Correspondingly
• By the same token
• Equally important
• Analogous to

Getting started on your essay? Check out this insightful read on essay writing to make sure you ace it!

List of Good Transition Words for Essays

As mentioned above, there are different categories of transitions that serve a unique purpose. Understanding these different types will help you pick the most suitable word or phrase to communicate your message.

Here we have categorized the best transition words for essays so you can use them appropriately!

Transition Words for Argumentative Essays

In argumentative essays , the effective use of transition words is essential for presenting a well-structured and coherent argument. 

Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays

In compare and contrast essays , transition words play a crucial role in highlighting the similarities and differences between the subjects being compared. 

Here are a few transition words that are particularly useful in compare and contrast essays:

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays

In cause and effect essays , transition words help illustrate the relationships between causes and their corresponding effects. 

Here are a few transition words that are particularly useful in cause-and-effect essays:

Transition Words for Different Parts of Essays

Transition words are valuable tools that can be used throughout different parts of an essay to create a smooth and coherent flow. By understanding the appropriate transition words for each section, you can logically connect your ideas. 

Introduction Transition Words for Essays

Introductions are one of the most impactful parts of the essay. It's important that it connects logically with the rest of the essay. To do this, you can utilize different transition words for essays to start. Here are some starting transition words for essays:

Transition Words for Essays Body Paragraph

In an essay, body paragraphs play a crucial role in presenting and developing your ideas. To ensure a logical flow within each body paragraph, the strategic use of transition words is essential.

Here are lists of transitions for essays for different body paragraphs:

Transition Words for Essays for First Body Paragraph

Here is a list of transition words that you can use for the first body paragraph of an essay:

Transition Words for Essays Second Body Paragraph

Here is a list of transition words for the second body paragraph of an essay:

Transition Words for Essays Third Body Paragraph

Transition words for essays last body paragraph, transition words for essays conclusion .

Here is a list of ending transition words for essays:

Do’s and Don’ts of Using Essay Transitions

When it comes to using transitions in your essay, there are certain do's and don'ts that can help you effectively enhance the flow of your writing. Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind:

• Add transitions only when introducing new ideas.
• Go through the paper to make sure they make sense.
• Start by creating an outline, so you know what ideas to share and how.
• Use different transitions for each idea.
• Don’t overuse them.
• Don’t keep adding transitions in the same paragraph.
• Don’t completely rely on transitions to signal relationships.
• Don’t incorporate it into your content without understanding its usage.

By now, you have probably understood how transition words can save you from disjointed and directionless paragraphs. They are the missing piece that indicates how ideas are related to one another. You can also generate more essays with our AI powered essay writer to learn the art of transitioning smoothly from one paragraph to another. 

If you are still unable to distinguish transitions to open or conclude your essays, don’t be upset - these things require time and practice.

If you are looking for the perfect essay-writing service, get in touch with the expert writers at 5StarEssays.com. We will include the right transitions according to the type of paper, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas.

Just say ‘ write my essay ’ now and let our essay writer create quality content at the most pocket-friendly rates available.

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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Transition Words

As a "part of speech" transition words are used to link words, phrases or sentences. They help the reader to progress from one idea (expressed by the author) to the next idea. Thus, they help to build up coherent relationships within the text.

Transitional Words

This structured list of commonly used English transition words — approximately 200, can be considered as quasi complete. It can be used (by students and teachers alike) to find the right expression. English transition words are essential, since they not only connect ideas, but also can introduce a certain shift, contrast or opposition, emphasis or agreement, purpose, result or conclusion, etc. in the line of argument. The transition words and phrases have been assigned only once to somewhat artificial categories, although some words belong to more than one category.

There is some overlapping with prepositions and postpositions, but for the purpose of usage and completeness of this concise guide, I did not differentiate.

Linking & Connecting Words — Part 1/2

Agreement / Addition / Similarity

Opposition / limitation / contradiction, examples / support / emphasis, cause / condition / purpose, effect / consequence / result, conclusion / summary / restatement, time / chronology / sequence, space / location / place.

The transition words like also, in addition, and, likewise , add information , reinforce ideas , and express agreement with preceding material.

in the first place

not only ... but also

as a matter of fact

in like manner

in addition

coupled with

in the same fashion / way

first, second, third

in the light of

not to mention

to say nothing of

equally important

by the same token

identically

together with

comparatively

correspondingly

furthermore

additionally

Transition phrases like but , rather and or , express that there is evidence to the contrary or point out alternatives , and thus introduce a change the line of reasoning ( contrast ).

although this may be true

in contrast

different from

of course ..., but

on the other hand

on the contrary

at the same time

in spite of

even so / though

be that as it may

(and) still

even though

nevertheless

nonetheless

notwithstanding

These transitional phrases present specific conditions or intentions .

in the event that

granted (that)

as / so long as

on (the) condition (that)

for the purpose of

with this intention

with this in mind

in the hope that

to the end that

for fear that

in order to

seeing / being that

provided that

only / even if

inasmuch as

These transitional devices (like especially ) are used to introduce examples as support , to indicate importance or as an illustration so that an idea is cued to the reader.

in other words

to put it differently

for one thing

as an illustration

in this case

for this reason

to put it another way

that is to say

with attention to

by all means

important to realize

another key point

first thing to remember

most compelling evidence

must be remembered

point often overlooked

to point out

on the positive side

on the negative side

specifically

surprisingly

significantly

particularly

in particular

for example

for instance

to demonstrate

to emphasize

to enumerate

Some of these transition words ( thus, then, accordingly, consequently, therefore, henceforth ) are time words that are used to show that after a particular time there was a consequence or an effect .

Note that for and because are placed before the cause/reason. The other devices are placed before the consequences or effects.

as a result

under those circumstances

in that case

because the

consequently

accordingly

These transition words and phrases conclude , summarize and / or restate ideas, or indicate a final general statement . Also some words (like therefore ) from the Effect / Consequence category can be used to summarize.

as can be seen

generally speaking

in the final analysis

all things considered

as shown above

in the long run

given these points

as has been noted

for the most part

in conclusion

to summarize

by and large

on the whole

in any event

in either case

These transitional words (like finally ) have the function of limiting, restricting, and defining time . They can be used either alone or as part of adverbial expressions .

at the present time

from time to time

sooner or later

up to the present time

to begin with

in due time

in the meantime

in a moment

without delay

all of a sudden

at this instant

first, second

immediately

straightaway

by the time

occasionally

Many transition words in the time category ( consequently; first, second, third; further; hence; henceforth; since; then, when; and whenever ) have other uses.

Except for the numbers ( first, second, third ) and further they add a meaning of time in expressing conditions, qualifications, or reasons. The numbers are also used to add information or list examples . Further is also used to indicate added space as well as added time.

These transition words are often used as part of adverbial expressions and have the function to restrict, limit or qualify space . Quite a few of these are also found in the Time category and can be used to describe spatial order or spatial reference.

in the middle

to the left/right

in front of

on this side

in the distance

here and there

in the foreground

in the background

in the center of

adjacent to

opposite to 

List of Transition Words

Transition Words are also sometimes called (or put in the category of) Connecting Words. Please feel free to download them via this link to the category page: Linking Words & Connecting Words as a PDF. It contains all the transition words listed on this site. The image to the left gives you an impression how it looks like.

Usage of Transition Words in Essays

Transition words and phrases are vital devices for essays , papers or other literary compositions. They improve the connections and transitions between sentences and paragraphs. They thus give the text a logical organization and structure (see also: a List of Synonyms ).

All English transition words and phrases (sometimes also called 'conjunctive adverbs') do the same work as coordinating conjunctions : they connect two words, phrases or clauses together and thus the text is easier to read and the coherence is improved.

Usage: transition words are used with a special rule for punctuation : a semicolon or a period is used after the first 'sentence', and a comma is almost always used to set off the transition word from the second 'sentence'.

Example 1: People use 43 muscles when they frown; however, they use only 28 muscles when they smile.

Example 2: however, transition words can also be placed at the beginning of a new paragraph or sentence - not only to indicate a step forward in the reasoning, but also to relate the new material to the preceding thoughts..

Use a semicolon to connect sentences, only if the group of words on either side of the semicolon is a complete sentence each (both must have a subject and a verb, and could thus stand alone as a complete thought).

Further helpful readings about expressions, writing and grammar: Compilation of Writing Tips How to write good   ¦   Correct Spelling Study by an English University

Are you using WORD for writing professional texts and essays? There are many easy Windows Shortcuts available which work (almost) system-wide (e.g. in every programm you use).

Transition Words for Essays: Learn These 7 Types

Transition words for essays connect your ideas smoothly for your reader. They can link two concepts together, allow you to compare and contrast, or otherwise lead your reader through your thoughts and your arguments.

When writing essays, it is vital to use transition words for essays in order to create a piece of work that flows well. These linking words can be used strategically throughout your academic writing to make it read more smoothly. They allow readers to move from one idea to another.

This is far from an exhaustive list of transition words; in fact, there are more than 200 transition words and phrases in English. We’ve grouped options into several types of transition words. The following options are among the most effective transition options for essay writing.

1. Agreement, Addition, and Similarity Words and Phrases

2. contradiction, limitation, and opposition transition phrases, 3. cause, intention, and purpose words, 4. example, support, and emphasis transition words, 5. effects, consequences, and results, 6. sequence, chronology, or time, 7. summaries, conclusions, and restatements of arguments, the final word on transition words for essays, what are transitions for essays, how do you transition to a new paragraph , what are the best transition words, how can i incorporate transition words, essay writing resources.

These transition words allow you to add new ideas to strengthen an argument. They express agreement with the preceding material, add new information, and reinforce ideas. The punctuation used around these phrases depends on the specific structure of your sentences.

In a list, these words come after commas. They can also be used with a semicolon when you are introducing two related thoughts that each are expressed in full clauses.

Common transitions in this category include:

• in the first place, second place, etc.
• in like manner
• as a matter of fact
• in addition, also, together with
• equally, identically, uniquely
• furthermore

Example: Susan B. Anthony argued for the rights of workers; furthermore, she championed the cause of equal pay for equal work.

In an argumentative essay, you may wish to show two sides of an argument. For instance, you may wish to list the pros of a course of action followed by the cons.

Transitional words and phrases like but, or, and rather can show contrary points of view . Often, when a contrasting thought is used, you will offer your ideas in a new paragraph. This can help readers understand that they are about to see a point of view that may contradict what they were previously told. 

Examples of transitional phrases in this category include:

• in or by contrast
• but, or, still
• on the contrary
• in spite of
• at the same time
• nevertheless, nonetheless, or regardless
• even though

Example: The committee wanted to address all of their concerns at the meeting. However, there was not enough time to listen to everyone’s complaints.

These are transitional words and phrases often used to demonstrate cause and effect. They serve as a logical connection between these two ideas.

Examples of cause and effect words you can use in your research paper or essay include:

• in the event that
• If/then phrases
• provided that
• so that or so as to
• due to or owing to
• in the hope that
• for the purpose of
• for fear that

Example: They offered a reward in the hope that this would encourage more people to participate.

These words are used when presenting evidence or examples that support an idea. They can also indicate the importance for the reader. 

Examples of transition words in this category include:

• for example or for instance
• to emphasize
• in this case
• for this reason
• to put it differently or to put it another way
• that is to say

Example: No other explorer arrived at the checkpoint. To put it another way, he is the first and only to make it.

Often, an essay writer will want to show how one event caused another. These transition words typically indicate that one event happened after another. 

Examples of words and phrases in this category include:

• as a result
• accordingly
• consequently
• under the circumstances

Example: The bears broke into the supply tent and ate everything. As a result, the explorers needed to go back for resupplies sooner than anticipated. 

These transitional words help you establish an order of events. They can express which event happened after another. They can also communicate that something is temporary and applies only for now. These phrases have overlap with cause-and-effect words.

Examples of words in this category include:

• for the time being
• until or till
• prior to or before

Example: For the time being, they are adhering to the provisional process. 

At the end of an essay, you will need to bring all of your ideas together in a logical manner. Transition words here introduce your restatement, summarization, or conclusion.

Many consequence-and-effect words and phrases will work here, as well. These are the words that help you tie together everything you’ve written before. 

Examples in this category include:

• in the final analysis
• as demonstrated above
• in summary or in conclusion
• generally speaking
• as can be seen
• by and large
• ultimately or obviously
• in the long run

Example: As can be seen, these events contributed to the situation today. 

There are a number of words and phrases that can be used to make your writing smoother and easier to follow. When writing, do not overuse any one type of transition.

Instead, choose different ones from the different categories above each time. These will allow you to make good transitions from one section to another. 

FAQ About Transition Words For Essays

Transitions allow you to smoothly move from one idea to another. They connect each idea in a way that is clear and logical.

Think of new paragraphs as being similar to new sentences. Ensure that you have offered a completed thought, but also that the new paragraph can be linked to the one before.

The best word will depend on your writing style, your topic, and the purpose of your essay. Experiment with different words and phrases to see which fit your goals. There are well over 200 transition words and phrases in the English language.

Often, these words will appear naturally in your writing. If you feel that a transition from one idea to another is too abrupt, a transition word can help. Determine which type of transition you are using, then choose the appropriate word. 

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Writing Transitions

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Good transitions can connect paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. Instead of treating paragraphs as separate ideas, transitions can help readers understand how paragraphs work together, reference one another, and build to a larger point. The key to producing good transitions is highlighting connections between corresponding paragraphs. By referencing in one paragraph the relevant material from previous paragraphs, writers can develop important points for their readers.

It is a good idea to continue one paragraph where another leaves off. (Instances where this is especially challenging may suggest that the paragraphs don't belong together at all.) Picking up key phrases from the previous paragraph and highlighting them in the next can create an obvious progression for readers. Many times, it only takes a few words to draw these connections. Instead of writing transitions that could connect any paragraph to any other paragraph, write a transition that could only connect one specific paragraph to another specific paragraph.

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The Rules of Using Transition Statements And Words In Essays

EssayEdge > Blog > The Rules of Using Transition Statements And Words In Essays

Applicants often ignore transitions for essays to their own detriment. A good essay must use transitions within paragraphs and especially between paragraphs to preserve the logical flow of the essay. Without good transitions and college essay editing is like a series of isolated islands; the reader will struggle to get from one point to the next. Use transitions as bridges between your ideas. As you move from one paragraph to the next, you should not have to explain your story in addition to telling it. If the transitions between paragraphs require explanation, your essay is either too large in scope or the flow is not logical. A good transition statement will straddle the line between the two paragraphs.

You should not have to think too much about how to construct transition sentences for essays. If the concepts in your outline follow and build on one another naturally, transitions will write themselves. To make sure that you are not forcing your transitions, try to refrain from using words such as, “however,” “nevertheless,” and “furthermore.” If you are having trouble transitioning between paragraphs or are trying to force a transition onto a paragraph that has already been written, then this may indicate a problem with your overall structure. If you suspect this to be the case, go back to your original outline and make sure that you have assigned only one point to each paragraph with the help of college transition words, and that each point naturally follows the preceding one and leads to a logical conclusion. The transition into the final paragraph is especially critical. If it is not clear how you arrived at this final idea, you have either shoe-horned a conclusion into the outline, or your outline lacks focus.

If you are confident in your essay structure , but find yourself stuck on what might make a good transition, try repeating keywords from the previous paragraph and progressing the idea. If that doesn’t work, try this list of common transitions as your last resort:

If you are adding additional facts or information:

as well, and, additionally, furthermore, also, too, in addition, another, besides, moreover

If you are trying to indicate the order of a sequence of events:

first of all, meanwhile, followed by, then, next, before, after, last, finally, one month later, one year later, etc.

If you are trying to list things in order of importance:

first, second etc., next, last, finally, more importantly, more significantly, above all, primarily

If you are trying to connect one idea to a fact or illustration:

for example, for instance, to illustrate, this can be seen

To indicate an effect or result:

as a result, thus, consequently, eventually, therefore,

To indicate that one idea is the opposite of another:

nonetheless, however, yet, but, though, on the other hand, although, even though, in contrast, unlike, differing from, on the contrary, instead, whereas, nevertheless, despite, regardless of

When comparing one thing to another:

In a different sense, similarly, likewise, similar to, like, just as, conversely.

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Exercise: TRANSITIONS

Connect the following sentences using an effective transition, when needed. (In some cases, the two sentences will be able to stand without a transition.

Ordinarily, I took my responsibility seriously and would write down classmates’ names to preserve the silence and decorum of the school environment.  When a different teacher walked in, a teacher known to punish too hard and painfully, I decided to save my friends from his hard strokes, and I erased all the names.

• Despite the windy conditions and below-freezing temperatures, I could not tear myself away from the awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos. Despite the frustration and difficulties inherent in scientific study, I cannot retreat from my goal of universal understanding.
• But the sadness with which she responded, stating, “He died when he was a baby,” convinced me that it was true. It affected me as nothing ever would again.
• Finishing the test in an unspectacular six minutes and five seconds, I stumbled off the erg more exhausted than I had ever been. That night, I went home and caught a cold. Had I followed my survivalist and rationalist instincts, I would have quit rowing then and there;
• Immediately, I realized that I must dedicate my life to understanding the causes of the universe’s beauty. The hike taught me several valuable lessons that will allow me to increase my understanding through scientific research.
• After my grandfather’s death, I began to understand and follow his sage advice. I pulled out a picture of my grandfather and me at Disneyland.
• Often, she had to work from dusk to dawn living a double life as a student and a financially responsible adult. My mother managed to keep a positive disposition.
• In addition to working and studying, she found time to make weekly visits to terminally ill and abandoned children in the local hospital. My mother developed the value of selflessness.
• My mother made me learn Indonesian, the official language of our country. Also, she wanted me to develop interests in various academic and extracurricular fields.

1) However; 2) Similarly; 3) The shock of this revelation at such a tender age; 4) That was three seasons ago. 5) In addition; 6) To cope with his passing; 7) Despite the burdens she faced; 8) From her experiences during college; 9) My mother did not only want me to have a broad knowledge of languages.

Achieving coherency in writing is probably the most complicated goal for an applicant. No matter how many application papers one wrote, coherency will remain the most complex challenge for a person. If you’re looking for a solution — MBA admission essay editing done by EssayEdge is the best you can do for your application.

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Transition Phrase Generator

• ️📝 How to Use the Tool?
• ️👌 The Tool’s Benefits
• ️🎓 Transitional Phrases in Writing
• ️✍️ Transition Types & Examples
• ️🔗 References

📝 Transition Phrase Maker – How to Use It?

Looking for an effective way to highlight transitions in your content? Try our transition phrase generator and get the best results effortlessly.

Our tool is simple and free for writers and students who want to generate relevant transitions to include in their content or college essays.

Get random transition phrases and improve your writing process seamlessly:

• Choose what you need the tool to do: add transition phrases to your essay or show suitable transition phrase examples.
• Add the necessary data: paste your paragraph or choose what transition phrase ideas you need to see.
• Push the button and get your result.

👌 The Benefits of This Transition Phrase Generator

Our online transition phrase generator has many benefits.

🎓 Transition Phrases in Academic Writing

In academic writing, your primary goal is to communicate information clearly and concisely . It is imperative to present your arguments objectively to avoid swaying the reader to your perspective.

Using transition phrases is vital in helping you attain this goal.

What are transition phrases, and what do they do?

These word combinations establish logical links between sentences or paragraphs, indicating the relationships between the sections of your academic paper.

In other words:

Transitions function as indicators that allow readers to follow the writer’s thoughts easily while processing new ideas as they read the content.

They can appear as:

• Short phrases,
• Full sentences.

Transitions offer the readers the right direction on how they can connect the ideas from your paper’s introduction, body, and conclusion logically. These words have specific meanings that make the readers think a certain way about your content, which works especially well in persuasive writing .

By giving the audience these essential signs, the transitions assist the readers in comprehending how your ideas relate together.

How to Use Transition Phrases

In this section, we explain how to use transition phrases in academic writing so that they will work effectively.

Here are ways you can use transition phrases:

• Strategically . You must use the transitions strategically by ensuring the words or phrases you select match the logic of the connection you want to emphasize. It is imperative to understand the usage and meaning of each transition word or phrase you want to use in your paper. Keep in mind that the transitions must align with the paper’s logic.
• Sparingly . Another way is to use transitions sparingly to avoid adding too many connecting words. You might bore your readers with numerous transitions in a paper with clear information.

✍️ Transitional Phrases: Types & Examples

As mentioned above, it is important to understand the meanings of transition words before using them in your paper.

There are different types of transition phrases, and each category has more precise functions.

Additive Transition Phrases

Additive transitions are words or phrases used when introducing examples or new information. These phrases are usually used to compare with , expand upon, or explain a previous text more clearly.

Examples of additive transition phrases are as follows:

• In a similar way,
• In the same way,
• By the same token.

An example sentence with additive transitions is:

Adversative Transition Phrases

Adversative transitions are used as indicators to present arguments , establish facts, or add information that contrasts the previous text. You can use adversative phrases to concede points or present counterarguments in your paper.

Other functions of these transitions include:

• Replacement (at least, if not),
• Emphasis (most importantly, above all),
• Dismissal (regardless, either way),
• Concession (even so) .

Examples of these transitional phrases are as follows:

• On the other hand,
• In contrast,
• On the contrary.

Here’s an illustration of adversarial transitions in context:

Causal Transition Phrases

Casual transition phrases indicate the purposes, conditions, reasons or cause-and-effect relations . You can place these phrases after important points have already been presented in the paper or when you need to explain hypothetical connections or circumstances.

Examples of casual transition phrases are as follows:

• As a result,
• As a consequence,
• For this reason.

We can illustrate the use of causal transitions this way:

Sequential Transition Phrases

Sequential transitions are phrases that show a particular sequence of events. They reveal a continuation of thoughts, indicate deviations, and summarize or conclude information.

Examples of sequential transition phrases are:

• First of all,
• To start with,
• In the second place.

Example sentence:

Thank you for reading this article! If you want to work with transitional words and sentences, check the tools we’ve developed:

• Transition words maker
• Transition sentences maker

❓ Transitional Phrase Generator FAQ

❓ what is a transition phrase.

A transition phrase, also known as a linking or connecting word, is used to connect different ideas together in a text. Transition phrases help readers to understand the content and follow arguments since they express the connections between various sentences.

❓ What is the purpose of using transition words and phrases in essays?

Transition words and phrases are used to link ideas and sentences to ensure logical content flow. The main purpose of these phrases is to indicate the connections between sentences and paragraphs.

❓ What is an example of a transitional phrase?

An example of a transitional phrase is “for instance,” which functions as an additive transition. This phrase introduces new examples or information to explain a previous text.

❓ What is a conclusion transition phrase?

A conclusion transition phrase is usually used in the conclusion section of an article or academic paper. It is used to tie the ideas presented in the paper as one and present a conclusive statement. Examples are “in conclusion,” “to conclude,” and “to sum it all up.”

🔗 References

• Using Transitional Expressions
• Transitional Words and Phrases - UW-Madison Writing Center
• All About Transition Words
• Transition Words
• Transitional Devices - Purdue OWL
• Common Transitional Words and Phrases

Transition Sentence Generator

A difficult-to-read text draws attention from the general perception and lowers your grades. Adding transitions to your essay, such as introductions, logical connections between sections, and conclusion transitions, is a good method of dealing with this issue. You can use our smart and automatic transition sentence maker if you need to learn how to write proper and efficient transition sentences. If you're a student struggling with transitions in your academic writing assignments, this free online tool can help you out considerably.

• 🔢 How to Use the Tool?
• 🤩 The 5 Benefits

🖇 What Are Transition Sentences?

• 📝 Transition Sentence Types

🔎 References

🔢 transition sentence generator: how to use it.

To use the tool, you’ll need to take the following steps:

• Choose what kind of help you want . Do you need to add transitional sentences to your essay, or do you want the tool to provide you with a list of transitions for your case?
• Paste the text . If you want the tool to add transitions to your text, input the piece in question.
• Add the data . Choose what kind of transition sentences you need to get a tailored result.

🤩 Transition Sentence Generator: The 5 Benefits

This online transition sentence generator for essays features a range of benefits:

Transition sentences are specialized grammatical tools that help a writer move from one idea to another and demonstrate the relationships and order between ideas.

Transitional sentences serve as transitions between two text sections, helping the reader to perceive information more easily. Though often used interchangeably, they differ from transitional words and phrases .

In what way?

Transition sentences connect major text elements , such as body paragraphs and sections, while transition phrases and words connect sentences within a paragraph.

📝 Transition Sentences: Types & Examples

A strong transitional phrase clarifies the relationship between the linked concepts. It helps you explain your ideas in a straightforward manner that your reader understands is crucial regardless of what you're writing, whether it's a short novel, a blog post, a news item, or a lengthy academic paper.

The most effective transitional phrase to use in any given scenario depends on the message you wish to convey.

Here are 3 types of transition sentences that you can use to improve your writing.

Transition Sentences within Paragraphs

Generally speaking, the transitional sentences you would use to introduce new paragraphs differ from those used to connect sentences within a paragraph.

Because of their limited scope, these sentences are most effective when making a sharp transition , such as when contrasting certain aspects of two ideas rather than the ideas themselves. Transitional sentences within paragraphs are important. Without them, the text will sound disjointed and weird.

Transition Sentences between Paragraphs

Transition words and phrases can help you write stronger paragraphs, not just individual sentences. Most of the time, the best place for a transition sentence is at the start of a new paragraph .

Because that's where you explain how the new information fits in.

Your transition phrase should accomplish two goals:

• Introduce the topic of the following paragraph
• Provide context for the issue within the larger context of your piece

Consider the following example of a good transition sentence between paragraphs:

The use of the word “after" to begin the transition, in this case, establishes a contextual contrast between the main themes in each paragraph. Bear in mind that the transition words and phrases that perform well within paragraphs are not necessarily the types that perform well as transition sentences between paragraphs.

Transition Sentences between Sections

In the same way that transition sentences make it easier to move from one paragraph to the next, they connect bigger portions of your writing. When moving from one section to the next, you may need more than one sentence to make transition effectively. Similar to how paragraph transitions connect ideas within a paragraph, these larger transition sentences and paragraphs connect ideas within your work .

Consider the following transition sentences and how they might be used to take a reader through significant sections of your writing:

Thank you for reading this article! If you need to work on transition phrases or words in your paper, please check our transition words and transition phrases generators.

❓ Transition Sentence Generator FAQ

❓ why are transition sentences necessary in an essay.

Transition sentences serve as a map for the reader to follow throughout the text and convey the author's perspective on the subject matter and the connections between the many facts that are brought up.

❓ What is a good transition sentence?

One definition of a good transition sentence is one that "clearly establishes the connection between the ideas it links."

❓ What are 3 transition sentence examples?

There are three types of transition sentences: those within paragraphs, between paragraphs, and those connecting sections.

❓ How to use this transition sentence generator?

Using our transition sentence creator for an essay is easy. For starters, paste your text into our free online generator and click the generate button. In a few seconds, your suggested transition sentences will pop up. You can copy and paste your preferred sentences into your work.

• How to Use Transition Sentences for Smoother Writing
• Transitions - UNC Writing Center
• Transition Sentences
• Transition Sentences | Definition, Uses & Examples
• Writing Transitions - Purdue OWL

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Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria will start a special officer training later this year to deepen her military training, the Royal Court said on Thursday.

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How to achieve speed and scale in the clean energy transition

The Stanford Forum on the Science of Energy Transition brought together scientific experts, technology innovators, and industry leaders to explore practical pathways to a decarbonized future.

From left to right: Rajeev Ram of MIT; Brandon Hurlbut, a co-founder of Boundary Stone Partners; and Stanford’s Yi Cui and Sally Benson discuss challenges and innovations in transforming the grid. (Image credit: Saul Bromberger)

How do we transition to clean energy with enough speed and scale to prevent the most extreme impacts of climate change? This question loomed large for many of the speakers and participants at the Stanford Forum on the Science of Energy Transition , held on campus April 10 for an audience of students and invited guests.

To stabilize global temperatures, we need to find ways to reduce and remove our carbon emissions from Earth’s atmosphere by tens of gigatons every single year. By comparison, gas-powered vehicles in the U.S. together produce about a gigaton of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Many of the speakers agreed action over the next few decades is critical, and addressing climate change will require coordinated efforts across the scientific community, climate technology innovators, government, the private sector, and others to transition the world’s $100 trillion economy to clean energy.

The forum, co-hosted by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and Stanford Management Company , convened experts to explore challenges and opportunities to transform the power grid, rethink renewable fuels, remove greenhouse gases from our atmosphere, and address energy issues in tandem with other sustainability concerns.

The forum served as a powerful example of how Stanford leaders are educating changemakers in energy and facilitating connections that will help bring insights from scientific research to decisions that will affect global sustainability.

“Today, the energy transition will require us to forge new pathways, but we can’t just blindly strike out. That will lead us down too many dead ends, and time is of the essence. Instead, the paths we choose must be informed by science,” said Robert Wallace, the chief executive officer of Stanford Management Company.

Consider speed and scale from the get-go

Decarbonizing global energy production is a tall order. That’s before you consider the rising demand for energy as countries develop and look for opportunities to increase mobility, communication, security, and economic prosperity, multiple speakers said.

U.S. clean energy projects are on hold due to bottlenecks in the process for permitting new transmission lines and grid interconnections. The queue of projects waiting for approval by transmission operators would effectively triple the size of our generating resource, said Rajeev Ram , a professor of electrical engineering at MIT. Removing some of those logistical barriers through AI, modeling, and software tools can help accelerate the timeline for projects that could provide clean energy to the grid, said Ram.

Yi Cui , the director of Stanford’s Sustainability Accelerator , is one of the leading experts developing batteries for renewable energy storage. Scholars in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability – which celebrated its first anniversary in September – have embraced a core philosophy of thinking about scale at the beginning of the design process, which is a good sign, Cui said.

For example, the relative scarcity of some elements – such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel – in current battery designs could limit their potential for large-scale production at low cost. Cui emphasized that scientists could focus on designing battery materials based on more widely available minerals, like zinc, manganese, and iron .

“We need to figure out for each of these technologies what is already going on at the gigaton-scale – like natural cycles, like agriculture – and see what we can do to tweak it in the right way so that you can create a market and use market mechanisms to scale it,” said Arun Majumdar , the inaugural dean of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Others highlighted the importance of driving down costs for companies and consumers. If innovators can eliminate the green premium – the cost of choosing a clean energy technology over a traditional source – for their products, they will be competitive in the market.

Meanwhile, incentives like subsidies for renewable energy will need to be supplemented with policies that actively discourage use of carbon-intensive resources. “If we’re serious about addressing climate change, we’ve got to have a price on carbon,” whether through direct pricing per ton or indirectly through regulation, said Majumdar.

Powered by electrons versus molecules

The grid is essentially a system of wires that transports electrons from power plants to consumers. However, grid electrification will only get us about halfway to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, noted Sally Benson , the Precourt Family Professor, who moderated one of the panels.

Eighty percent of global energy comes from fossil fuels. Much of this comes in the form of liquid fossil fuels for transportation – cars, planes, ships, and some trains. The challenges of developing batteries and grid storage capable of providing electricity without interruption could limit electrification of some parts of the transportation sector. Instead, renewable fuels like hydrogen, biofuels, and fuels made primarily from captured carbon dioxide may help reduce carbon emissions from heavy-duty transportation.

“Our challenge is to think that the future is electrification, but that doesn’t mean that electrons are going to do everything for us directly,” said Anthony Kovscek , the Keleen and Carlton Beal Professor in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Hydrogen could help bridge the gap to carbon neutrality, said Eric Toone , managing director and technical lead at Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

“Hydrogen is pure, reactive chemical energy. If you have enough hydrogen, you can do anything,” he said.

Zara Summers is the chief science officer at LanzaTech. (Image credit: Saul Bromberger)

Zara Summers is the chief science officer at LanzaTech, a company that makes chemicals and fuels from carbon dioxide captured from factories and other industrial sources.

LanzaTech has been working to develop ethanol alternatives that make use of carbon from municipal waste or industrial emissions. These alternatives could serve as effective drop-in replacements for liquid fuels like gasoline, with the added benefit of easy adoption by the public and ability to tap into existing supply chains, but many current economic incentives specifically benefit corn-based ethanol.

“If you’re going to go big, you have to be at cost parity or better. But, you also have to fight against policy that’s written with a solution in mind, not an outcome,” said Summers. She highlighted how designing policies that are flexible and adaptable to new innovations will help bring solutions to scale.

Science as the bedrock

In addition to the challenge of rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the forum also explored solutions for removing historic carbon emissions from the atmosphere. During a panel on greenhouse gas removal strategies , speakers turned the focus to more low-tech solutions: carbon cycles in nature. For example, Benson enthusiastically described enhanced weathering, which builds on a naturally occurring process where rain interacts with certain rocks to form a mild acid. This acid then reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to form solid compounds that permanently store carbon.

Chris Field , the director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment , cited research published last month which found that adding crushed basalt rocks for enhanced weathering could increase productivity and soil health on croplands .

“It really highlights where you can potentially accomplish these big co-benefits that can make something that’s a real challenge logistically or financially come into the realm of possibility,” said Field.

The energy transition touches all of the major social-environmental systems. A final panel brought together experts on freshwater, oceans and aquatic foods, and agricultural technology to explore cultivating resilience amid climate pressures. “Agriculture sits at the very center of many of the pressures that we’re putting on Earth’s systems,” said Jim Leape , co-director of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions .

Arun Majumdar and Steven Chu discussed energy efficiency, nuclear fusion, national security, and more during a fireside chat. (Image credit: Saul Bromberger)

During a fireside chat, Majumdar discussed emerging trends in clean energy with Steven Chu , the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences . They mentioned the “low-hanging fruit” of energy efficiency, the future of nuclear fusion, and balancing the energy transition with national and economic security. Nevertheless, Chu brought the conversation back to the critical role of new inventions.

“As a physicist, when I stand back and look at things: What really changed the world? New materials are actually what changed the world,” said Chu, a former U.S. Secretary of Energy who embodies the impact of science-based decision-making in energy systems as the first scientist to hold a Cabinet position.

From the steam engine and the agricultural revolution to semiconductors and nuclear fission, leaps forward in technology have enabled global-scale changes and development. Highlighting the vision for the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Majumdar noted that when research institutions like Stanford collaborate with public and private entities, they can serve as a place where scholars can serve as incubators for translating novel ideas into impact.

Yi Cui is also the Fortinet Founders Professor and a professor of materials science and engineering in the School of Engineering . He is a professor of energy science and engineering in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, a professor, by courtesy, of chemistry in the School of Humanities and Sciences, and a professor in the Photon Science Directorate. Cui is also a senior fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy , and the institute’s immediate past director, and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

Arun Majumdar is the Chester Naramore Dean of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Jay Precourt Provostial Chair Professor, and a senior fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. He is also a professor of mechanical engineering and, by courtesy, of materials science and engineering in the School of Engineering, and a professor in the Photon Science Directorate. He is a senior fellow, by courtesy, at the Hoover Institution.

Sally Benson is the Precourt Family Professor in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, where she is a professor of energy science and engineering; a senior fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy; and a senior fellow at the Woods Institute.

Anthony Kovcsek is a professor of energy science and engineering, and a senior fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy.

Chris Field is also the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor in Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the School of Humanities and Sciences; the Perry L. McCarty Director of the Woods Institute; a professor of Earth system science in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability; and a senior fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy.

Jim Leape is the William and Eva Price Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute and a professor, by courtesy, of oceans.

Steven Chu is a Nobel laureate and a professor of energy science and engineering in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He is also a professor of molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford Medicine and of physics in the School of Humanities and Sciences.

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Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health

EPA action designates two widely used PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, improving transparency and accountability to clean up PFAS contamination in communities

April 19, 2024

WASHINGTON – Today, April 19, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking another step in its efforts to protect people from the health risks posed by exposure to “forever chemicals” in communities across the country. Exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children. This final rule will designate two widely used PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, and will help ensure that polluters pay to clean up their contamination.

This final action will address PFOA and PFOS contamination by enabling investigation and cleanup of these harmful chemicals and ensuring that leaks, spills, and other releases are reported. This action builds on the recently finalized standards to protect people and communities from PFAS contamination in drinking water and represents the latest  step the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to protect public health and welfare and the environment under  EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and to prevent cancer before it starts through the Biden Cancer Moonshot.

In addition to the final rule, EPA is issuing a separate CERCLA enforcement discretion policy that makes clear that EPA will focus enforcement on parties who significantly contributed to the release of PFAS chemicals into the environment, including parties that have manufactured PFAS or used PFAS in the manufacturing process, federal facilities, and other industrial parties.

“President Biden understands the threat that “forever chemicals” pose to the health of families across the country. That’s why EPA launched its PFAS Strategic Roadmap , a whole-of-agency approach to protecting public health and addressing the harm to communities overburdened by PFAS pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Designating these chemicals under our Superfund authority will allow EPA to address more contaminated sites, take earlier action, and expedite cleanups, all while ensuring polluters pay for the costs to clean up pollution threatening the health of communities.” EPA is taking this step to designate PFOA and PFOS under CERCLA because both chemicals meet the statutory criteria for designation as hazardous substances. Under the rule, entities are required to immediately report releases of PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed the reportable quantity of one pound within a 24-hour period to the National Response Center, State, Tribal, and local emergency responders. The designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA enables the agency to use one of its strongest enforcement tools to compel polluters to pay for or conduct investigations and cleanup, rather than taxpayers. Designation is especially important as delay in addressing contamination allows PFOA and PFOS more time to migrate in water and soil, worsening existing contamination.

The final rule also means that federal entities that transfer or sell their property must provide notice about the storage, release, or disposal of PFOA or PFOS on the property and guarantee that contamination has been cleaned up or, if needed, that additional cleanup will occur in the future. It will also lead the Department of Transportation to list and regulate these substances as hazardous materials under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

“It’s long past time for the polluters who poisoned all of us to be held responsible. This comes too late for all the people who were poisoned without their knowledge or consent and have paid the price for one of the greatest environmental crimes in history,” said Ken Cook, President and co-founder of Environmental Working Group. “But today’s designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances is the first step to bring justice to those who have been harmed. By putting the needs of the people ahead of the profits of the polluters, the Biden EPA is once again delivering for the American people.”

This final action is based on significant scientific evidence that these substances, when released into the environment, may present a substantial danger to public health or welfare or the environment. PFOA and PFOS can accumulate and persist in the human body for long periods of time, and evidence from scientific studies demonstrate that exposure to PFOA and PFOS is linked to adverse health effects. 

“This is another important step by EPA to protect people and communities from harmful PFAS chemicals, including legacy PFAS contamination across the U . S. The science is clear that PFAS chemicals are linked to a wide range of health harms including cancer, damage to cardiovascular and immune systems, poor pregnancy outcomes, and effects on the developing child,” said Dr. Tracey Woodruff, Professor & Director, Program on Reproductive Health & the Environment (PRHE)/Environmental Research and Translation for Health at the University of California, San Francisco. “By listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund Law, it means that these chemicals will have to be cleaned up from hazardous waste sites and polluters must pay the bill. This is great news for the many communities grappling with PFAS contamination – many of which are also low income and communities of color. This is another step toward protecting people from the health harms of this well-known toxic chemical.”

EPA’s Superfund program has worked effectively for more than 40 years to target and prioritize cleanups of the nation’s most contaminated sites that present unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. The Superfund program addresses more than 800 hazardous substances, including widespread, highly mobile, and persistent chemicals, like PFOA and PFOS. The program also promotes safer industrial practices that enhance community protections by reducing the likelihood of future releases. Additionally, cleanups allow communities to put land back into productive use, providing opportunities for jobs and economic growth.

In addition, EPA’s enforcement policy, consistent with EPA’s past practice over decades of implementing the law, will provide additional clarity on the agency’s intent not to pursue certain parties such as farmers, municipal landfills, water utilities, municipal airports, and local fire departments, where equitable factors do not support seeking CERCLA cleanup or costs. EPA has a proven track record of developing and applying enforcement discretion policies that are effective and well-received by stakeholders, ensuring entities that have contributed significant contamination are held accountable. Biden- ⁠ Harris Administration Takes Critical Action to Protect Communities from PFAS

In addition to efforts across the government, EPA has taken action under the agency’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to control PFAS at its sources, hold polluters accountable, ensure science-based decision making, advance environmental justice, and address the impacts on disadvantaged communities. Since launching the Roadmap in 2021, EPA has taken a suite of actions to protect communities from exposure to “forever chemicals” including:

• Established first-ever national legally enforceable drinking water standard for PFAS : In April 2024, EPA finalized National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS which will protect 100 million people from PFAS exposure, prevent tens of thousands of serious illnesses, and save lives. This action complements the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to combatting PFAS pollution and delivering clean water.
• Dedicated $9 billion in funding to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water: President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law secured the largest-ever investment in tackling PFAS pollution in drinking water. An additional $12 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law supports general drinking water investments, including PFAS treatment. The investments are part of the   Justice40 Initiative , which aims to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. 
• Guidance on Destroying and Disposing of PFAS : EPA released updated Interim Guidance which outlines the best-available science on techniques and treatments that may be used to destroy or dispose of PFAS and PFAS-containing materials from non-consumer products, including aqueous film-forming foam for firefighting, and highlights innovation and emerging technologies that warrant further evaluation.
• Addressing on-going uses of PFAS : In January 2024 EPA finalized a rule that prevents companies from starting or resuming the manufacture or processing of 329 PFAS; released three methods to better measure PFAS in the environment; and announced the addition of seven PFAS to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), consistent with the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

EPA will publish the Final Rule in the  Federal Register   shortly . The rule will be effective 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register.

Read more about the CERCLA final rule here.

Read EPA’s CERCLA Enforcement Discretion Policy here.

Read more about EPA’s strategy to address PFAS here.  

Read more about EPA’s Superfund program here.

Read more about the Superfund Enforcement Program here.

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Guest Essay

Xi Thinks China Can Slow Climate Change. What if He’s Right?

By Jacob Dreyer

Mr. Dreyer, an editor and writer who focuses on the Chinese political economy and science, wrote from Shanghai.

At first glance, Xi Jinping seems to have lost the plot.

China’s president appears to be smothering the entrepreneurial dynamism that allowed his country to crawl out of poverty and become the factory of the world. He has brushed aside Deng Xiaoping’s maxim “To get rich is glorious” in favor of centralized planning and Communist-sounding slogans like “ ecological civilization ” and “ new, quality productive forces ,” which have prompted predictions of the end of China’s economic miracle.

But Mr. Xi is, in fact, making a decades-long bet that China can dominate the global transition to green energy, with his one-party state acting as the driving force in a way that free markets cannot or will not. His ultimate goal is not just to address one of humanity’s most urgent problems — climate change — but also to position China as the global savior in the process.

It has already begun. In recent years, the transition away from fossil fuels has become Mr. Xi’s mantra and the common thread in China’s industrial policies. It’s yielding results: China is now the world’s leading manufacturer of climate-friendly technologies, such as solar panels , batteries and electric vehicles . Last year the energy transition was China’s single biggest driver of overall investment and economic growth, making it the first large economy to achieve that.

This raises an important question for the United States and all of humanity: Is Mr. Xi right? Is a state-directed system like China’s better positioned to solve a generational crisis like climate change, or is a decentralized market approach — i.e., the American way — the answer?

How this plays out could have serious implications for American power and influence.

Look at what happened in the early 20th century, when fascism posed a global threat. America entered the fight late, but with its industrial power — the arsenal of democracy — it emerged on top. Whoever unlocks the door inherits the kingdom, and the United States set about building a new architecture of trade and international relations. The era of American dominance began.

Climate change is, similarly, a global problem, one that threatens our species and the world’s biodiversity. Where do Brazil , Pakistan , Indonesia and other large developing nations that are already grappling with the effects of climate change find their solutions? It will be in technologies that offer an affordable path to decarbonization, and so far, it’s China that is providing most of the solar panels , electric cars and more. China’s exports, increasingly led by green technology, are booming, and much of the growth involves exports to developing countries .

From the American neoliberal economic viewpoint, a state-led push like this might seem illegitimate or even unfair. The state, with its subsidies and political directives, is making decisions that are better left to the markets, the thinking goes.

But China’s leaders have their own calculations, which prioritize stability decades from now over shareholder returns today. Chinese history is littered with dynasties that fell because of famines, floods or failures to adapt to new realities. The Chinese Communist Party’s centrally planned system values constant struggle for its own sake, and today’s struggle is against climate change. China received a frightening reminder of this in 2022, when vast areas of the country baked for weeks under a record heat wave that dried up rivers , withered crops and was blamed for several heatstroke deaths.

China’s government knows that it must make this green transition out of rational self-interest or risk joining the Soviet Union on history’s scrap heap, and is actively positioning itself to do so. It is increasingly led by people with backgrounds in science, technology and environmental issues. Shanghai, the country’s largest city and its financial and industrial leading edge, is headed by Chen Jining, an environmental systems expert and China’s former minister of environmental protection. Across the country, money is being poured into developing and bringing to market new advances in things like rechargeable batteries and into creating corporate champions in renewable energy .

To be clear, for Mr. Xi, this green agenda is not purely an environmental endeavor. It also helps him tighten his grip on power. In 2015, for instance, the Central Environmental Inspection Team was formed to investigate whether provincial leaders and even agencies of the central government were adhering to his green push, giving him another tool with which to exert his already considerable power and authority.

At the same time, locking in renewable energy sources is a national security issue for Mr. Xi; unlike the United States, China imports almost all of its oil, which could be disrupted by the U.S. Navy in choke points like the Malacca Strait in the event of war.

Mr. Xi’s plan — call it his Green Leap Forward — has serious deficiencies. China continues to build coal-fired power plants , and its annual greenhouse-gas emissions remain far greater than those of the United States, though American emissions are higher on a per-capita basis. China’s electric vehicle industry was built on subsidies , and the country may be using forced labor to produce solar panels. Those are serious concerns, but they fade into the background when Pakistan floods or Brazil wants to build an E.V. factory or South Africa desperately needs solar panels for a faltering energy grid.

American politics may be inadvertently helping China gobble up global market share in renewable energy products. When the United States — whether for national security or protectionist reasons — keeps Chinese companies like Huawei out of the American market or rolls up the welcome mat for electric vehicle makers like BYD or companies involved in artificial intelligence or self-driving cars, those businesses must look elsewhere.

President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act , aimed at tackling climate change, has put the United States on a solid path toward carbon neutrality. But America’s decentralization and focus on private innovation means government policy cannot have quite the same impact that it can in China.

So it is crucial for Americans to recognize that, for most of the world, perhaps for all of us, China’s ability to provide low-cost green technology is, on balance, great news. All of humanity needs to move toward renewables at a huge scale — and fast. America still leads in innovation, while China excels in taking frontier science and making its application in the real world cost-effective. If American politicians, investors and businesses recognize that climate change is humanity’s biggest threat, that could open pathways for diplomacy, collaboration and constructive competition with China that benefit us all.

Together, China and the United States could decarbonize the world. But if Americans don’t get serious about it, the Chinese will do it without them.

And if the United States tries to obstruct China, by way of corporate blacklists, trade or technology bans or diplomatic pressure, it will end up looking like part of the climate problem. That happened earlier this month when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, during a visit to China, urged officials here to rein in green technology exports that the United States says are hurting American companies.

Mr. Xi won’t completely toss out the polluting manufacturing-for-export economic model that has served China so well, nor does he seem ready to halt construction of coal plants. Both are considered necessary for economic and energy security until the green transition is complete. But they are now only a means to an end. The endgame, it seems, is to reach carbon neutrality while dominating the industries making that possible.

Much like how the United States showed up late for World War II, China’s clean-tech companies are latecomers, piggybacking on technology developed elsewhere. But history rewards not necessarily who was there first but who was there last — when a problem was solved. Mr. Xi seems to discern the climate chaos on the horizon. Winning the race for solutions means winning the world that comes next.

Jacob Dreyer is an American editor and writer focused on the intersection of the Chinese political economy and science. He lives in Shanghai.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns after essay accusing outlet of liberal bias

A senior business editor at National Public Radio has resigned after writing an essay for an online news site published last week accusing the outlet of a liberal bias in its coverage.

In a Wednesday post on X , Uri Berliner included a statement in what he said was his resignation letter to NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher.

"I am resigning from NPR, a great American institution where I have worked for 25 years," Berliner wrote in the post. "I don't support calls to defund NPR. I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism. But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cite in my Free Press essay."

On Friday, Berliner was suspended for five days without pay, NPR confirmed Tuesday , a week after his essay in the Free Press, an online news publication, where he argued the network had "lost America's trust" and allowed a "liberal bent" to influence its coverage, causing the outlet to steadily lose credibility with audiences.

Berliner's essay also angered many of his colleagues and exposed Maher, who started as NPR's CEO in March, to a string of attacks from conservatives over her past social media posts.

Dig deeper: NPR suspends senior editor Uri Berliner after essay accusing outlet of liberal bias

NPR reported that the essay reignited the criticism that many prominent conservatives have long leveled against NPR and prompted newsroom leadership to implement monthly internal reviews of the network's coverage.

Neither NPR nor Maher have not yet publicly responded to Berliner's resignation, but Maher refuted his claims in a statement Monday to NPR.

"In America everyone is entitled to free speech as a private citizen," Maher said. "What matters is NPR's work and my commitment as its CEO: public service, editorial independence, and the mission to serve all of the American public. NPR is independent, beholden to no party, and without commercial interests."

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY.

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FACT SHEET: Biden- ⁠ Harris Administration Sets First-Ever National Goal of Zero-Emissions Freight Sector, Announces Nearly $1.5 Billion to Support Transition to Zero-Emission Heavy-duty   Vehicles

The U.S. freight system is vital to our nation’s economy. Trucks, ships, trains, and planes move 55 million tons of goods worth more than $49 billion every day, across a vast network that is essential to how Americans live and work. But while industry has made progress on reducing emissions from this sector, freight movement continues to represent a significant share of local air pollution, increasing the risk of asthma, heart disease, hospitalization, and other adverse health outcomes for the millions of Americans, especially overburdened communities, who live and work near highways, ports, railyards, warehouses, and other freight routes. The transportation sector is also the largest source of climate pollution in the U.S., with trucks and buses comprising nearly a quarter of emissions from the sector. That’s why President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is supporting solutions that address harmful pollution, and has spurred $165 billion of private sector investments in zero-emission vehicle technologies.

Building on this momentum, the Biden-Harris Administration is today announcing a first-ever national goal to transition to a zero-emissions freight sector for truck, rail, aviation and marine, along with a commitment to develop a national zero-emissions freight strategy. This whole-of-government strategy includes new federal investments announced today, continued engagement with stakeholders on zero-emissions freight infrastructure, and forthcoming action plans on each of the freight segments. The strategy will prioritize actions to address air pollution hot spots and tackle the climate crisis, mobilizing a broad range of government resources, and reflect public participation and meaningful community engagement, furthering the President’s commitment to environmental justice for all. This new commitment to zero-emissions freight aligns with and supports President Biden’s existing goals for a carbon pollution-free energy sector by 2035 and for achieving net-zero emissions from the transportation sector by 2050. It also aligns with the Administration’s commitment to work with other countries to identify pathways and implementation actions that enable zero-emissions medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to reach 30 percent of new sales in 2030 and 100 percent of new sales by 2040.

Investing in Zero-Emissions Freight Sector

The Administration is also unveiling several key steps under the strategy, including major new funding programs, a new initiative to track and accelerate deployment of charging and refueling infrastructure, and a new program to standardize heavy-duty vehicle charging depots:

As part of this commitment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing today a nearly $1 billion funding opportunity for cities, states and Tribes through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to replace Class 6 and Class 7 heavy duty vehicles – which include school buses, trash trucks, and delivery trucks – with zero-emissions vehicles. The funding will support infrastructure to charge, fuel and maintain heavy-duty zero emission vehicles along with workforce development and training to get this work done. Under the requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act, at least $400 million of the program’s funding will serve communities dealing with significant air pollution. Projects supported through this program will reduce air and noise pollution, improve public health, and create good-paying clean energy jobs.  

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is announcing the first tranche of its $400 million Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program to improve air quality and reduce pollution for truck drivers, port workers and families that live in communities surrounding ports. The Department of Energy (DOE) is also announcing a $72 million investment to establish a “SuperTruck: Charged” program that will demonstrate how vehicle-grid integration enables depots and truck stops to provide affordable, reliable charging while increasing grid resiliency.

Convening Stakeholders to Accelerate the Transition to Zero-Emissions Freight

The Administration is today bringing together stakeholders from commercial truck fleets, ports, vehicle manufacturers, state and local governments, utilities, infrastructure providers, climate and environmental justice organizations for a convening at the White House focused on supercharging the buildout of the infrastructure necessary to make a zero-emissions freight ecosystem a reality in the United States. Today’s convening on zero-emissions freight infrastructure is designed to launch a series of engagements aimed at tackling emissions from the movement of goods across the nation and recognizes the great progress made already by leaders in freight decarbonization. The roundtable will mobilize action towards successfully implementing the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy , with special attention paid to infrastructure targets from 2024 to 2027, and will provide Administration officials with insight into the opportunities and challenges facing communities looking to set actionable goals, integrate new planning methodologies, and protect people’s health.

Building on the Administration’s Freight Policies

Today’s announcements build on the Administration’s ongoing work across federal agencies to tackle emissions from America’s freight system. 

• Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization: In January 2023, DOE, EPA, DOT, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) jointly released the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization . Building on this work, the Biden-Haris Administration is coordinating with each of these agencies to draft a series of decarbonization strategies for each segment of the freight system.
• Zero-Emissions Freight Corridor Strategy: Last month, the Joint Office, in collaboration with DOE, DOT, and EPA, released the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy , a vision for the development of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure along high-volume freight highways and hubs by 2040. To complement this multi-phase strategy, DOT designated National Electric Vehicle Freight Corridors along the National Highway Freight Network and other key roadways.
• Heavy Duty Vehicle Regulations: In December 2022, EPA finalized standards to reduce emissions that form smog and soot from Model Year 2027 and later heavy-duty engines and in March 2024, the agency finalized new greenhouse gas emission standards from heavy-duty vehicles for Model Years 2027-2032. The standards will avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and provide $13 billion in annualized net benefits to society related to public health, the climate, and savings for truck owners and operators. The final standards will also reduce dangerous air pollution, especially for the 72 million people in the United States who live near truck freight routes, bear the burden of higher levels of pollution, and are more likely to be people of color or come from low-income households.

Advancing Environmental Justice for All

Throughout the process of building a strategy to implement this new goal to transition to a zero-emissions freight ecosystem, the Biden-Harris Administration will provide opportunities for meaningful engagement from relevant stakeholders, including communities with environmental justice concerns, Tribal Nations, state and local governments, manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles and equipment, fleets and freight operators, and climate and environmental justice organizations. Such engagement will ensure the federal government’s actions to reduce emissions are better targeted, more effective, and reflect the priorities of community groups that have frontline experience with air pollution from the freight sector.

Disparities in ambient air quality have widened over the last decade even as air pollution levels have fallen, and the burden of persistent levels of elevated air pollution remains more heavily borne by communities of color and low-income families. While 120 million Americans live in places with unhealthy air quality, a higher percentage of the exposed population are people of color, who experience nearly eight times higher rates of pediatric asthma and 1.3 times higher risk of dying prematurely from exposure to pollutants. High levels of air pollution are often found in neighborhoods ringed by factories or next to highways, despite most sources meeting emission standards.

President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that every person has a right to breathe clean air and live in a healthy community – now and into the future. That is why, during his first week in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008, launching the most ambitious environmental justice agenda in our Nation’s history. To continue delivering on that vision, last year President Biden signed Executive Order 14096 focused on ensuring environmental justice for all people, further embedding environmental justice into the work of federal agencies to achieve real, measurable progress that communities can count on.

As the Biden-Harris Administration leads an all-of-government approach to cut pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, it will build on ongoing work and structure to further advance environmental justice, including:

• Commitment to Identifying and Investing in Disadvantaged Communities : Established in his first week in office, the President’s Justice40 Initiative set a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, clean transit, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. To date, 518 programs across 19 federal agencies , including 74 Inflation Reduction Act-funded programs, are being reimagined and transformed to  meet the Justice40 goal and ensure the benefits reach the communities that need them most, including cleaner air and accessible public transit. Federal agencies are making this happen with the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool , which is used to identify disadvantaged communities that benefit from the Justice40 Initiative.
• Environmental Justice Across the Federal Government: Agencies across the Biden-Harris Administration, including DOT, DOE, and EPA, are pursuing a suite of actions that advance environmental justice, including through grants, strategic planning, and collaborative partnerships, and by strengthening public health protections under the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution from mobile and stationary sources (e.g., revised ambient air quality standards, updated emission standards for passenger cars, commercial trucks and buses).

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Trump trial highlights: DA alleges Trump led 'cook the books' scheme to hide 'porn star payoff'

What to know about trump's trial today.

• Opening statements were delivered today in former President Donald Trump's historic New York criminal trial.
• Lawyer Matthew Colangelo from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office detailed an alleged "catch and kill" scheme with Trump's blessing. Trump's attorney Todd Blanche will deliver the opening statement for the defense.
• A source with direct knowledge of the situation tells NBC News that former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker will be the first witness for the prosecution. Prosecutors have described Pecker as a central figure in the alleged scheme to bury claims from women who said they had affairs with Trump.
• Judge Juan Merchan said that court will end at 12:30 p.m. ET today and at 2 p.m. tomorrow for Passover.
• Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He has pleaded not guilty and denied a relationship with Daniels.

After trial tomorrow, Trump to meet with former Japanese prime minister

Dasha Burns

Rebecca Shabad is in Washington, D.C.

In addition to being in court on Tuesday, Trump is expected to meet with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. The trial is scheduled to conclude by 2 p.m. tomorrow to allow Passover observations.

Trump's campaign painted the meeting as evidence of his fitness to return to the White House.

“When President Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, the world will be more secure and America will be more prosperous,” spokesman Brian Hughes said.

Trump rails against judge in New York civil fraud case after agreement was reached in $175 million bond hearing

Summer Concepcion

Hours after an agreement was reached at a hearing this morning on the $175 million bond in Trump’s New York civil fraud trial , the former president went on a rant complaining about Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the civil case.

"He had no idea what he did in the trial. He charged hundreds of millions of dollars on something where I’m totally innocent," Trump told reporters after exiting the courtroom.

"But if you look at what happened today, Judge Engoron should not have done that charge, he should have gone to the business division where they have complex business trials. But actually it should have never been brought because I didn’t overestimate it," he added.

Trump attacks Cohen after leaving courtroom

Speaking to cameras outside the courtroom, Trump railed against the prosecutors for indicting him over a "legal expense" and he attacked Michael Cohen, which he's barred from doing by the judge's gag order.

"It’s a case as to bookkeeping which is a very minor thing in terms of the law, in terms of all the violent crime," he said. "This is a case in which you pay a lawyer and they call it a legal expense in the books."

"I got indicted for that," Trump said.

Trump said that the things Cohen got in trouble for "had nothing to do with me."

"He represented a lot of people over the years but they take this payment and they call it a legal expense... and this is what I got indicted over," he said.

Trump said that instead of being at the trial, he should be campaigning in states like Georgia and Florida.

"It's very unfair," he said. "I should be allowed to campaign."

Trial wraps for the day

The trial concluded at 12:42 p.m. — leaving early to allow an alternate juror to make an emergency dental appointment.

Trump's defense team makes objection to part of David Pecker's testimony

Trump lawyer Emil Bove said the defense objected to testimony from David Pecker about Dylan Howard and asked that it be struck from the record.

“We objected to some testimony about the whereabouts of Mr. Howard,” Bove said.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said it's admissible and it could be foundational and goes to witness availability.

Jurors adjourned for the day

Jonathan Allen

Gary Grumbach

Merchan has excused jurors for the rest of the day.

Jurors departed the courtroom at 12:25 p.m.

David Pecker describes relationship with Dylan Howard, former editor-in-chief at National Enquirer

David Pecker said that he was familiar with Dylan Howard, the former editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer and chief content officer at AMI.

Pecker said Howard reported directly to him and said his job was "to make sure we got the most exclusive and current content.”

This line of questioning suggested that Howard will not testify himself.

Pecker says National Enquirer engaged in 'checkbook journalism'

Corky Siemaszko

Trump's longtime pal David Pecker admitted that the National Enquirer paid for some of its scoops.

“We used checkbook journalism and we paid for stories,” Pecker, former publisher of the supermarket tabloid, testified. “I gave a number to the editors that they could not spend more than $10,000 to investigate, produce or publish a story.” 

Trump is more alert as Pecker testifies

Katie S. Phang

Trump is now more alert, paying attention and is leaning into the defense table. He's speaking with his lawyer Emil Bove in an animated way.

His eyes are wide open and he's looking in Pecker's direction.

Who is David Pecker?

David Pecker , a Trump ally who is expected to testify during the trial, was the CEO of the National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc. (AMI). He played a key role in the alleged scheme behind the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in an effort to cover up the affair she claims she had with Trump before the 2016 election (Trump has repeatedly denied her allegations).

Pecker, a longtime friend of Trump, helped cover up potentially damaging stories about him. Prosecutors said Pecker and Michael Cohen had met with Trump at the Trump Tower in 2015 to discuss how Pecker could help suppress negative stories about Trump’s relationships with women. They allegedly discussed an instance involving Daniels, who was paid $130,000 by Cohen to not speak to media outlets about her alleged affair with Trump.

Pecker in 2018 was granted immunity by federal prosecutors in their investigation into Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection to hush money payments issued to women he said he made under Trump’s direction, after he spoke with prosecutors about Cohen’s payment to Daniels.

AMI in 2018 had admitted to paying $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to silence her over an alleged affair she had with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump has denied having an affair with McDougal.

Court resumes; prosecution calls David Pecker

The prosecution has called David Pecker to the stand.

Pecker, wearing a yellow tie, with gray-and-white hair combed back, enters the courtroom from a side door.

Pecker is 72, he says. He is married, he says. Been married 36 years, he says.

Trump lawyer plays New Yorker card

Blanche wrapped up his opening statement by trying to appeal to the jury as New Yorkers.

“Listen, use your common sense," he said. "We’re New Yorkers, it’s why we’re here.” 

Blanche reminded the panel members that they assured the court they could put aside the fact that Trump was once president and is now running again.

"We trust you will base it on what you hear in this courtroom and it will be a very swift not guilty verdict," he said.

Agreement reached in the Trump New York civil fraud case

Chloe Atkins

In other Trump legal news, an agreement was reached this morning at the $175 million bond hearing in the Trump New York civil fraud case.

Chris Kise, Trump’s attorney said, they agreed with New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office to maintain the Schwab account in cash. Knight will have exclusive control of the account, and shall not trade or withdraw the account for any purpose other than to satisfy the condition of the bond.

Kise said that they will provide a monthly account statement to the attorney general’s office and that they will revise the pledge and control agreement so that it cannot be amended without the court approval.

Kise said that the parties will submit a stipulation that will memorialize this by Thursday.

Blanche concludes, trial takes 10-minute recess

Blanche concluded after 35 minutes and 10 seconds.

At the conclusion, the court took a 10-minute recess.

Blanche details Trump's relationship to Daniels

Blanche said that Daniels, though identifying her by her legal name Stephanie Clifford, is "biased against President Trump."

Blanche said that Trump met her in 2006 when he was running "The Apprentice" TV show, and he was looking for contestants. He said that she saw her chance to make a lot of money in 2016, $130,000 by making the allegations about having a sexual encounter with Trump.

“I’m going to say something else about her testimony, and this is important: It doesn’t matter," he told the jury. “Her testimony, while salacious, does not matter."

Trump's lawyer tests Merchan

Blanche said Trump believed the catch-and-kill agreements were lawful because they were made with the involvement of lawyers.

But through an earlier court ruling, Merchan expressly barred Trump from using this diluted “advice of counsel” defense, holding Trump could not protect certain communications from discovery under the attorney-client privilege while, at the same time, telling jurors that Trump believed his actions were lawful because lawyers were involved on both sides.

Trump watches jury as his lawyer argues

As Blanche moves through his opening statement, Trump is watching the jurors — occasionally moving his eyes to Blanche.

It’s hard to detect from the closed-circuit camera trained on his table. But from behind, you can see that angle of his profile shows he has been focused on the jury box for portions of the statement.

Trump’s mouth is drawn in a serious expression that betrays no emotion.

Merchan sustains objection about Cohen

Blanche accused Cohen of lying in a courtroom previously, presumably referencing Cohen’s plea to tax evasion charges, which he has since recanted and said he did only to spare his family.

Merchan summoned the lawyers back to the bench after Blanche said that Cohen has “testified under oath and lied.” 

Merchan sustained an objection from Colangelo.

Blanche rails against Cohen for attacking Trump

Blanche leaned next into calling Cohen's credibility into question.

“He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump go to prison," Blanche said. “Last night, 12 hours ago, Mr. Cohen on a public forum said that he had a mental excitement about this trial and his testimony.”

He said that Cohen's goal is "getting President Trump."

Blanche added that Cohen has testified under oath and lied.

Defense trying to poke holes

Laura Jarrett

Blanche’s job as a defense lawyer here isn’t to tell a neat story in the same way as the prosecution — it’s to raise doubt, poke holes and plant questions in the jury’s mind.

We see this on full display today by not disputing the payoff Daniels received. Instead, the defense simply says Trump did nothing wrong. But he doesn’t (yet) tackle how the alleged scheme was first hatched in 2015. He jumps to 2017 and the Cohen reimbursement checks — that’s an easier part of the timeline for the defense side.

Judge calls lawyers to the bench

Merchan has asked the lawyers to approach the bench after prosecutors raised a fourth objection to a portion of Blanche’s opening statement.

There were about a dozen lawyers, between the two sides, huddled around Merchan.

Trump lawyer argues 'there's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election'

“I have a spoiler alert: There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election," Blanche said in his opening statement. "It’s called democracy."

Prosecution objects during defense opening statement

Prosecutors objected to Blanche saying that a nondisclosure agreement is “not illegal.” Merchan sustained.

Blanche rephrased and said it is “perfectly legal.” Prosecution objected again. Merchan overruled and let Blanche continue.

Blanche argues Trump had nothing to do with the whole series of events

Blanche argued that Trump wasn't involved in covering up the payments.

"President Trump had nothing to do, had nothing to do with the invoice, with the check being generated, or with the entry on the ledger," he said.

Blanche argues the events in the case were 'years and years ago'

Ginger Gibson Senior Washington Editor

Blanche is trying to find any hole he can poke in the prosecution's case and starts by pointing out the dates when the events occurred.

Calling the events "pre-Covid," Blanche emphasized that some of the discussions dated back to 2015.

Prosecutors would not have been able to bring the case until after 2021, because Trump was largely shielded from prosecution while he was president.

Trump lawyer argues 'frugal' Trump wouldn't have paid Cohen that much

Blanche moved away from his lectern and the microphone to get a clearer look from the jury as he noted that Trump paid Cohen $420,000, rather than $130,000, trying to cast doubt on the prosecution’s argument that it was a repayment for the Daniels nondisclosure agreement.

“Would a frugal businessman … would a man who pinches pennies” repay a $130,000 debt to the tune of $420,000, Blanche told the jury.

“This was not a payback.”

Trump lawyer paints his client as a man 'just like me'

While making the case for his client’s innocence, Blanche attempted to humanize the former president in the defense’s opening statement.

Trump is a husband, a father, "a man just like me,” he said.

Trump lawyer begins opening statement by declaring Trump didn't commit any crimes

The former president's lead lawyer began his opening statement by saying that Trump did not commit any crimes.

Blanche said that the DA's office should have never brought the case. He said that Trump is presumed innocent and tells the jury that they will find him not guilty.

Trump's lawyer said that the jury has seen Trump for years. "He’s in some ways larger than life. But he’s also here in this courtroom, doing what any of us would do. Defending himself.”

He added that they will refer to Trump as President Trump because he earned that as the 45th president.

"We will call him President Trump out of respect," Blanche said. “It’s the office he’s running for right now, as the Republican nominee ... he’s also a man, he’s a husband, he’s a father and just like me.”

'Penny-pincher' Trump was willing to pay extra for catch-and-kill stories, prosecutor says

Colangelo said Trump was a "frugal businessman" but didn't count coins when it came to covering up his alleged affairs.

Prosecutors will produce evidence to show that Trump “was a very frugal businessman, believed in pinching pennies," he said. "He believed in watching every dollar. He believed in negotiating every bill. It’s all over all of the books he’s written.”

But, Colangelo said, "When it came time to pay Michael Cohen back for the catch and kill deal, you’ll see he didn’t negotiate it down. He doubled it.”

This, the prosecutor said, shows "just how important it was to him to hide the true nature” of the payments.

Prosecutor says Cohen's testimony will be backed up with emails, texts, phone logs, business documents

Colangelo told the jury that Cohen's testimony during the trial will be backed up by emails, text messages, phone logs and business documents.

“And it will be backed up by Donald Trump’s own words on tape, in social media posts, in his own books, and in videos of his own speeches," he said.

Colangelo finishes opening statement

Colangelo finished his opening statement, speaking for 45 minutes and 30 seconds.

The jury watched, he was seeming to hold their attention.

Trump lawyer Blanche is up next.

Prosecutor says jurors will learn Cohen 'has made mistakes in his past'

Colangelo said jurors can expect to hear a lot about Cohen’s backstory as Trump’s fixer.

“You will learn, and we will be very up front about it, the fact that Michael Cohen like other witnesses in this trial, has made mistakes in his past,” he said.

Prosecution uses Trump's words

The prosecution is going to great lengths to echo Trump’s own language in accusing him of committing crimes to steal an election — election integrity, fraud and the like.

Toward the conclusion of his statement, Colangelo called the alleged scheme “an illegal conspiracy to undermine the integrity of a presidential election” and pointed to “the steps that Donald Trump took to conceal that illegal election fraud.”

Prosecutor says it was a 'double lie' how Trump and his team covered up payments

Colangelo said that the Trump Organization was not in the business of paying people twice.

He said the scheme showed how important it was to hide the payment and the overall election conspiracy. He said Trump agreed to pay Cohen back in monthly installments over 2017 with 12 $35,000 payments; and Cohen would send a bogus invoice to make it seem like they were for legal services.

“That was a double lie,” Colangelo said. “There was no retainer agreement.”

“It was instead what they thought was a clever way to pay Cohen back without being too obvious about it,” he said.

Analysis of prosecution's opening statement

Listening to the prosecution’s story this morning, it’s striking to think how differently things might have turned out if federal prosecutors had charged Trump originally in connection with a campaign-related violation. They couldn’t at the time — they charged Cohen because Trump was president and the Justice Department has a policy of not charging a sitting president.

Instead, prosecutors here in New York have charged him with falsifying business records after the fact. The hurdle for prosecutors now is the timeline in their story. How would “cooking the books” in 2017, as they say, after nearly all of the damning facts had already been exposed by tons of reporting, hide anything from voters?

Prosecutor introduces former Playboy model Karen McDougal

Colangelo says a second catch-and-kill scheme was hatched to cover up Trump's alleged affair with former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal.

"The defendant desperately did not want this information about Karen McDougal to become public because he was concerned about the election,” Colangelo said of Trump.

Pecker will testify that Trump met with him after the election to thank him, prosecution says

Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, will testify that Trump met with him after the election to thank him for dealing with the stories about women claiming to have had an affair with him, Colangelo said.

He then noted that Trump brought Pecker to the White House the following year to further show his appreciation.

Prosecutor explains Stormy Daniels situation to jury

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said that another woman, adult actress Stormy Daniels, came forward before the election with an encounter she said she had with Trump while he was married.

He said that Cohen learned about the allegations and discussed it with Trump, who didn't want the story to come out, saying that it would be devastating to the campaign.

Colangelo said that Cohen came up with a deal to buy her story with a nondisclosure agreement and she agreed not to disclose her story for $130,000. Trump wanted to delay payment for as long as possible but ultimately he agreed to the payoff.

They eventually agreed that Cohen would create a shell company to transfer the money and Cohen confirmed that Trump would reimburse him, the prosecutor said. Colangelo said that on Oct. 27, 2016, Cohen wired $130,000 to Daniels' lawyers.

Prosecutor says Trump 'cooked the books'

Colangelo is trying to make the case about why the jury should get from hush money payment to document fraud.

Trump Org. couldn't write a check with "Reimbursement for porn star payoff" on the memo line, Colangelo says.

"So they agreed to cook the books” and make it look like the repayment was actually income," he said.

Judge watches prosecution's opening statement closely

Merchan is watching the prosecution’s opening statement closely, but his eyes are going back and forth — pingpong style — between Colangelo and the jurors. He’s rocking gently in his chair with his chin between his thumb and forefinger.

Prosecutor vows to jurors 'you’ll hear defendant’s own voice on a tape'

Colangelo promised that jurors will hear the defendant's "own voice on a tape" in the alleged scheme to silence women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump.

Prosecutor is quoting Trump in the 'Access Hollywood' tape

Colangelo just quoted Trump from the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape that came out in October 2016, just weeks before the election, to the jury.

Colangelo quoted Trump saying that he could grab women by the "p----."

He said that those were Trump’s words one month before Election Day and that “the impact of that video on the campaign was immediate and explosive." Merchan ruled that prosecutors can’t play the tape.

Prosecutor explains $30,000 payment to former Trump Tower doorman

Colangelo explained that Pecker and Cohen learned about a former Trump Tower doorman who was trying to sell information about Trump having a child out of wedlock.

He said Pecker contacted Cohen immediately and Cohen told Trump who told him to take care of it. They then negotiated a $30,000 agreement to buy the story, he said.

Colangelo argued that Pecker was not acting as a publisher, but as a co-conspirator.

Trump lawyers listen intently to prosecution's opening statement

Trump lawyers Blanche and Susan Necheles have turned their seats toward Colangelo as he delivers the prosecution’s opening statement. While Trump continues to face forward with hooded eyes, his lawyer Emil Bove is seen taking notes, looking down in his lap.

Blanche, who does not appear to be taking notes, is also watching the jury as Colangelo continues to deliver his opening statement.

Prosecutor explains alleged roles of Cohen and Pecker in scheme

Colangelo explained Cohen and Pecker’s alleged roles in the hush money scheme.

“Cohen’s job really was to take care of problems for the defendant," he said. “He was Trump’s fixer.”

Colangelo said that together, the two conspired to influence the outcome of the 2016 election and that Pecker would act as eyes and ears for Trump. Pecker's job was to gather information that could be harmful and report that to Cohen, he said.

Prosecutor says Trump began reimbursing Cohen after election

Colangelo, in his opening statement, said Trump starting paying back Cohen for making the hush money payments after winning the White House.

"After the election, the defendant then reimbursed Cohen for that payment through a series of monthly checks all of which were processed through the defendant’s company, the Trump Organization," he said.

Merchan advises jurors against reading about or researching the case online or listening on the radio

Merchan urged jurors not to read or listen to any accounts of the hush money case on the radio or the internet. He also instructed jurors to not conduct research on the case at the library, via Google or any other news source.

Merchan stressed that decisions made by jurors must be based solely on evidence presented in the courtroom.

Prosecutor says 'this case is about criminal conspiracy'

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo says in his opening statement, “This case is about criminal conspiracy.”

Laying out the prosecution's case in the courtroom for the first time, he described a conspiracy between Trump and Cohen.

He argued that Trump tried to corrupt the 2016 election.

“Then, he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his New York business records over and over and over again," Colangelo said.

Opening statements are beginning

The opening statements are beginning.

Trump's eyes are shut

Trump's eyes are shut and across the aisle, Bragg is catching a glimpse of the former president from his seat in the front row of the gallery.

Merchan reads out jury instructions

Merchan read the jury instructions aloud and explained the stages of the trial. 

He reminded jurors of the basic principles of the law and said that, at the conclusion of the case, he will remind them that the law applies to the crime and that prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

Merchan also explained the role of a court reporter, before going on to tell jurors, “What I say is not evidence.”

“You must decide this case on the evidence,” he said.

“What the lawyers say at any time is not evidence,” the judge added.

Merchan says there are six prior court decisions that are admissible on cross-examination for Trump

Merchan said that if Trump takes the stand, prosecutors can bring up six determinations in four separate proceedings:

• Feb. 16: The N.Y. fraud case in which a judge found Trump violated law in stating the value of his assets.
• Oct. 28, 2022: Failing to remove an untrue personally identifying post about a law clerk on DonaldJTrump.com and was fined $5,000.
• Oct. 21, 2023: Intentionally violated court order by continually attacking court clerk. Fine was $10,000.
• The court will allow people to bring up how the defendant defamed E. Jean Carroll by making a false statement.
• Carroll v. Trump II: The court will allow prosecutors to bring up how a jury found Trump defamed E. Jean Carroll by making false statements with actual malice.
• People James v. Trump: Donald J. Trump Foundation engaged in repeated and willful self-dealing transactions.

Jury being sat

The jury is being brought into the room and seated, for the first time, as a group.

No Trump family members appear to be in the courtroom

It does not appear that there are any of Trump’s family members present in the courtroom this morning.

Bragg has entered the courtroom

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is in the courtroom.

Juror 9 was concerned about media attention but will remain on jury

Merchan said that the court received a call from juror 9 who expressed concern about media attention. After a meeting with the juror and lawyers for both sides, the judge announced, however, that the juror will remain on the jury.

Merchan says court will conclude at 12:30 p.m. today

Merchan said alternate juror 6 would be able to make an emergency dentist appointment at 3 p.m. for a toothache. But the appointment was moved up to 1:20 p.m., prompting the judge to tell her that the court would conclude at 12:30 p.m. today.

Lawyers estimate length of opening statements

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said the prosecution’s opening statement would be about 40 minutes and Blanche said the defense's would be about 25 minutes.

A key source of money for Trump's legal fees is drying up

Ben Kamisar

Trump has covered tens of millions of dollars in legal fees from his leadership PAC, Save America. But a new fundraising report filed over the weekend shows that the revenue stream might be drying up.

Save America started April with just $4.1 million in the bank as the group has paid almost $60 million in legal fees since the start of last year (the majority to firms related to his various trials). But there's a bigger warning sign in the filings for Trump.

Shortly before announcing his presidential bid in 2022, Save America sent the top pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., $60 million to be used to boost his candidacy from the outside. But amid the former president's legal crunch, MAGA Inc. has been slowly refunding that donation, providing an important injection of funds into Save America as it pays Trump's legal fees. (Note: Virtually all of the money Save America raised last month came from a refund.)

The new filings show that MAGA Inc. has refunded all but $2.8 million of that $60 million donation. So, Trump will need to find new ways to fund his legal defense, as there appears to be no sign those expenses are going away anytime soon.

Court is in session

The judge is on the bench and trial has begun for the day.

Trump's lawyers will work to try to undermine Michael Cohen's credibility.

All the players in Trump’s hush money trial

The charges against Trump stem from an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office into an alleged “catch and kill” scheme to bury negative stories about Trump before the 2016 presidential election in a bid to influence the outcome.

According to prosecutors, several people participated in the scheme, which involved paying people off to buy their silence and covering up the payments in Trump’s business records.

Here are the key people in the case who will come up during the trial, potentially as witnesses.

Protesters outside the courthouse

A group of protesters is demonstrating outside the courthouse. Some are holding signs. One says, "Election interference is a crime."

"Slept with a porn star. Screwed the voters," another says, with a photo of Trump's face.

Another has images of dictators and then Trump's face saying that they all believe they're above the law.

Trump arrives at the courthouse

Trump arrived at the courthouse at 8:52 a.m.

Trump criticizes hush money case in overnight post

In an overnight post on his Truth Social platform, Trump blasted Bragg while complaining about the case.

"The Corrupt Soros Funded District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, who has totally lost control of Violent Crime in New York, says that the payment of money to a lawyer, for legal services rendered, should not be referred to in a Ledger as LEGAL EXPENSE," he wrote. "What other term would be more appropriate??? Believe it or not, this is the pretext under which I was Indicted, and that Legal Scholars and Experts CANNOT BELIEVE."

Trump also repeated his claims of the hush money trial being part of an effort to interfere with his presidential campaign.

"It is also the perfect Crooked Joe Biden NARRATIVE — To be STUCK in a courtroom, and not be allowed to campaign for President of the United States!" he wrote.

Here's what you missed last week

Katherine Doyle

• Day 1, April 15 : On the first day of the New York hush money trial , Trump argued that the criminal justice system is being weaponized against him and repeatedly claimed that the prosecution is engaging in “election interference” amid his re-election campaign. Trump sat at the defense trial as the court worked to eliminate jurors who said they could not be fair and impartial in the case — at least 50 out of 96 of the first batch of prospective jurors were excused for that reason.
• Day 2, April 16 : The challenge of finding 12 impartial jurors in Democratic-leaning Manhattan continued as lawyers reviewed old social media posts, pressed jurors on where they get their news and sought to nix candidates they thought could potentially taint the case. Merchan had warned Trump against attempting to intimidate potential jurors.
• Trial off day, April 17 : A day after the first seven jurors were selected out of a pool of nearly 100 people, Trump slammed the jury selection process on the trial’s scheduled off-day. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee erroneously insinuated that he should be entitled to unlimited strikes of potential jurors in the hush money case.
• Day 3, April 18: Jury selection continued and Trump paid closer attention to potential jurors who brought up certain topics that piqued his interest, such as experience in law enforcement, real estate and the media they consume. Two jurors were dismissed after having been seated, with one juror doubting her ability to be fair or impartial and another after prosecutors raised concerns about a potential criminal history he did not disclose. At the end of the day, Merchan swore in the 12-person jury, plus an alternate.
• Day 4, April 19 : The five remaining alternates were chosen and sworn in. In a dramatic moment outside the courthouse, a man set himself on fire and later died of his injuries.

Meet the 12 jury members of Trump’s hush money trial

All 12 jurors, plus an alternate, were selected to serve on the jury last week after they made it clear to both sides that they could render a fair and impartial verdict.

Prosecutors and the defense team  whittled down a pool of nearly 200 people to 12 jurors and an alternate after grilling them on their personal history, political views, social media posts and ability to remain impartial despite any opinions they might have about the polarizing former president.

Read the full story here.

Pecker expected to be first witness

A source with direct knowledge of the situation tells NBC News that David Pecker will be the first witness for the prosecution beginning today. This source says that due to the Sandoval hearing, opening statements and the gag order hearing tomorrow, they don’t expect the cross-examination of Pecker to happen until Thursday.

Prosecutors have said that Pecker, the longtime former publisher of the National Enquirer, is a central figure in the alleged coverup scheme and the architect of the “catch and kill” plots.

Opening statements and first witness on tap for Trump hush money trial

Dareh Gregorian

Opening statements are set to begin this morning at 9:30 a.m. ET in the case of the People of the State of New York versus Donald Trump , the first criminal trial of a former president.

Attorneys on both sides will present their opening statements after the judge delivers instructions to the 12-person jury and six alternates.